Recording low volume

[euser1]

Hi,

So, I'm trying to record digital piano via line in. Using audacity and external soundcard Focusrite Scarlett 8i6, Windows XP.

When I'm using mic inputs that also can be used as line inputs, all works more or less fine:

Line Inputs (Inputs 1-2)
• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.2dB
• Gain Range: -10dB to +36dB
• THD+N: 0.001% (measured with 0dBFS input and 22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• Noise: -90dBu (22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• Input Impedance: >10kΩ

But, when I want to use line inputs 3-4, recorded volume is very low and to get some acceptable results I need to turn up volume on almost everything and that's not working well:

Line Inputs 3-4
• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.2 dB
• Gain Range: Switch-able between +16dBu or -10dBV for 0dBFS (balanced inputs)
• THD+N: 0.003% (measured at 1kHz with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• Noise: -100dBu (22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• Input Impedance: >10kΩ

The strange thing is, that when using 3-4 for piano, while I'm playing live volume is OK. It's loud enough. In my monitor speakers, headphones (pluged into soundcard, etc.). So I wonder why the recording is so low volume?

[kozikowski]

Windows XP has multiple ways to set volume for analog services. I remember there being a volume control for the pass-through speakers and it was different from the one that records the show. My bet is you just haven't found all the controls yet.

Oh, and that's plus the one in Audacity (Microphone symbol).

Koz

[kozikowski]

This may or may not help.

http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer_Toolbar_Issues

I remember the philosophy was a little batty, but there was a record panel and a play panel. The play panel drove the speakers and you could turn up "Line-In" and listen to your performance all day long, but unless the same Line-In was turned up in the Recording panel, you couldn't record anything.

Koz

[euser1]

Seems that I found the problem, I just needed to put in 4 tracks instead of 2, because my soundcard has 4 inputs... However, I'm not sure if quality is as good as inputs 1-2, but problem itself is sorted.