Signal too strong w/ELCO cable from ADATs to PC

[EddieRay]

I've been remote recording to ADAT (blackface) then re-recording it to Cakewalk and finishing the work there. I just recently got a used XT20 and ELCO cable. So I tried using the ELCO instead of the unbalanced ADAT outs to record in Cakewalk. The signal is way too hot in Cakewalk.
Input to Cakewalk is thru an Aark24 soundcard. I tried changing some of the Aardvark Manager settings (pro vs consumer levels, various faders) but they have no effect at all.

Am I not going to be able to use the ELCO for this? The recordings were done using the unbalanced inputs. Would it make a difference if I recorded thru the balanced ELCO inputs? Or is Aardvark Manager misbehaving?

Also, in an earlier question you guys said I could transfer ADAT files directly to my PC with an ADAT I/O card. How does that work? What kind of files end up on the PC?

 

[treymonfauntre]

to answer your second question..
you don't actually transfer the files, its just digital audio being input to your computer. you still have to hit record in whatever multitracker software you use.

 

[Adam P]

It appears that the ADAT ELCO outputs are at +4. Check to make sure your interface is set for +4 and not -10. It's the only thing I could think of that would be causing the difference.

 

[Ford Van]

I am thinking that the Aardvark card isn't switching to +4.

The ELCO connector is +4, and if the Aardvark is set to -10, you will have a BIG OL' problem with levels being too hot.

Personally, I would try to find an ADAT Lightpipe I/O solution for track transfers, but I DO NOT recommend the ADAT Edit card. Steer clear away from that POS!

 

[xstatic]

I agree with Ford Van. It does sound like the Aardvark is not making the switch to +4 and I would avoid the ADAT edit card. That thing was prone to all sorts of problems. There are users out there that are not having problems, but there are many users who are. Persoanlly, I like the RME lineup. You might want to look into the HDSP 9632. That would give you 16 channels of ADAT optical I/O. But, any card that offers ADAT optical (8 channel) I/O will work

 

[EddieRay]

Gracias Amigos!

 

[snatchman]

Also, make sure you didn't record into the Adat through the Elco because this is +4 input! If it's recorded at that level to the Adat, it's going to playback at that level. How "hot" were the levels going to the XT-20? In my dealings with the Adats through the years, ( Black-Face, XT,XT-20), for some reason, the Black-Face Adats seemed to have "higher" nominal level than the XTs. Maybe due to the lower bit rate and it needed to run "hotter" to get better resolution than the higher bit rate of the XT, XT-20! See how low the nominal gain the HD24 requires? Just my thoughts. (YMMV) ......