Recording is very faint

Caity FitzGerald · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008, 23:05 (GMT) Post subject: Recording is very faint

I finally got everything set up right but when I record it is very faint. I don't know how to use this kind of board- I'm used to radio control rooms where I walk in and it's all set up and I just pot up the mic and go.

I have a Behringer 802, Adobe Audition 1.5, and windows XP on an Inspiron E1405 if any of that is necessary. Now, in layman's terms, how do I make it louder? Behringer emailed me back saying what every knob does on the board but it was all techy jargon to me and I don't get it! I feel pretty stupid because I'm sure that it's something really simple.

I like the sound of the volume in my headphones, and when I mess with the knobs it justs waaayyy too loud in the headphones and hurts my ears.

Can anyone help me again?

Many thanks,
Caity

John Weeks · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008, 23:22 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Caity,
I'm not familiar with the Behringer, but if there is a "trim" pot (little volume control on the back for each channel), you might want to adjust it. I know that the Mackie boards have them but not sure about the Behringers!
I just looked it up and I see there is a trim pot for each mic channel on top above each mic channel. Try adjusting this so you get the level you need!
Good Luck..

Caity FitzGerald · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008, 23:33 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi john,

Thanks for the quick response. Well, I did mess with that initially but the more I turned it up the louder the headphones got as well and soon it made a loud pop sound in my ear and it hurt my ear! Isn't there a way to adjust the mic volume seperate from the headphones?

John Weeks · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008, 23:59 (GMT) Post subject:

Yes, under the "main" section there is a headphones adjustment. Just turn that down and look at the meters to see if you're getting a good level. Next to the headphone adjustment is the "main mix" adjustment, make sure it is turned up as well. Once you get your levels correct according to the meters THEN turn up your headphones.
I hope this helps.

Caity FitzGerald · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008, 00:26 (GMT) Post subject:

Aaahhh... I see. Okay, so I turned that down but then the levels on the mic went to non-existent. Even when I turn up the Main Mix, it still stays really, really low. So the only way I can get the mic up high is if I turn the headphones up high too. Does that make sense? But then it's so loud and there is feedback from the mic into the headphones and it makes a screeching sound. So I plugged it into the firewire interface (FCA202) but then I can't hear myself when I talk, only when I play it back. I must be doing something wrong.

Chris Clementson · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 216

Caity -

Take off the headphones and turn the headphone level control all the way down. Set the main mix control to 2 o'clock and the mic level control to 2 o'clock. Watch the meter and speak at your normal level, watching the meters. Adjust the trim control so that the green and yellow LEDs come on in response to your voice, but not the red. Now put on the headphones and bring up the level to suit.

Are you plugging into the Behringer headphone jack or the interface jack?

John Weeks · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008, 00:40 (GMT) Post subject:

I think you might be using "control room out" instead of "main out" to feed your computer. If that's the case then you should try "main out" and the headphone/control room volume won't affect the output level, only the "main mix" control will.

Caity FitzGerald · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008, 01:08 (GMT) Post subject:

Chris, I have them plugged into the board now, not the interface. When I did what you said, the headphones got waaayyy too loud. I can't even put them on because it hurts my ears.

John, I have the cords plugged into BOTH the control room out and the main out. It's the only way that I was able to get anything to record.

Here is a picture of how I have it set up. Forgive the quality of the picture, I can't find my camera and had to use my phone.

John Weeks · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008, 01:21 (GMT) Post subject:

You shouldn't have to use BOTH sets of outputs to be able to record. I'm not sure what is going on with this.

Chris Clementson · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 216

Caity FitzGerald · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008, 19:07 (GMT) Post subject:

Yes, I wasn't wearing the headphones when I did it and I turned the level back up slowly, but when the headphones knob is turned all the way down or really low it won't record at all.

Lee Kanne · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008, 21:19 (GMT) Post subject:

a lot of interfaces come with software that lets you adjust the latency and volume of your in's and out's ....

that software normally gets loaded when you load the drivers from the CD.

if everything on the outboard side is hooked up correctly and you still arent' getting signal, your Behringer Firewire interface software could have the master outputs or inputs set very low...

Chris Clementson · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 216