ULTRA low input volume levels driving me insane! Please HELP!

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Xpred

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Alright. You may have noticed my multiple posts of problems with several issues. This thing has been driving me insane. Here's my story. Last week, I went out and bought the M-Audio FireWire Solo, the MXL 990/991 (One vocal/one instrumental) Mic kit, and accessories like XLR cables, pop filters, shockmount, stands, etc. So I install the drivers into my computer and hook it up.

The VERY first problem was that the input/volume level was way too low. You can barely hear anything at even full volume turned up on speakers. The recording amplitude on the sound programs also report it to be very very small. So it isn't speakers or playback problem, but rather input problem. I tried calling M-Audio Tech, and they suggested it was an IRQ problem. I checked my FireWire Controller IRQ, and I noticed that it was being shared with the video card (IRQ 16). Because my FireWire is onboard, I can do nothing about that. Now I go out and buy a cheap FireWire Card, and put it into my PCI slot. After messing around with different PCI slots, I come across an IRQ where it's not shared by anything. Now my new non-onboard FireWire controller is IRQ 18. OK, then I tried my system again. No luck.

I tried this with ANOTHER computer. Both computers are PC Systems running Windows XP SP2 with latest drivers on everything (chipset, audio, graphics, even mobo BIOS, etc, etc). Still the EXACT same problem. I thought it was the mics, but when I tested BOTH the mics, it was the same.

I thought to myself, maybe it's the pre-amp or the XLR cable. I took everything back to Guitar Center and they tried it on their laptop running a Mac OS. It worked fine. The pre-amp, XLR cables, and mics were fine. The volume levels were fine. I looked on several forums and found out that one person had a low-input volume problem with the FireWire Solo (!). Then I thought it could only be the FireWire Solo. I then thought to myself maybe my specific version of FireWire Solo has some problems with Windows or something. Then I swapped that out, and bought a NEW higher end PreSonus Firebox.

Now, after 5 days of mishaps, hassles, stress, frustration, driving back and forth a million stores for different things--I have my brand new PreSonus Firebox. I installed the drivers and plugged it in, and it STILL does the same. Still low volume input. On both preamp interfaces, the volume control & phantom power is ON! The gain/volume is turned up to about 75% all the way, and still low volumes. WHY?!

In my Control Panel, everything is fine. The recording devices were/are set to the FireWire Solo Mic 1/2 and PreSonus Mic 1/2. WHAT COULD BE POSSIBLY WRONG?! Either my two computers are just crappy, or God has put a curse on me that will never allow me to record music. I've tried different software, still same results. I've tried Goldwave, Sound Forge, Adobe Audition, and regular Sound Recorder. Two different pre-amps, and still the same problem. ARGH! Please someone help me. I've spent a week trying to solve this problem. If nothing else works, I'm just going to give up and never record again.
 
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You should contact tech support with this kind of thing. I mean, you PAID for that support, get some help from them!
 
Yeah. I realized it's Friday and their phone # is already closed. I have to wait until Monday. I already emailed them regarding this problem. Hopefully, I will have this solved (I hope)... because I really want this to work. My friends have almost the same equipment, and it works fine for them. I just don't know why it won't work for me.
 
Xpred said:
If nothing else works, I'm just going to give up and never record again.
Click to expand...


Send me your gear... :D

No seriously it may sound dumb but is your sound card setup for +4 and you're sending signal at -10 or something?
 
bigwillz24 said:
Send me your gear... :D

No seriously it may sound dumb but is your sound card setup for +4 and you're sending signal at -10 or something?
Click to expand...

Hehe, I'm just going to return the items if it doesn't continue to work out.

Well, my sound card is onboard. It is some crappy Creative CT5880 chip (similar to old SoundBlaster PCI128). I don't know if it would be setup at +4 or something. How do I check? Plus, I was told that the preamp interface would bypass the soundcard, so it wouldn't really matter. I've recorded other stuff fine in the past using a non preamp, just regular desktop mics. On both interfaces, the gain/volume knobs are/were turn up to maybe like -20 db, so 50%. And still ultra low volume. If I turn it up to 0db (100%), it's like not even clipping and the volume would then be still under acceptable range. Strange, huh? I'm beginning to think this problem is perhaps computer/OS specific or something.
 
When I said sound card I was referring to your firebox...

What type of computer is it and what chipset does it have? VIA chipset seems to have wierd problems like what your desrcibing a while back. I'd update all of your cpu's drivers anyway.

Did you disable the onboard soundcard? Multiple soundcards cause problems. If it is still enabled I'd disable it in the BIOS.

Did you make sure that the IRQ for firewire not the soundcard isn't conflicting?...
 
bigwillz24 said:
When I said sound card I was referring to your firebox...

What type of computer is it and what chipset does it have? VIA chipset seems to have wierd problems like what your desrcibing a while back. I'd update all of your cpu's drivers anyway.

