UltraLite MK3 record from mixer

[externalaudio]

Hi,

This is probably an easy one but I've been trying to figure this out all day. I'm trying to run out from my mixer (booth, tried main also), into the Motu's 7-8 input channel (RCA to Phono stereo), then record my mix into Sound Forge but the level is so low that it's barely heard. I took up the trim in CueMix to 22 and I get a little more sound but not much. I've also tried channels 3 and 4 with the same results.

Thanks for any input or suggestions.

[externalaudio]

I got this,

I will reply in case anyone else overlooks this. I didn't see that I was running out from the Pioneer DJM-500's RCA out with stereo phono jacks into the Motu but when I switched to analog I got my levels.

As a side note, I tried Moto support but they were only interested in getting me off the phone and telling me that my mixer and cables were probably crap, even though I was using this setup before, flawlessly, but with a different sound card. Dude was kind of a dick about it too so I hope I never have to call those useless fools again.

[conleycd]

I'm not sure I understand the problem fully. You are not getting sufficient level coming into the Ultralite? If you are plugging in a phono output into the line inputs of the Ultralite - you will need a preamp because the phono output is far below line input. You could try Analog 1 and 2 with the added gain available but I think you would just increase the noise floor.

Can you repost the problem again?

CC

[externalaudio]

Yes, you are correct, there wasn't enough level coming into the Motu even with the trim all the way up at 22 but no, I wasn't running directly form the turntable. It was coming from the mixer, a Pioneer DJM-500.

This sound card replaced a different card which had RCA in and was working perfectly. I kept trying to explain that to Motu support but they just had me do a loop test to confirm the Ultralite was working and that was the end of it. I did tell the guy the kind of cable that I was using and it didn't occur to me until he ushered me off the phone that I was actually telling him stereo in, so I swapped the RCA / phono adapters to mono and I had to turn down the trim and booth level on the mixer b/c I was redlining.

It wasn't a necessity but occasionally when I get drunk I still like to drop a mix the old fashioned way instead of spending hours creating warp markers in Live, (which is a pain in the ass for DnB) and it was bugging me that I couldn't record like I used to with the bad Audiophile that this thing replaced.

Thanks for asking tho.

[resolectric]

The problem is not the cable. Its the signal level the cable carries.

A Phono Output from a record-player carries a signal much lower than normal line-level. Besides it's equalised differently (google for "riaa equalisation curve")

Hi-Fi equipment uses RCA plugs for both Line level signals and Phono level signals.
Same plug, different levels.
Not compatible.

[conleycd]

Are you accidentally trying to run into your SPDIF RCA cables? I thought I would ask to make sure. For what you are talking about you will need from your Pioneer mixer a RCA to 1/4" cable to go into one of the line inserts. Make sure that one of the cables or the mixer is not inverting the polarity because you will end up out of phase on your inputs. If the material is the same then it will phase cancel. A phase cancelled signal though would show signal coming into the Ultralite but you would hear low signal coming out of your speakers if in mono.

Route the Pioneer to another input. Maybe a different mixer or something - make sure you still have signal coming out of the Pioneer.

CC

[externalaudio]

I really appreciate the input but I want to mention again that I am not running directly from my turntable. I run my turntable into a mixer. Almost all mixers nowadays will amplify the signal so that it can be output directly to speakers or to a receiver. Also, most mixers have two sets of outputs, main and another set to monitor, which most DJ's will use to record their mixes or for a booth monitor speaker in the event that they are playing at a club where the main outs are used in another room or further away. Both of those outputs are amplified. Do they even make mixers that need a pre-amp these days? That would be some retarded sh*t.

At any rate, the problem was fixed by going mono to each input (which makes sense to me in the end), why would I want to run stereo to a single left or right analog input, right? I don't know, I could be wrong, I am no expert by any means but I have been DJ'ing for a quick minute and have been doing mixes from one machine to another forever. The only element that was changed was adding RCA to Phono adapters and the sound card of course, which I love by the way. I can't tell you how many times I came up to a computer or keyboard with no sound only to have to restart the old M-Audio, even with all the latest driver updates.

And conleycd, no on the SPIDF. I wish my mixer had SPDIF outs, that shits would be nice. I was running into inputs 3/4 of the Motu but tried 7/8 also with the same results. But yo, thanks again and the problem seems fixed, I recorded some vinyls and can now adjust the levels like normal and playback is clean. I can't wait to dig into this device a little more, if I can only find some time.

Thanks.