Soundcard problem, very urgent!!!

P

pietdeyaert

Member
I'm having a big problem here, I'll be using my Edirol FA-66 (which I recently bought from eBay, second handed, perfect condition) for recording on set instead of directly into the camera.

Problem:
If I connect a mic (I tested it with several, for example: ME66/K6) trough XLR, Phantom power switched on, limiter on, 96 kHz, bus powered. I can't hear a thing until everything is set at the maximum settings! And then I'm getting awful noise and still is the signal too weak.
The same problem when connecting a dynamic mic trough TRS, same problem when even connecting a guitar.

Using Boomrecorder on my Macbook Pro (tried it also on mac G4 with Panther running and a windows XP computer)

Am I doing something wrong? What am I missing?

Need quick answer!! I'll be shooting within two days!
 
Was it working satisfactorily before?

Triple-check that you haven't engaged pad either in the hardwre or the software, and try a different mic input. Swap out the cables, check the mics in a different recorder or mixer. Switch the Edirol to "line-in" and try feeding it a line-level signal. If it can record a line-level signal, then you may be able to simply put a mackie or other compact mixer on the front-end and roll with it.
 
Tried all the other inputs, still too quiet.
When the mic is connected directly to a small handycam (I had laying around here) the sound is much much louder!!
Once it's connected to the edirol I'm having the problem of the sound being too quiet.
 
Again, is this a recent development, (was it working previously)? It could be that the Edirol just doesn't have very much head-room on the preamps ( I haven't used one).

Try it with a line-level signal. If it works fine when you bypass the mic preamp, then you may be able to just use an external mixer/preamp.
 
I just bought it from eBay, second hand. The guy says it has always worked properly, but it doesn' with me.
The edirol doesn't have any mic/line switch, you can't choose between it.

I've just used a cheap mixer (Dj-set-type), plugged the mic into the mixer, set all the volume to the max (so channel 1, where the mic is attached to and the master). I then connected the two cinch plugs coming from the master respectively in input 1 (L) and in input 2 (R) from the edirol. I used a simple cinch cable but on the one end I connected two TS (or TRS?) male pieces.

The funny thing is: I finally have sound! Don't even have to push the knobs to the max!
The only thing I'm missing now is phantom power and I'm having a stupid mixer in between (that probably produces noise AND it needs electricity!!)
The main reason why I bought this was to be able to record sound on set or just record some ambients but now I'll always need elecricity.
How come it suddenly worked With the mixer????
 
Its possible that the Edirol was set to accept a line input. If you're not hearing any distortion in you're new setup, then it looks like that was the case.

There are a variety of excellent battery-powered mixer/preamps on the market (PSC, Sound Devices, Wendt, Shure) designed for film/broadcast, but they're not exactly cheap. You could also adapt a compact mixer to run off a battery supply.

For what its worth, even if the Edirol's preamps were working you would have been well advised to bypass them and use a Mackie board. All-in-one audio interfaces often have rather shabby mic preamps (witness the sad preamps on the Mbox, despite the "focusrite" name).

If money's a big issue but you can work with extension cords, an ART tube MP is a very cost-effective (under $100) single-channel mic preamp. They're really not built for field use, though, so try not to drop it in the mud.
 
The thing is, that the Edirol FA-66 should have good quality mic pre amps. This is what the users are saying. Just don't get that it kind of 'thinks' I'm using a line-in instead of a mic.
 
Use jack 1, it is only high Z. Make sure the digital input switch is out (off). have the direct monitor in the middle to start. Remember that the output volume controls both headphone volume and the main output volume. turn off the limiter to make sure it is not mis-functioning.
 
Did already everything you guys said, pushing the HiZ button, limiter OFF, only use input 1, ..

I did even all possible button combinations even with every time turning the FA-66 off!!

I just don't get why it suddenly works when I'm using a stupid DJ-mixer?
 
The Edirol was off course selected as the right input device.
I even tried using other programs. All the same result.

I'm using a Sennheiser ME66/K6, which has always worked properly. I also tried switching cables, even tried switching mics. All without result.

