[LAU] Terratec DMX 6Fire 24/96 Mic Input (not Linux specific)

[David Haggett]

Hi list

I'm generally happy with this card, but wonder if I'm using it correctly 
and/or optimally.  I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to audio generally.  
If it matters, I use openSUSE 10.2 with 2.6.22.9-ccj56-rt.  Record using 
Ardour2.  Use jack-rack as a ladspa effects host when not recording.

First Question

It (the DMX 6Fire) has a 6.3mm (i.e. 1/4 inch) mono microphone input with 
built-in pre-amp which the manual claims to be good for a condenser mic.  I 
typically plug my electric guitar into this, but is quite a fine balancing 
act between guitar and pre-amp volume controls to avoid clipping.

Should I have something in the chain to match impedance, or is the clipping 
just because my pickup signal is too high?  I can eliminate it by turning the 
guitar or the pre-amp down but this can lose tone.


Second Question

The mic input feeds to Alsa PCM Inputs 5 and 6, but of course is just 2 
identical streams.  I have been recording the guitar to a stereo track using 
both channels but wondered whether there was any benefit in doing this, or 
whether it would be better:
 * take a single input and split it to a stereo track?
 * take a single input and record it as a mono track?
 * take a single input and feed it to a mono-stereo plugin and record
   it as a stereo track?

Thanks in advance
-- 

David Haggett