Would a better preamp increase volume?

[jpdubay]

I am running a Behringer Eurorack mixer into an M-Audio soundcard and i can only record up to a certain level without clipping, but that level is not very loud when i want playback. So I have to increase the volume when I mix it down which also produces clipping. If I got a better preamp, would that help me at all with this problem?

 

[tdukex]

I am running a Behringer Eurorack mixer into an M-Audio soundcard and i can only record up to a certain level without clipping, but that level is not very loud when i want playback. So I have to increase the volume when I mix it down which also produces clipping. If I got a better preamp, would that help me at all with this problem?

You need to check the volume on your soundcard software mixer and on your recording software. The Behringer produces plenty of gain.

 

[TexRoadkill]

To increase the relative loudness without clipping you need to use a compressor or limiter.

 

[Robert D]

Me thinks a little understanding of gainstaging is required here, and a little manual reading on the not very intuitive M-Audio software mixer. Is your recording source the HW input or the monitor mixer?
RD

 

[jpdubay]

my recording source is the HW input

 

[TimOBrien]

To increase the relative loudness without clipping you need to use a compressor or limiter.

What he said.

You need to raise the AVERAGE volume, not the peaks. Anything zero and over (depending on the soundcard some will clip even just under zero db) will clip no matter what.

You need compression with a limiter just below zero db to raise the >average< volume. You can do that with free plugins on the playback.

 

[Robert D]

Certainly true about what compression will do for raising the average volume. My concern is that you shouldn't need compression to get a good signal recorded, and of course you can't use software compression to get a good signal into the A/D converters in the soundcard. So, what you need to do is to determine where the level problem is, recording or playback, and where the clipping occures. Try to meter your signal at the various stages in the process and see where it's not not up to snuff. Are you using direct outs (or tapping channel inserts), or are you recording off the buss?
-RD

 

[tdukex]

Certainly true about what compression will do for raising the average volume. My concern is that you shouldn't need compression to get a good signal recorded, and of course you can't use software compression to get a good signal into the A/D converters in the soundcard. -RD

Yes. Please check your software mixers to be sure the volume is turned up. Compressing a weak track--whether hardware compressor or software will not fix the problem. It will raise the noise floor, though.

What mic are you using, and how close is it to the source?