When my mixer is connected trough two cinch connectors with the edirol (black for left and red for right channel, both with TRS (?) connectors) everything works.
But it does add noise.
Whish I just could connect my ME66 directly to the FA-66!!
(is there anybody with the same or a similar setup?)
 
pietdeyaert said:
I'm having a big problem here, I'll be using my Edirol FA-66 (which I recently bought from eBay, second handed, perfect condition) for recording on set instead of directly into the camera.

Problem:
If I connect a mic (I tested it with several, for example: ME66/K6) trough XLR, Phantom power switched on, limiter on, 96 kHz, bus powered. I can't hear a thing until everything is set at the maximum settings! And then I'm getting awful noise and still is the signal too weak.
The same problem when connecting a dynamic mic trough TRS, same problem when even connecting a guitar.

Using Boomrecorder on my Macbook Pro (tried it also on mac G4 with Panther running and a windows XP computer)

Am I doing something wrong? What am I missing?

Need quick answer!! I'll be shooting within two days!
Click to expand...
There is no need to use the limiter. The limiter cuts down your sensitivity, try without the limiter. Try using the battery on the ME-66 and turn off the phanton power on the Edirol.
 
I tried it. Believe me, I tried almost every possible combination.
It's something inside the FA-66.

When connecting the ME66 (using the battery, XLR cable) to my mixer, put everything to the max and then connect my mixer to one of the front inputs of the FA-66 it works perfect (exept for the increased amount of noise).

But when I then connect the ME66 without changing a thing but connecting it to the Edirol's XLR-port, I can't hear anything until I push the sens-button to the max.

My mixer doesn't have any pre-amps.
 
pietdeyaert said:
I tried it. Believe me, I tried almost every possible combination.
It's something inside the FA-66.

When connecting the ME66 (using the battery, XLR cable) to my mixer, put everything to the max and then connect my mixer to one of the front inputs of the FA-66 it works perfect (exept for the increased amount of noise).

But when I then connect the ME66 without changing a thing but connecting it to the Edirol's XLR-port, I can't hear anything until I push the sens-button to the max.

My mixer doesn't have any pre-amps.
Click to expand...

I hate to say it - but that "perfect condition" it was described as being in on eBay may not have been true and in fact something inside it is blown. Perhaps it's time for it to make a trip to an Edirol service centre. It's possible that's why the seller you bought it from unloaded it - happens.
 
Same problem here !

I've got an SM57 and an SM58 connected through XLR to my FA-66 and the input volume level is very low.
My whole equipment is brand new....

Have you solved this problem ?
 
Got it !

It's in the card's specs :

Code: 
 Nominal Input Level 
Input Jack 1–2 (XLR type):-50 to -10 dBu 
Input Jack 1–2 (1/4 inch TRS phone type):-35 to +4 dBu 
Input Jack 3–4: -10 dBu to +13 dBu (balanced)

XLR inputs will provide you a "low-level" signal, but Jack inputs will give you a way louder signal.

I just plugged my guitar to the FA-66 through a Jack cable, and the sound level is ok.

You have to plug your microphones through an XLR->Jack cable, I guess I have to buy two of these to plug my sm57&58.
 
pietdeyaert said:
Nope,
still haven't found a solution!
(exept using a mixer, but it adds noise!!)
Click to expand...

A mixer should result in less, not more, noise. What mixer are you using and how are you connecting it to the Edirol - XLR, TRS, or RCA?

try...

Mic into XLR 1
Input 2: LowZ
Phantom 48v: ON for condensor mics, OFF for dynamics
Limiter Switch: OFF
Direct Monitor Mono Select: ON (Mono)
Direct Monitor Bypass: ON (Monitor through Edirol enabled)
Direct Monitor Mix: Full Clockwise (100% Edirol inputs)
Input 1 Sensitivity: Full clockwise, reduce until limiter indicator LED just stops flickering red while speaking into directly into mic
Input 2 Sensitivity: Full CCW
Output Level: Clockwise to comfortable headphone level
Repeat with mic into input 2, turning sensitivity 1 down and 2 up

.. what are your results? Do you get normal sound in your headphones?
 
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