Signal Hitting My Sound Card Is Too Hot...

[CudBucket]

Hey all. If I plug my guitar into my M-Audio DMP-3 pre and then feed that to my M-Audio 2496, the input meters in the 2496's monitor mixer are almost always pinned in the red. Even with the DMP-3's gain knob set to the minimum.

Does this mean I should get a mixer and run my guitar into that and then to the sound card?

I'm considering getting an IK stealth plug or SoundTech light snake to avoid going through the sound card to "solve" the issue. I know it's just a work around but I can't seem to get the input level to not clip if I go from the pre straight to the card.

Thanks.

Dave

 

[danny.guitar]

On the DMP3, there's a button at the top labeled "Hi/Low Gain Range". Make sure it is pressed in.

Are you hooking just the guitar into the DMP3? You're not using an amp right?

 

[CudBucket]

DG, Yeah it's in. If it's not, the signal is even hotter obviously. The DMP-3 doesn't have a level control only gain so there's really nothing I can do I guess. And yes I'm going in with my guitar only. No amp. I have a Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp that has recording outs and level controls. I think I'm going to try using that to go into my soundcard. Maybe even try it going into the DMP-3. At least it'll give me a level control.

Thanks for responding.

Dave

 

[CudBucket]

DG, Yeah it's in. If it's not, the signal is even hotter obviously. The DMP-3 doesn't have a level control only gain so there's really nothing I can do I guess. And yes I'm going in with my guitar only. No amp. I have a Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp that has recording outs and level controls. I think I'm going to try using that to go into my soundcard. Maybe even try it going into the DMP-3. At least it'll give me a level control.

Thanks for responding.

Dave

 

[danny.guitar]

Strange that you're getting so hot of levels. If I plug mine in I average about -6db going through the same setup; Guitar -> DMP3 -> 24/96.

The Mesa Boogie might be a better option though.

 

[CudBucket]

Where are you seeing -6DB? In your recording software or in the 2496 mixer? I'm seeing this clipping in the H/W In 1/2 portion of the monitor mixer.

 

[CudBucket]

Where are you seeing -6DB? In your recording software or in the 2496 mixer? I'm seeing this clipping in the H/W In 1/2 portion of the monitor mixer.

 

[ecktronic]

I think you want to be going "line in" to your soundcard rather than "mic in", also check your soundcard driver for options to boost the level going in.

Eck

 

[Farview]

Why don't you plug the guitar right into the 24/96? See if that gets rid of the excessive level.

 

[CudBucket]

I think you want to be going "line in" to your soundcard rather than "mic in", also check your soundcard driver for options to boost the level going in.

Eck

My level is too hot. The last thing I want to do is boost it. I want to attenuate. Unless I've misunderstood what you're suggesting.

 

[CudBucket]

Why don't you plug the guitar right into the 24/96? See if that gets rid of the excessive level.

I wasn't sure if I could do that. Don't you need a Hi-Z input for that?

 

[Farview]

I wasn't sure if I could do that. Don't you need a Hi-Z input for that?

See what happens. The worst thing that will happen is your guitar might not have as much high end as it would the other way.

If you have active pickups, you don't need a hi-z input.

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

My level is too hot. The last thing I want to do is boost it. I want to attenuate. Unless I've misunderstood what you're suggesting.

I believe his point was to check if such an option was already selected, thus causing your problem

 

[CudBucket]

I believe his point was to check if such an option was already selected, thus causing your problem

Ah, I got ya. There definitely isn't any such option. I'm going to try a different guitar just to rule that out. The one I've been using is a Carvin 7 string with passive pickups. I wonder if that could be it. We'll see.

Thanks.

Dave

 

[Robert D]

What do the DMP3's meters have to say about all this? Are they even moving?

Ok, with the low gain range selected, knob turned FCCW, gain will be 13.5dB. I did my part, someone else finish the math..........

 

[danny.guitar]

I was averaging about -6db on the 24/96's mixer thing.

 

[CudBucket]

What do the DMP3's meters have to say about all this? Are they even moving?

Ok, with the low gain range selected, knob turned FCCW, gain will be 13.5dB. I did my part, someone else finish the math..........

Yes, the meters on the DMP3 are moving. Gain is about 1/2 way up.

 

[CudBucket]

I was averaging about -6db on the 24/96's mixer thing.

In the H/W In 1/2 meter I assume?

BTW, I tried a different guitar. Same exact thing. Here's what I see when I just strum the open strings with a finger. It's a moderate strum. I'm not hammering the strings...

 

[pipelineaudio]

something is seriously wrong there

 

[snow lizard]

In the M-Audio Control Panel you posted a screenshot of, on the 3rd tab (Hardware Settings) does it give you an option for +4, con, or -10 for your input and output levels? Are they all set to +4?


sl