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Donna · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 10:51 am Post subject: Fast Track Pro low mic volume

Hi, my name is Donna, and -- I have low volume issues with my m-audio fast track pro. There is probably something deep in the archives about this, but I wasn't able to find it. The M-Audio folks have not been helpful with this.

My audio chain, you ask? Cheeky devils. All right -- Sennheiser MKH-416 to the m-audio to Windows pc (with XP pro) running Sound Forge 9. I have to crank the gain on the fasttrack up to 98% (any higher and it gets hissy) because control panel 'sound and audio devices' won't let me adjust volume there.

It's just something I've lived with by boosting volume in post (and then using Noise Reduction) but would naturally prefer to get a good clean sound going in.

Any suggestions?
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Mike Sommer · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 7:04 pm Post subject:

Has it always done this or is the a new development?

I don't know Sound Forge--- Does anyone know if there is a level input adjustment in the program or on the PC control panel? (I'm not a Windows Guru, nor do I play one).
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Donna · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 7:50 pm Post subject:

Mike, it's always been like that. I've just dealt with it in post, but hate that raising the volume after the fact makes everything louder, so I get more noise too.

Maybe if I try up, up, down, down, left right left right, b, a, start?
Wink

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Dan4VO · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 6:56 am Post subject: Separate PreAmp

I'd say a separate preamp is the answer here. Grace 101, True-PSolo or something like that. It will provide a cleaner sound due to the nicer pre (you'll use much less of the m-audio) as well as giving you the ability to achieve proper levels.

Dan Friedman
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Mike Sommer · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:50 am Post subject:

From my experience you should be getting good usable audio levels from the combo that you have. The only thing I can suggest is check your audio input (volume) level settings on your computer and your DAW (Sound Forge).

Try using the external power supply to power the interface, and not just the USB cable. Record in 24bit.

You could have a bad M-audio box or mic. See if you can barrow another condenser mics and to test the interface to see if it's not the 416 or the the M-Audio device itself.

Again I am not familiar with the Sound Forge, so hopefully someone here that uses it might be able to tell you if there are recording level adjustments, and where they are located.
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The Blog:
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Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I think Bob Souer uses the Fast Track Ultra.

Paging Bob Souer......Souer.....Souer ....

...Soueller...?

bobsouer · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 1:53 pm Post subject:

I use the Fast Track Pro some of the time with a 416 and have never had any problems with good levels. I agree with Mike that the culprit is likely either your unit or your microphone.
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Donna · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 4:12 pm Post subject:

That's kind of the conclusion I'm coming to, Bob. It's low no matter what mic I'm using.
Thanks for all the advice guys!
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