Audio Express Instr/mic input clips with guitar

[Mordred]

Hello, I just installed my new MOTU Audio Express and I try to make things work. When I tried to test electric guitar recording I realized that the input signal clips easily while the trim remains to zero. Is this normal? Or should I use the analog input for guitar recording? I ask this question bacause it is the first time I see an input cliping without any gain applied. I checked both my guitars, but the result is the same.

Thank you

[monkey man]

Firstly, is the trim's "0" setting the lower limit or is there a negative range too?

Secondly, are the PUs active or passive? If they're active, you may have to back the volume (on the guitars) off a bit to, say, 70-80%. This isn't unheard of in my experience.

[Mordred]

One guitar has active PUs and the other has passive. The active PUs give just a little higher signal, no big difference, but the thing is that the the passive PUs clip also. There is no negative number in the trim, at least in my version of cuemixFX.

[monkey man]

Aah... I thought you were referring to a physical trim knob; I haven't seen the Audio Express.

Well, dialling back the volume pots to 70-80% as I suggested might be your only option, mate.

[Mordred]

Finally I talked to the phone with the seller and he was very helpful. This sound card as well as some other models, has the PAD option which reduces the input signal db. The thing is that when I plug the jack this option is disabled, something that does not happen when I plug a mic with XLR cable. The next think I will try is using a DI. Thank you anyway monkey man.

[monkey man]

Hey, no worries, man.

Some DI boxes have pads too, which just might be needed...