Okay so I was in a music store today, and I figured that I might as well ask one of the clerks about something that's been bugging my about my interface.
Basically, when I record stuff with my SM57 (the only mic I've had up until now), everything is fine. When I plug in my guitar directly in one of the 1/4 inputs, I have to turn the preamp volume all the way down, and then the volume on the guitar down a bit as well so it doesn't clip. That's on both active and passive pickups (if it makes a difference). Also, I just recently tried a condenser microphone, and I found it oddly loud. I was about 3 feet from it and talking at regular levels, and it was peaking at about -3Db in Sonar, with the preamp volume all the way down. With an acoustic guitar, it keeps clipping at 2 feet away with the 10Db pad engaged on the microphone.
The clerk told me that something was definetly wrong with my interface, and since the range for the preamp volume is supposed to be 60 Dbs, I should be able to turn the volume about half way up and still be able to use the condenser normally. He mentioned phantom power and it made me remember that switching phantom power off or on doesn't seem to change anything for the condenser.
Now, I've usually had some doubts about any advice given by a music store clerk (especially at that particular store), but he told me to bring it in to get it checked. I bought it more than a year ago so it's probably off the warranty though. It's a Presonus Audiobox.
I was thinking of maybe upgrading soon, but fixing this would help a lot for now. Any tips?
Thanks in advance!
Basically, when I record stuff with my SM57 (the only mic I've had up until now), everything is fine. When I plug in my guitar directly in one of the 1/4 inputs, I have to turn the preamp volume all the way down, and then the volume on the guitar down a bit as well so it doesn't clip. That's on both active and passive pickups (if it makes a difference). Also, I just recently tried a condenser microphone, and I found it oddly loud. I was about 3 feet from it and talking at regular levels, and it was peaking at about -3Db in Sonar, with the preamp volume all the way down. With an acoustic guitar, it keeps clipping at 2 feet away with the 10Db pad engaged on the microphone.
The clerk told me that something was definetly wrong with my interface, and since the range for the preamp volume is supposed to be 60 Dbs, I should be able to turn the volume about half way up and still be able to use the condenser normally. He mentioned phantom power and it made me remember that switching phantom power off or on doesn't seem to change anything for the condenser.
Now, I've usually had some doubts about any advice given by a music store clerk (especially at that particular store), but he told me to bring it in to get it checked. I bought it more than a year ago so it's probably off the warranty though. It's a Presonus Audiobox.
I was thinking of maybe upgrading soon, but fixing this would help a lot for now. Any tips?
Thanks in advance!
