Traveler and low analog signal.

armann · Post by **armann** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 7:49 pm

Hi.

I'm having trouble getting a good signal from my guitars
using the traveler, I plug straight into the analog inputs
and the signal is very very low.

Everything on the channel is on full volume, I'm even using
the boost in the Cuemix....

I have tried different guitars and chords so I know it's not that.

Please advice, I'm just changing from Pro Tools so I'm not 100% sure
how things work with DP.

Thanks...

DMBDrummer · Post by **DMBDrummer** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 9:04 pm

Um. Wait. I need clarification.

Your monitoring signal is too low?

or

Your recording input is too low?

You did turn up the gain knobs on the Traveler, correct?

armann · Post by **armann** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 9:17 pm

Thank you for the reply.

My monitoring signal is low so my recording signal is low as well.

I have turned up the gain for the analog input i'm using, even
used the Cuemix boost for the channel.

When I play the guitar I get a very low signal in the Mixer window,
if I use Guitar Rig 2 as a plugin I can't even see the input signal coming
in but I can boost the signal using Guitar Rig 2 alot so I know the signal
is coming in. I have tried different analog inputs but that doesn't change
anything.

Hmm this is strange...

I'm used to have the signal around 0 on the channel without to
much gain using Pro Tools but I'm sure it's 99.9% my fault since
I don't know the DP system.

armann · Post by **armann** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 9:23 pm

Is it normal for the analog input level to be very low ?

If I use Guitar Rig 2 as a plugin and boost the output from there
I get a good monitor/recording volume.

DMBDrummer · Post by **DMBDrummer** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 10:52 pm

armann wrote:My monitoring signal is low so my recording signal is low as well.

I would be careful making that inference. That's not always the case. I don't know exactly how much you know about DP and the Traveler, so I'll try and state more basic principles. Please take no offense.

armann wrote:I have turned up the gain for the analog input i'm using, even used the Cuemix boost for the channel.

CueMix controls are not the same as record input controls. If you're looking at the front control panel of the Traveler, you are using one (or possibly more) of the left-most knobs to set your input level, right?

Anything done in CueMix should be done secondary. The first thing you need to do is to set your level with the Mic/Inst Precision Input Trim knobs. Also, I would check to see if you might have the -20dB pad active on your channel.

You should reference the "Audio Monitor" (confusing, I know) within DP to check your input level. Only after that, should you really need to do anything with CueMix.

I don't know if I am helping or hurting, here. Anyone else feel free to chime in!

Mika · Post by **Mika** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 3:34 am

I've tried plugging my guitar directly into one of the 4 mics/instruments inputs of my Traveler and the signal is very strong, I'm actually far from using the maximum gain.

Something's not right in your settings. How high does the vumeter goes when you play? Did you try with microphones? Just in case, have you checked your guitar pots?

armann · Post by **armann** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 11:32 am

I'm not plugging the guitars into the four xlr inputs on the left.
I'm plugging into the four analog inputs named 5-6-7-8.

I'm using two guitar that work perfectly everywhere else.

I thought Cuemix was just a software interface for the Traveler
controls ?

It's like there is no preamp for the analog inputs 5-6-7-8....?

stephentayler · Post by **stephentayler** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 11:45 am

armann wrote:I'm not plugging the guitars into the four xlr inputs on the left.
I'm plugging into the four analog inputs named 5-6-7-8.

Ah there's your problem!!

Those are line inputs...

Plug the guitar jack into the centre of the XLR inputs 1-4, they are combo inputs!!

Stephen

armann · Post by **armann** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 11:47 am

Ahh so there is no preamp for 5-6-7-8 ?

Sorry for the newbie questions...

Great I will try that now.....

Thanks...!

Vwtales · Post by **Vwtales** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:22 pm

This discussion seems to be discontinued. Hopefully someone still checks it as I have exactly the same problem in getting a strong signal for my TRITON into the traveler and then to Garage Band. Someone mentioned to plug the keyboard in one of the first 4 jacks. I did that and I was getting a distorded sound (even with the preamp off). After calling technical support at MOTU someone told me NOT TO plug a keyboard there as those were for mics or devices needing a preamp. Being a newbie know-nothing I proceeded to do just that. The distortion is gone now, but the signal is still low... When I plug in the TRITON directly to the monitor it sounds full and rich so that tells me that there is nothing wrong with the keyboard or the monitor. I have the volume totally up on both the monitor, the keyboard and on cuemix. I do hear the sound correctly, just not strong enough.

What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your help.

stephentayler · Post by **stephentayler** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:33 pm

Have you tried using the Mic/Instrument inputs (1-4) with the -20db pad for your Triton? That in conjunction with the preamp level should bring it under control

There is no reason not to use the instrument inputs for keyboards. The whole point of instrument inputs is so you don't have to get a DI box.

Also, don't forget you can switch line inputs 5-8 between -10 and +4 operating levels.

If you have it, this is all covered in the Traveler user guide pages 18 and 19.

Stephen

Vwtales · Post by **Vwtales** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 7:07 am

Yes indeed. Input 1 was the first one I used after I bought the Traveler. It caused distortion even at low levels. This is why the person at technical support (MOTU) told me not to plug the Triton there. The distortion went away instantly when I moved it to input 5. I know I'm new and have plenty of things to learn yet, but I did everything "by the book." I don't really know anybody who could show me hands-on as this is the best way I learn. Anyway, the good thing is that this stuff is just a hobby and no one is gonna get hurt if I don't learn it on time. Still I want to learn how to use it. Thanks though.