VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Adam Verner

Wondering if anyone knows much about the RME Fireface 400. I'm getting a weird limiting effect at exactly -6, chopping right off the top of the wav form. (granted, I have to yell loudly to get it there) I've hunted through as many settings as I can find and don't know why this is happening. Driving me nuts!
Signal chain:
AT4050 -> Symetrix 528e -> RME Fireface400 - > AdobeAudition1.5

I'm 99% its nothing in the Symetrix, I'm bypassing everything - should be using only the preamp. The Fireface mixer software is gain set to 0.0. The confusing part is the "rotary dial" the Fireface uses....I can't even match up the little display with the incoming mic line. Whimper. Help?

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Adam
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ricevoice · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 11:29 am Post subject:

Could it just be normal clipping in the Symetrix? Maybe try dialing back the input?
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Benjamin Stovall · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 12:36 pm Post subject:

Hi Adam,

This was a known problem with Adobe Audition 2.0. I'm not sure about 1.5, but since it's an even earlier version it's pretty likely. It seems to occur when the soundcard recieves only half of a stereo/dual mono signal. Here is an old thread:

http://www.audiomastersforum.net/amforum/index.php/topic,5792.msg58478.html

In short, an upgrade to a later version of Audition may be necessary for a true fix. A workaround does exist though:

Record in stereo. Either with the mono source fed to both channels or just one. Then save only one channel as a mono file.

Adam Verner · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 1:39 pm Post subject:

Whoa....I am awed yet again by the collective genius of the VO-BB. I even googled around for "audition 1.5 -6 problem," and phrases like that and couldn't come up with anything.

That does indeed appear to be the problem - the stereo to mono work around fixes the -6 limit. STRANGE. I even have a copy of AA 3.0 laying around I haven't ever installed - just got too used to 1.5. Time to upgrade I suppose...

Thank you mightily Benjamin!
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Adam
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Benjamin Stovall · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 2:57 pm Post subject:

Glad to have been of help!

dwpthe3rd · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 4:57 pm Post subject: Here's a possible fix!

I can duplicate that exact same problem using an EMU 1212M soundcard into SoundForge 8.0.

Problem for me occurs when recording from the sound card to both left and right inputs in SF... can't go over -6db. HOWEVER I mitigate the problem in SF selecting only left channel (in SF) for recording.

Weird as it is, works for me and it's a quirk I've lived with for years.. Hope it helps!

(I have the 528e as well and the problem is not there)
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Adam Verner · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 7:39 am Post subject:

Argh! I upgraded to Audition 3.0 and its doing the same thing! Clipping at -6db on mono files. Rats. I'm at a dead end, and I really don't want to learn a whole other audio software due to this one problem Frown

As far as I can tell it has something to do with the drivers...

For now, the recording to stereo work-around will work.
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Adam
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Benjamin Stovall · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:23 am Post subject:

Well, I have the latest version from the CS5.5 suite. I don't know if you're able/wanting to upgrade, but if you want I can test it to see if it's been addressed in this version (though I'm pretty sure it has).

SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 11:09 am Post subject:

One other thing you can try is to download the patch from Adobe. I don't know if this is one of the issues addressed with this patch or not. I use 3.0 with the patch and it doesn't do it on my machine.
Here's the link....
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4237
Good luck!!
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Adam Verner · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 11:10 am Post subject:

Yeah Benjamin, if you get a chance let me know if it's happening with CS5.5.

More appropriately, I should maybe download the trial version and try it on my setup. It might have something to do with the Windows version as well - I installed both 1.5 and 3.0 on my wife's laptop running Windows XP, and neither of them showed the .6 clipping. My machine is Win7...and showing it in both. Doesn't make me optimistic about CS5.5.

John - what version of windows are you running?
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Adam
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SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 11:17 am Post subject:

Windows XP Home Edition SP3
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Benjamin Stovall · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:39 pm Post subject:

Yes, trying the trial might be a better idea because the machines I have CS5.5 on are OSX Snow Leopard and Windows XP. It's not a fair test since you're on Win7.

That said, perhaps you should try running with Compatibility Mode set for Windows XP. That sometimes works wonders.

Adam Verner · Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 4:58 am Post subject:

Well now...it started working...and I have no idea why.

Towards the end of the day I had more time to fiddle with it, so I changed a whole bunch of settings (unfortunately not keeping track of exactly what I was doing). I also downloaded the ASIO driver at asio4all.com. Suddenly for some reason it was working - not clipping at -6db. So while I'm not sure what exactly I did...it's working now Smile

I just hope it doesn't stop again! Rolls Eyes

I'm able to run 1.5 and 3.0 side by side, and interestingly, it looks like not only is 1.5 clipping the audio at -6, it's reducing the db by 6. Recording in both programs at the same time results in lower-volume audio in 1.5. STRANGE.
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Adam
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Benjamin Stovall · Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:13 am Post subject:

Glad you got it working. There were some significant bug fixes and enhancements in later versions, so it still might not be a bad idea to get up to speed with the newest version.