Signal Hitting My Sound Card Is Too Hot...

[CudBucket]

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

There is a -10Db option but when I tried that it made very little impact.

 

[snow lizard]

The -10 dB option could create the problem you're describing. You should probably be at +4.

So you've tried that and it doesn't work?

sl

 

[Farview]

The -10 dB option could create the problem you're describing. You should probably be at +4.

So you've tried that and it doesn't work?

sl

There is no +4 on the Delta card. Just -10 and "consumer", and that only affects the outputs.

 

[snow lizard]

There is no +4 on the Delta card. Just -10 and "consumer", and that only affects the outputs.

That's kind of strange. My Delta 44 has all 3 levels on all inputs and output.

sl

 

[Farview]

That's kind of strange. My Delta 44 has all 3 levels on all inputs and output.

sl

I had the 2496 a long time ago. It could have changed since then.

 

[snow lizard]

I had the 2496 a long time ago. It could have changed since then.

Actually, I just dug up the manual for the 2496. You're right, no +4 and output only. I guess that card wasn't meant to take a mic preamp signal.


sl

 

[CudBucket]

Actually, I just dug up the manual for the 2496. You're right, no +4 and output only. I guess that card wasn't meant to take a mic preamp signal.


sl

I agree. At least not from a preamp with no output level control. I submitted an incident report about this to M-Audio and they're looking into it. I tried going direct into the card and the clipping problem goes away. So, the pre is definitely amplifying the signal too much. And without an output level control, there's no way to limit it. I plugged and SM57 into the pre and found that mic levels are easily controlled with the gain control and the Hi/Lo Gain Range switch.

As long as the DMP3 is working OK I can always use something else for my guitars. I can get something like the Studio Projects VTB-1 for my guitar. It has an output level control. Or, I can use my Mesa Studio Preamp when I want to run my guitars direct.

 

[snow lizard]

If the Mesa works ok, that might be your best option for now. While it's true that the VTB-1 has an output level control and a mic/line level input selector, it's still designed to crank out a +4 level signal. Most boards and preamps (maybe not all, but certainly all the pro quality stuff and much of the "prosumer" level cheapies) will operate at +4. It seems a bit cheesy that the 2496 doesn't give you that option, while other M-Audio stuff does. Again, my Delta 44 doesn't have this problem.

Anyway, good luck to you.


sl

 

[SonicAlbert]

I think you definitely want to be going line in to your sound card, not mic in. If you are going line out of your DMP3 into the mic input of the soundcard, then yeah it's going to be a complete level mismatch.