Did you disable the onboard soundcard? Multiple soundcards cause problems. If it is still enabled I'd disable it in the BIOS.

Did you make sure that the IRQ for firewire not the soundcard isn't conflicting?...
Click to expand...

My computer is a P4 2.0GHz with an Intel 845E chipset. All drivers are updated as noted in first post including CPU and chipset. If I disable onboard soundcard, I wouldn't have sound for playback then, now would I? The soundcard itself is on a single IRQ, so no problems there. The problem seems to be for my main computer and my other computer. Both which have onboard audio (mine has a Creative sound chipset, the other has a Realtek one). Both have updated drivers on pretty much everything. I still don't know why it does this.
 
Xpred said:
My computer is a P4 2.0GHz with an Intel 845E chipset. All drivers are updated as noted in first post including CPU and chipset. If I disable onboard soundcard, I wouldn't have sound for playback then, now would I? The soundcard itself is on a single IRQ, so no problems there. The problem seems to be for my main computer and my other computer. Both which have onboard audio (mine has a Creative sound chipset, the other has a Realtek one). Both have updated drivers on pretty much everything. I still don't know why it does this.
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Uhmm if you have the firebox hooked up you have sound if the onboard soundcard is disabled....

Other than that I'm stumped.... :confused:

What is wierd is that you said you took it back to GC and they got it to work on a Mac... That suggests driver issues...

Like I said I'm stumped try the experts at Presonus as suggested earlier.
 
bigwillz24 said:
Uhmm if you have the firebox hooked up you have sound if the onboard soundcard is disabled....

Other than that I'm stumped.... :confused:

What is wierd is that you said you took it back to GC and they got it to work on a Mac... That suggests driver issues...

Like I said I'm stumped try the experts at Presonus as suggested earlier.
Click to expand...

What I meant was my onboard soundcard is the soundcard that provides SOUND for playback to my speakers, yes? If I disable that, then I record anything, I wouldn't be able to hear anything because thats where my computer speakers are hook up to, right?
 
The firepod provides sound for playback as well as recording...
 
I have FIREBOX. What I meant was in the sound program (Goldwave, SoundForge), it SHOWS as low volume input in the first place. I don't need to hook up external speakers because I am using just regular computer speakers to test the sound. But if the sound program that I'm using shows my mic recording as a tiny wave amplitude in the first place, it wouldn't make a difference....
 
Okay here is the hook up diagram for the FIREBOX it is basically the same as the FIREPOD with less in and outs.

As far as the low input of the that you are seeing in the goldwave or soundforge is due to the low output of your condenser mic which needs phantom power and gain.

Turn phantom power ON then turn the preamp knob on the front of the box up till you see the peak light come on then back off a little. That way you know the signal is hot.

Then look at your software program and check the input meter there.

Also make sure that whatever program you are using is looking for the output of the FIREBOX and not your onboard card.


http://www.presonus.com/images/FIREBOXhookupbig.jpg
 
I have phantom power on. I always do when having this type of condensor mic. The recording program is programmed to the interface. Check. My original post includes:

Now, after 5 days of mishaps, hassles, stress, frustration, driving back and forth a million stores for different things--I have my brand new PreSonus Firebox. I installed the drivers and plugged it in, and it STILL does the same. Still low volume input. On both preamp interfaces, the volume control & phantom power is ON! The gain/volume is turned up to about 75% all the way, and still low volumes. WHY?!
 
Go to adjust audio properties in XP...

Look for the speaker by the time clock & right click to get there...

Click the Audio Tab Make sure sound playback is set to your onboard soundcard and that sound recording to the Firebox.

Do the same under the voice tab.
 
bigwillz24 said:
Go to adjust audio properties in XP...

Look for the speaker by the time clock & right click to get there...

Click the Audio Tab Make sure sound playback is set to your onboard soundcard and that sound recording to the Firebox.

Do the same under the voice tab.
Click to expand...

Already did. I also made note of this in my original post. I have done pretty much everything out there, as you can see. I just don't know why it doesn't work. The only unlogical explanation is probably that I, myself, have been forsaken by the audio gods or something. :confused:
 
Nope. This is my first time attempting to use a more "professional" type of recording. I made some threads while back that I was looking for better way to record. Originally, I recorded my songs/tracks/music/etc on crappy desktop mics and headset mics (the ones you used to play games with, yep!). That worked perfectly fine using the 3.5mm input (1/8" I think). Crazy, but it worked. Then I realized I wanted to up my system and make it sound better cause you know those mics are really crappy. However, after buying the new stuff, it has never worked for me. I really feel like I'm the ONLY one with this problem as many others are perfectly happily without problems working flawlessly. *sigh* Oh well.
 
How about a 1/8 to 1/4 adapter for the computer mic or a radio with a line out?

As you said in the original post You originally thought it was the microphone a long shot but what if both mics are damaged? You said they came in a set.

When you plug the mic into the fire box and turn the Gain all the way up yell at the microphone do you see the clip light come on?
 
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