Delta Audiophile 192 Line Input level very low

[rmkmonk]

I am trying to digitise my vinyls and cassettes using the Line In, and taking the source from the Rec Out of my hifi's preamp, which is the standard output in terms of volume etc. The software (Polderbits) won't let you control the record level, which is very low, and there is no software control on the M-Audion control panel either.

I tried hooking an old Realistic (Tandy) mixer in between, so as to try to boost the signal, but too much distortion crept in.

I realise now I should have investigated this before I bought the Delta, but if anyone else has met this problem and has a solution, please let me know, as I really want to make progress in archiving my old records and tapes.

[JA]

Is the level fixed on the Rec. Out of your hifi's preamp? What kind of level controls do you have with the Realistic/Tandy mixer? As you boosted the level, were you clipping the inputs? Did you see red on the input meters? Since there are no level controls for the 192's inputs, you have to adjust the signal before its input.

[rmkmonk]

Yes the level is fixed on the preamp out. The level controls on the mixer are aux (slider controls), and yes the meters were well into the red. I'll try again and see if I can get less distortion.

[drew51]

I bought this card for the same thing, and it is useless. Very high input, yet levels are extremely low. My 1995 sound card has more features. I was stupid for buying this card. How could you not have a gain control? What good is it if you don't? It's useless, as a strong feed is in, and is lost. In this case you get what you pay for. A poorly designed cheap card. Plus 10 levels show up as -23 levels, about as poor as one can get. What a waste, I'll make sure to tell all to avoid these cards at all costs. Even the soundblaster card has gain control, it's much beter then this card. I have to laugh at my ignorance. I should have stayed with the Gina card.

[kirot]

drew51,
I felt sorry regarding your misfortune with the 192. But first you have to resolve everything before making sour comments with a very respectable card. Test your equipments before plugging anything into the card and follow instructions in installing the driver and standard procedures required by your recorder, etc.

I am from a place in Asia where you can never see store selling m-audio cards (online maybe). I have to save a fortune (yes I am poor) just to own a 192. I have to send money to a friend in Australia to buy me this card. I cannot buy online because I don't have a creditcard. To make this short, my 192 arrived upon his return to our place. I plugged the 192 in my computer and got no problem with it. In other words, I am very happy with it. It works well with my Behringer mixer and Denon turntable (both from secondhand shops). I even tried the card with the computer of a friend. Actually it's a dual boot of an Ideneb (Mac) and an Xp (sorry, M-Audio, to mention this). It works perfectly well in both OS! He planned to buy one in the future.

Just a little patience and everything will be okay.....

[Sid44]

I felt that th recording level on Audiophile 192 is very low, even comapred to Firewire Solo, that presented the same software return level after recording as the input level during recording. I am using my mixer's alt 3/4 output connected to Audiophile 192 audio in. I know I have to control de real time level output and the main mix (soundcard) level, but the mixer's level shows that the recorded signal is always very low.

I know that this soundcard specs are very good, but I didn't epect problems with input level. I even tried recording directly from keyboard into 192 audio in, but seems the same low input.

[bjorn_johansson]

I also experienced low input level when feeding an unbalanced RCA signal from my external Phono pre-amp into my Delta 192 card. However, as the Delta 192 card is designed for balanced XLR input I got a unbalanced (RCA) to balanced (XLR) converter and the balanced signal is strong enough to drive the Delta 192 card. Signal stays at -1.5dB (under digital clipping) for most records (and volume control at max), but for some records I have to turn down volume control a nothch.

Bjorn

[Sid44]

I'm having the same experience. I am using a Mackie 1202-VLZ3 mixer's Alt Output connected to Delta 192 input. I am also noting a very low recorded signal compared to the previous experience with FireWire Solo. Even if Delta 192 has better converters, I get a very low recorded sound. I felt that this may be a problem since I started using and recording with this card. It becames very strange to use it with a sequencer, because during playback the soft synths or drums always sound louder than the recorded guitar or vocal level. Even if I turn the mixer's channel very high, it doesn't seem to be the answer, it seems I've recorded a weak signal. Very difficult to apply sequencer's digital gain sequencer in order to hear every track at the same level while direct monitoring.

Any help? Maybe a driver update with db level control would solve this?

[juansven]

same thing. just bought a 192. connected my vestax pmc-270a into it and put a record on the turntable. im totally gutted. i can't believe thats the level of input ive got for recording unless i turn my mixer up at the gains or trim, which means i'll be recording distortion. never had any problems with my old audigy card from creative. surely there must be a solution for this. what goods a card with recording inputs if you cant boost the volume with the onboard mixer? ive tried reinstalling it a few times and moved to a different pci slot.

[JA]

The Audiophile 192 was meant to be used with a device that has a variable output level control. How high are the levels hitting the Delta control panel? Are you connecting balanced or unbalanced? What output on your DJ mixer are you using? Can you turn up the level for that output to boost the level?

[sunceb]

OK i think i can help you guys.

First of all there is no need for input control level on A192 sound card.
Second of all u need to know what are pros and cons of balanced and unbalanced cables/connectors. Use Google.

Recording with unbalanced cables (RCA connectors http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCA_connector) will result in problems what u guys have: low recording level and also loss of quality.
That is why u need to use balanced cables/connectors (TRS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS_connector and XLR http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XLR_connector). Usually all mixers have XLR or TRS outputs. If don't they are low budget mixers and u did a big mistake buying them.

So when u connect your input on A192 and your "source" (e.g. your mixer ) using balanced connectors your recorded level will be proportional to output level on your "source".
In other words if u set your output level on your source to max of 0dB (that means with no clipping) your material will be recorded at 0dB. Suggestion is, set your output at -1dB or -2dB so u can avoid occasional peaks.

And finally if u must use RCA connectors be sure that cable is short as it can be. Something around 1-1.5 meters (don't know about fits). And also don't use any of those adapters (RCA to TRS)

[juansven]

with my mixer set up the way it was before i changed the card to the 192 (volume fader @ 10, trim @ 12 oclock and master volume @ 2 oclock) it registers @ -24 on the delta control panel.
im using semi decent phono leads coming out of my master output with 2 mono jacks fitted at one end for the soundcard.
to get a decent recording signal (and i have to normalise my recordings afterwards) i have the volume fader @ 10, the trip @ 2 oclock and the master volume @ full (5 oclock). this gives me a total input on the cards contol panel of around -12 (peaking @ -6). at this setting my vestax pmc-270a mixers master levels are fully in the red @ a reading of +8.

[juansven]

between this and the crackling and distortion i get from playback when i surf the web i'm thinking of changing card and give m-audio a wide berth in future.
why so many problems from this card? tbh im scared to plug my keyboard in as im still grappling with all the other problems at the moment.

[sunceb]

Maybe i posted my post/solution somewhere else by mistake as i don't see it here.

In a nutshell again: Forget about RCA cables(Chinch, phono leads?!) and forget any of those converters: From RCA to TRS (jack, 1/4)
Buy yourself a decent balanced cables!

And if your mixer or whatever your source for recording is, dont have balanced outputs then u cant expect quality recording and pretty much your problem lies in there.
But if u dont have any choice rather than using unbalanced cables then make sure that those cables are short as they cen get. Around 4-5 feet (around 1.5 meters)