Mixer volume questions

[hirokumata]

Hi,

My problem is a bit weird... I got my Audigy 2 (yeah I know.. goin 2 buy a Delta44 this xmas) on my pc connected to my Yamaha MG12/4 mixer (L/R), and with all the eq buttons on 0 (middle), I can only listen to the sound that exits through the computer without clicks and pops with the volume at -10dB, if I raise the fader more it would start making clicks and pops.

Now, with the computer input volume at -10dB, I wanna hear only the sound through the headphones, so no monitors... I low to the max the ST fader (monitors are connected to the main outputs), activate the PFL (PreFaderListen) button in the computer input channel, and voilá... got sound in headphones.

But when I look into the sound metter, I notice that the lights are always in the +5 light and in the peak light... thats bad right?? I change the volume of the C-R/Phones knob, and it continues the same... low the fader of the input, and it continues the same.

Another weird thing is that the sound that I hear in the headphones doesn't have any clicks or pops with the sound metter reaching that value... without the pre fader button on and with the fader from the channel raised till I only got the +5 and the peak lights on the sound that sounds on the speakers (goin 2 buy monitors soon too), is full of pops and clicks.

Now my questions...
-Why I can't raise the volume of the computer input on the mixer more than -10 without get any clicks and pops?

-Why are the lights of the sound metter always reaching the +5 and the peak light when I turn on the Pre Fader Listen?

-Why the sound that I hear in my headphones hasn't got any clicks or pops if the soundmetter is only at the +5 and at the Peak light?

Thanks

 

[Track Rat]

How do you have the sound card and computer patched? You're not setting up a feedback loop are you?

 

[hirokumata]

Patched? Sorry didn't understand it... my english is not the best :S
And why would I be setting a feedback loop?

Thanks and sorry for the noobish

 

[Track Rat]

Describe woh you have the inputs and outputs wired between the sound card and mixer.

 

[hirokumata]

ah allright... atm only got the line output from the sound card connected to the 11/12 channels on my mixer (Y cable with 2 minijack->jack adaptors)

 

[gecko zzed]

i am not familiar with the mg12/4, but let me throw a few thoughts at you.

1 if you are monitoring using the PFL, then adjusting the faders will not do anything, because the signal you are hearing is not affected by the faders. It never gets to them. If the signals are in the red, then the input level is too high. Do channels 11 & 12 have gain controls on them? If so, cut them back. If not, try adjust the level at the source, perhaps within the PC environemt. Another thing you can try is to connect your source to, say, channels 1 and 2, which will have gain controls, and try here.

2 adjusting the Control Room/Phones volume, as you observed, will not change this either. This only affects your listening volume. It is an output control, not an input control

3 the clicks and pops are a puzzle. Perhaps they arise because of the levels being too high. Perhaps, as someone else suggested, you may have indavertantly set up a feedback loop.

 

[Niimo]

just a thought

well i was wondering if you thought of the gain knob. you've said fader a few times. but you need to worry about your gain first. maybe thats why your peaking and having to adjust your fader volume. find your gain knob mine is at the very top of my channel and turn it down some see if it takes care of the peaking.

 

[hirokumata]

Right... I've connected now the PC to the 7/8 channels that have gain control (the 11/12 ch didn't have)... have regulated the gain and now I got a good sound without any pops and clicks and without reaching peaks, even with the PreFaderListen.

Thanks... that solved all my problems ^^