Mild Playback Distortion On Lows

[monstermaker]

Used search but couldn't find anything on this.
I'm hooking up a drum machine to Sonar 2.0. I'm getting mild distortion on bass notes at playback. All the input levels are ok.
It's sort of a slightly distorted slap back type echo on the lows.
Thanks for any help.

 

[moskus]

Levels aren't too high at input

Maybe, but they could still be too high at the output on the drum machine. I had the same problem with my Korg NX5R.

 

[monstermaker]

I just re-checked with a Pod and guitar. There is a light distorted echo on that track too. I must have done something without realizing it. Any suggestions? Maybe an adjustment I overlooked?

 

[James Argo]

Even though you hear mild level signal on your monitor, it doesnt mean the signal feeded is mild. Playback indicator is different with with record indicator. So be sure to set the led indicator to monitor signal recorded. Anyway, you didn't say your Sound card. Check your windows kernel mixer (right hand corner, taskbar) for recording property, and make sure it's not all the way top. 70 - 90 % of the slider length. Last thing, is to lowering every volume, and record. Step by step, push up the level. See, in what level the distortion appear.

 

[monstermaker]

Thanks. I'll run through it again.