[linux-audio-user] gain and jack issues

hey all, i have been using ardour2 (CVS) for about a year now and it has proved extremely useful and powerful. however, i am very confused when it come to how to control gain. firstly, i am using a gentoo system with a RME multiface with PCMCIA. (love this combo) I have a lot of problems getting a nice amount of gain from various sources, namely keyboards/synths, guitars, and live mixing desks. When i record into ardour the waveform is barely visable but i can hear it. it is pretty useless unless i normalise it after recording. this has been what i have been doing everytime i record something and its becoming a very tedious and i feel it is bad practice. i know that the multiface can have the internal gain changed to -10 +4 but i don't think that is the issue as the equipment i am using is nothing unusual. also, trying to get decent gain out of ardour is difficult to. the strange thing is that when i play files in audacious/XMMS though jack while ardour is running its REALLY loud. futhermore, when i import external sound files on ardour and preview the sound in the dialog box, once again its REALLY loud. could someone please explain to me what is happening. and yes, i have been using the HDSPmixer to alter gain however, i feel that the resolution of the faders is a little weak. thanks all! keep up the good work.