Old 03-02-2017, 09:45 AM   #1
reapermusic
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Default Is this normal audio interface behavior?

Hi guys,

Is this normal?

When I set up a new session to record and plug my electric guitar straight in to my audio interface, I just nudge the input gain on my interface and notice that my track is already showing a -18 signal and my master a little bit above that.

I don't know if it's my guitar pickups that are hot or maybe the audio interfaces instrument/line input is wonky or perhaps I'm the wonky one lol

My interface is an OLD M-Audio mobile pre and my guitar is a Jackson DK2 pro with Seymour Duncan humbucker I beleive a JB.

I did order a DI box last night thinking that maybe that will help in some way so waiting on that to arrive.

I mean I can still manage to record without clipping but it just feels odd as if the interface input is wayyyyyyy too sensitive or something like that.
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Old 03-02-2017, 11:12 AM   #2
Openurlife
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Have you tried using a cox in the box? It should hook right into the back side of your interface.
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Old 03-02-2017, 11:24 AM   #3
ashcat_lt
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Most audio interfaces add about 10db gain when you flip it to Instrument mode. Most of my guitars are pretty hot, and at least one of them can make that type of input clip pretty easily. I find it doesn't make much difference if you're just going to slam it into a dirty amp sim anyway. Usually the analog electronics will start to distort before you hit 0 anyway, so it's a lot like a not-quite-clean boost before the amp.

What I do is plug my guitar into a buffered bypass pedal and then straight into the line input. Don't tell it it's an instrument.
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Old 03-02-2017, 12:09 PM   #4
reapermusic
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ashcat_lt View Post
Most audio interfaces add about 10db gain when you flip it to Instrument mode. Most of my guitars are pretty hot, and at least one of them can make that type of input clip pretty easily. I find it doesn't make much difference if you're just going to slam it into a dirty amp sim anyway. Usually the analog electronics will start to distort before you hit 0 anyway, so it's a lot like a not-quite-clean boost before the amp.

What I do is plug my guitar into a buffered bypass pedal and then straight into the line input. Don't tell it it's an instrument.
Thanks a lot for the suggestion and explanation ashcat!
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