12 Oct
2004
12 Oct
'04
7:20 p.m.
Andres Cabrera wrote:
Hi Erik,
Usually audio equipment is setup to output/receive at two possible
levels -10dBu or +4dBV, Semi-pro equipment and home equipment usually
work at -10, which comes up as very low when the receiver is setup for
+4. But I would guess the soundblaster card is setup to work at -10 as
well (I'd be surprised if it isn't).
Maybe there's some software fader somewhere else in the chain?
I don't think so, at least I am not aware of anything. The volume is
too low even when I just use the alsamixer to listen to it. When I
connect other devices (ipod, line6 guitar pod, yamaha dd-55 percussion
pad) the volume is OK.
Actually maybe I could use headphone output, I didn't think of that
(it should be pretty much the same as iPod or guitar pod, I use the same
headphones with all of these).
Maybe you need to turn the volume of the amp/tuner all
the way up?
nothing I do on amp changes the output in any way (volume,
treble/bass, various effects, dolby settings etc.).
erik
You shouldn't need a preamp, because the amp/tuner
thingy should do that
job.
Connecting to the speaker output wouldn't be good since speakers expect
a very high signal, so I would think it wouldn't work...
Andres
Erik Steffl wrote:
I am trying to record from a receiver (not sure
if that's the right
name, it's the amp/tuner, the thingy that all other components like CD
player, tape deck, video etc. connect to) and it seems like the levels
are too low (the soundcard is soundblaster live platinum, using alsa
drivers that come with kernel 2.6.5).
the receiver has two stereo audio outputs - one is marked as tape
deck recording and the other one as VCR output but both seem to be
about the same (and there doesn't seem to be a way to change them). I
connect them to the RCA connectors on the front panel (live drive) but
even if I set the mixer to 100% (on line in) the levels are too low.
On vu-meter the levels only go to about 25-30% (max) while the
'normal' audio is somewhere between 50-75%.
I believe both the receiver and soundcard work OK (I can record from
receiver to tape deck, I can record to soundcard from other sources)
so I guess there's mismatch between the signal from receiver and what
soundcard expects. Is there anything I can do? do I need some pre-amp
or something? Seems crazy but does it make any sense to try to record
from speaker outputs? Is there any way to change what soundblaster
expects on input?
TIA
erik