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Can't get much Volume
https://mail.karaokescene.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3707		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Crystal [ Tue Dec 28, 2004 10:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Can't get much Volume
Hi all!

Another question fer ya...
Since I got my new soundcard, I can't seem to get as much volume as before. I have the mic volume maxed. For most songs it's ok, but for some, the backing is just too loud for the mic.... I can no longer change my volume settings from my control panel, but that's normal, right?

Also.... what the heck is "latency"? does that have anything to do with it?

If all else fails, I could just lower the individual track where I have the backing, but that seems to distort the music a bit....

any ideas?


OH YEAH! one more question..... I don't know if this is a mic problem or a soundcard problem, but my vocals get distorted at a much lower level now. The little level meter used to be able to get up to red before it distorts... now it barely hits yellow... what might be causing that?

Thanks for you time!!
-Crystal
Author:  Tony [ Wed Dec 29, 2004 5:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Can't get much Volume
Crystal wrote:
Since I got my new soundcard, I can't seem to get as much volume as before. I have the mic volume maxed. For most songs it's ok, but for some, the backing is just too loud for the mic.... I can no longer change my volume settings from my control panel, but that's normal, right?

Wrong. You have to be able to change the card settings. First make sure you use the line input on your soundcard. Secondly, by either using the control panel or soundcard software, adjust the line in levels.

Crystal wrote:
Also.... what the heck is "latency"? does that have anything to do with it?

No, has nothjing to do with it. Latency is wasted time, or the time it take for a signal to travel from it's source to it's destination.

Crystal wrote:
OH YEAH! one more question..... I don't know if this is a mic problem or a soundcard problem, but my vocals get distorted at a much lower level now. The little level meter used to be able to get up to red before it distorts... now it barely hits yellow... what might be causing that?

Sounds like your mic gain is turned up high due to too low line input levels on your soundcard.
Author:  MortenN [ Wed Dec 29, 2004 7:09 am ]
Post subject: 
Allstar,

she is not using a mixer, but rather a pro-audio soundcard with XLR input.


Crystal,

without knowing your sound card, you should have a mic pre-amplifier gain as well as a level setting.

Since your sound card is a little more advanced than the consumer grade, perphaps you can no longer use the standard windows controls? If you installed the sound card with all its software perhaps the sound card software has such functionality?

Based on your description it sounds to me like the mic pre-amp gain is too high for your volume of singing, whereas the level out of the sound card is too low. Do they have an online manual. If they do I will be happy to quickly look through it.

Morten
Author:  Crystal [ Wed Dec 29, 2004 1:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
MortenN wrote:
Since your sound card is a little more advanced than the consumer grade, perphaps you can no longer use the standard windows controls?


Correct. Yes that's what I meant when I said I couldn't change settings from my control panel. I have actual knobs on the unit.
Here's a pic:
Image

The top left knobs are for "phones" and "line out"
The top right is for "direct monitor"
the bottom two are for the two mics...

An image from the back:
Image
the ports from left to right are:
USB ---> midi out ---> midi in ----> L line out ---> R line out ----> phones.

Now.... he's got the "line outs" connected to our desktop speakers. Is that how it should be?

Here is the online manual link:
http://www.tascam.com/Products/US-122/US122_Eng.pdf
Author:  Crystal [ Wed Dec 29, 2004 1:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
if it helps..... the program I use to record is "Acoustica Mixcraft"
Author:  Crystal [ Wed Dec 29, 2004 2:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
I should probably tell you what those little switches are also (top veiw pic)

the two on the top are:
DIRECT (on/off) currently OFF
MONO (on/off) currently OFF

and the bottom ones:
under the mic volume knobs are "MIC/LINE or GUITAR" currently MIC/LINE
and the one in the middle is "PHANTOM" (which i know is for condenser mics) currently OFF


hope that makes sense
Author:  MortenN [ Wed Dec 29, 2004 2:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
Crystal,

didn't you also install some software with the sound card. In addition to the hardware control there should also be some software control.

Is there a peak led/meter on the sound card?? I would turn up the mic gain just before the peak led lights when you sing the loudest. Or perhaps you just start you recording software, activate the vu meter, and then adjust the mic gain until you get close to 0 dB without exceeding it.

I use Adobe Audition so I am not sure exactly how your software works.

Morten
Author:  MortenN [ Fri Dec 31, 2004 2:06 pm ]
Post subject: 
Crystal,

Have you solved the issue??

I was thinking... Perhaps the windows mixer still controls the volume of the mic input from your sound card. Applications like CEP etc. don't specifically know about your sound card and rely on windows to provide the interface??

Morten
Author:  karaokemeister [ Fri Dec 31, 2004 4:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
If you're working through the windows interface (Assuming Windows XP), try this:

1. Double Click the speaker located in the bottom right of your screen (near the clock). Or you can go to the control panel and click 'Sounds and Audio Devices' and then click 'Advanced' on the Volume tab.

2. Click 'options' from the menu bar, then 'Properties'.

3. Select the 'Recording' radio button, and click the 'ok' button.

Make sure your microphone volume here is turned up about 2/3's of the way or so (adjust as needed).

If it still seems too low, go through step 1 above again. Then click 'Options' and make sure 'Advanced Controls' is checked. If it isn't checked, click it now.

Once you return to the current interface, click the 'Advanced' button under the microphone slider. If the '+20db Gain' check box isn't checed check it now and readjust the microphone volume under the recording controls (the steps I gave you first).

I'm hoping this helps get you through some of your problems, Crystal...
Author:  Crystal [ Sun Jan 02, 2005 10:54 pm ]
Post subject: 
well guys.... I've been gone for the past 4 or 5 days because my computer crashed..

My hubby was reading a forum about this Soundcard we have. There were a ton of ppl having the same volume problems as we are... I guess it has something to do with Windows XP.... it works better on other Windows versions... (even tho the box said it's compatable with XP)
So there was a plug-in or an update (or something) that would solve the problem, so my hubby installed it and BOOM. Crashed....

so.... I dunno what we'll do..... He'll keep researching tho.. playin around....hopefully we'll find a solution.

karaokemeister.... Since I installed the software for my soundcard, I'm no longer able to use Windows volume controls.
Author:  Lonman [ Mon Jan 03, 2005 2:08 am ]
Post subject: 
Ah, just get Windows 2000 :)
Author:  Tony [ Mon Jan 03, 2005 5:26 am ]
Post subject: 
Lonman wrote:
Ah, just get Windows 2000 :)


I have to agree with Lonman, the only good thing about XP is reformatting the drive and loading Win 2K!
Author:  Songstar72 [ Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:30 am ]
Post subject: 
Crystal...is that a tascam ya have...I bought one of those and took it back neext day cos I couldnt work it...I checked all forums too on the tascam product and too may ppl where haven problems....I think ya need to use a condenser mic and use the phantom power
Author:  Crystal [ Mon Jan 03, 2005 11:18 am ]
Post subject: 
Songstar.... did YOU try with a condenser mic? Did it make a difference?

interesting....


Lonman & Allstar.... Windows 2000, huh? I'll have to run that by my hubby. See what he says.

Thanks a bunch
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