Connecting at a club

[tomspace]

So I have always connected via RCA out to the RCA line in on the industry standard 800. I usually turn the volume control all the way up (5 o'clock) and then adjust the volume through the gain on the 800 till it doesn't peak. The sound quality is awful though should the volume be half up then adjust the gain on the clubs mixer?

[Waterfree]

Check the software volume, in the top in traktor.

[jezalenko]

I cannot confirm this, but I have heard that having the software volume (for any audio program) set to 100% causes clipping and distortion. For this reason I always set my master volume on my controller to approx 80% to avoid software clipping.

This is also a throwback to when I work as a live sound tech - the max volume you should have on any channel is at unity (about 80% - therefore the signal is non amplified). Never had any problems doing with with high quality audio.

However, it may be the house system is in fact mistuned (which happens more often than not in smaller venues). As long as nothing is peaking on the house mixer & amp then there's not much more I could tell you without looking at the system.

[photojojo]

Yeah, check the software main volume as it's separate from the hardware main. Mine usually sits around -8 depending on the situation.

[tomspace]

well in the software I have the main volume at 0.0dB which looks to be at 80%. Yet I am unsure where I should have the main level knob on the S4, also at 80% and adjust the gain on the main mixer I plug into?

[manchild]

Keeping the software volume at 0.0db is fine if you're using autogain and don't plan on boosting anything with your eq's.......I would set it at at least -5 so you have headroom.....when it starts to clip it sounds like junk and thats prob what you were getting bud

[tomspace]

but where do I set the tangible volume knob on the S4 itself?

[manchild]

but where do I set the tangible volume knob on the S4 itself?

max

[tomspace]

thats where I had it before but now I will do what I had always done except Ill lower the software volume -5.0dB and adjust the gain on the main mixer as needed. correct?

[brocklambert]

Software volume should be set to -5.0 db, then, turn your master output knob on the S4 to about 80%, then set the input gain on the mixer to optimum levels (not clipping). At that point, you will have enough headroom to increase the master output level on the S4 without anything clipping.