I’ve got an unusual problem. Previously I would have asked Reddit, but screw them. Please let me know if this isn’t an appropriate usage of Lemmy or this… Sub-Lemmy? Anyway I’ve got an XDJ-RR that originally had been connected directly to our Sony receiver via RCA jacks on both devices. Audio was really good and it might clip if the levels were pushed to the extreme on the decks, but was controllable. Now we’ve connected the decks to an M-Audio Air 192 6 and run the audio through the computer using the XLR jacks on both devices. Now every sound from the decks wants to clip and the audio interface level meters are showing clipping. I’ve got the input turned all the way down to 1 on the M-Audio interface and we have to keep the master on the decks well more than halfway to negative infinity. The master level meters on the decks barely register. Some things I’m considering:
- The RCA outputs on the decks run through a compressor for the basic removed while the XLR outs are raw and I’m expected to know how to deal with it.
- My XLR cables are too low resistance. I bought these years ago for microphone recording. They’re Mogami neglex 2549 microphone cables.
- Either the XDJ-RR or M-Audio Air 192 6 are defective.
- There’s a setting on the computer I could find to turn down the input gains aside from the the knobs provided on the M-Audio Air.
- ???
Some more Notes: I’m using QJackCtl with Carla on the computer. Mostly we just patch the inputs to the outputs of the audio interface to play, but will also patch into OBS Studio for twitch streaming or Ardour for recording. Even though we keep the input gains pegged at the bottom, the main output knob is kept maxed out. Turning it down didn’t help with the clipping but brought the ouptut levels down unnecessarily.
Usually rca jacks run at -10db and xlr +4db, at least that how the interfaces used on my music computer and digital mixer work. I don’t know any of the particular equipment you are using, but I’d look for an input setting on your interface that might adjust for the higher signal level.
Thanks for the info. I didn’t know that the outputs would typically be at different levels and that could explain the problem. I may just buy some RCA to 1/4" TRS cables to use instead of the XLR. The XLR inputs are combo inputs on the audio interface so I should be able to just plug them in.
I’m just guessing that it might be the -10 vs +4 level issue regarding your equipment setup. You could try putting a 10 to 20 db pad inline on the xlr input path to solve the issue: https://www.amazon.com/PROCRAFT-INLINE-ATTENUATOR-FEMALE-ADAPTOR/dp/B07B1G6PM8/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=3W1VFFZ0Q65TK&keywords=xlr+pad&qid=1689794883&sprefix=xlr+pad%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-4 It’s all about gain staging. Here is a link to a 7-page Gearspace thread about it: https://gearspace.com/board/audio-student-engineering-production-question-zone/566766-4db-10db-what-does-all-mean-exactly.html Somewhere in the thread someone says: “Actually, I learned later that a simple XLR to 1/4” TRS cable going into my interface line inputs solved the too much gain issue"
Thank for this great info and links! It’ll take me some time digest and solve my specific issue. But I’ll be back with feedback.
Happy to confirm that a pair of -20db XLR attenuators did the trick! FYI I did find a -6db master attenuator in the settings of the Pioneer XDJ-RR, but alone it wasn’t enough. Thanks for your help!