USB Audio Interface Doesn't Seem Loud Enough
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  1. #1

    Default USB Audio Interface Doesn't Seem Loud Enough

    DJTToolers:

    As I've been reading a lot lately, being relatively new to digital DJ'ing, I realized its not good to have your volume faders turned all the way up usually. When I do, the VU meters go into the red. Now, When I have them about 75%, that seems to be the sweet spot and no red unless I'm mixing in another track at the same volume for a few seconds. BUT, now I have to turn up my USB AI (Focusrite Scarlett 2i4) all the way and I must say the volume just isn't enough. I have two KRK Rokit 5's connected with TRS --> XLR.They are 3 feet from my head and facing right at my ears.

    Traktor Gain is at +0dB, Rokit 5's gain is at +0dB, my headroom is set to -6dB. Sound quality is primo, but it sure could go A LOT louder for my taste. Someone told me that the headphone pre-amp was weak, but actually, I can't listen to it more than 3/4 of the way up or I'd damage my hearing (V-Moda M100's).

    Below is the drop in the 2i4 straight from their website. Am I expecting too much from this little device? Is it because its USB powered? If no one can help me get it up louder without going red, I'm going to return it and look for something else. Then again, what would I be looking for to ensure it would be loud? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

    Kevin "EDGEK8D" Harris, M.D.

    1-2i4_Front.jpg2-2i4_Rear.jpg

    Specifications

    2 in / 4 out USB audio interface
    96 KHz, 24-bit conversion
    2 Focusrite microphone preamplifiers
    Red anodised aluminium unibody chassis

    Front panel

    2 line/mic/instrument combination inputs - Neutrik XLR/ ¼ “ TRS Jack Combo
    2 line/inst switches
    2 illuminating “PAD” buttons
    2 Gain knobs
    2 Gain halo signal indicators
    48V Phantom power switch
    MIDI activity LED indicator
    USB connection LED indicator
    “DIRECT MONITOR” control
    “STEREO/MONO” switch for direct monitor
    Large monitor level dial (controls headphone and line level outputs)
    Headphone output - ¼” TRS Jack
    Headphone level knob
    “HEADPHONE SOURCE” switch

    Rear panel

    2 balanced monitor outputs – TRS (channels 1-2)
    4 unbalanced outputs – RCA Phono (channels 1-4)
    MIDI IO
    USB 2.0 Port
    Kensington Lock slot

    Included software

    Ableton Live Lite 8
    Focusrite Scarlett plug-in suite
    Novation Bass Station
    Loopmasters content

    Analogue Input Performance
    Mic
    Frequency Response 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1 dB
    THD+N < 0.002% (minimum gain, -1dBFS input with 22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
    Equivalent Input Noise (EIN) < -120dB: measured at 55dB of gain with 150Ω termination (20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
    Gain Range +10dB to +55dB (0dB to +45dB when pad is engaged)
    Max Input Level +3.5dBu
    Line
    Frequency Response 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1dB
    THD+N < 0.01% (‘A’ weighted measured with +16dB input gain -1dBFS at output and 22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
    Noise -90 dBu (22 Hz/22KHz bandpass filter)
    Signal to Noise Ratio > 100dB
    Gain Range -10dB to +35dB (-20dB to +25dB when pad is engaged)
    Max Input Level +26dBu (at 1% THD+N)
    Instrument
    Frequency Response 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1dB
    THD+N 0.0025% (‘A’ weighted measured with 16dB input gain, -1dBFS at output and 22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
    Noise -87dBu (22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
    Gain Range +10dB to +55dB (0dB to +45dB when pad is engaged)
    Max Input Level +3dBu (+13dBu pad in)
    Analogue Output Performance
    Nominal Output Level
    0dBFS = +10dBu, balanced
    0dBFS = +5.5bBu, unbalanced
    Frequency Response 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.2dB
    THD+N
    < 0.0015%, balanced (-1dBFS input 22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter, un-weighted)
    < 0.03 %, unbalanced (0dBFS input 22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
    Output Impedance < 12Ω
    Power Output into 32Ω 24mW
    Digital Performance
    Clock sources Internal clock only
    A-D Dynamic Range 105dB 'A-weighted' (all inputs). Converter chipset A-D dynamic range 114dB
    D-A Dynamic Range 104dB 'A-weighted' (all outputs). Converter chipset D-A dynamic range 114dB
    Supported sample rates 44.1 KHz, 48 KHz, 88.2 KHz, 96 KHz
    Crosstalk
    Input to Input Better than 90dB
    Output to Output Better than 90dB
    Input to Output Better than 85dB
    Input Metering
    Ring LED lit Green Signal present (-24 dBFS)
    Ring LED lit Red Signal overload (0dBFS), peak held for approximately 1 second
    Weight and Dimensions
    Height 48 mm
    Width 210 mm
    Depth 140 mm
    Weight 890 g
    MacBook 13" OS10.8.2 / TP2.6.1 / Kontrol X1 / Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 / KRK Rokit5's / V-Moda M100s

  2. #2
    Tech Guru SirReal's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    San Fran Bay Area
    Posts
    2,219

    Default

    Turn up your Speaker gains if it's not loud enough.
    "Walking the fine line between Stupidity and Genious" My Soundcloud ---- My Mixcloud
    MBP Retina 2015--TSP 2.10--2xDNSC5000--2xDNSC2900--2xDNSC2000--NI F1--Denon DN-X1700--HDJ2000--Stanton STR8-80--QSC K12's--Crown Amplifier--Urei Monitors

  3. #3
    Tech Mentor LXJ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    302

    Default

    Thanks for letting us know you're a doctor though.

  4. #4
    Tech Guru
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    York, UK
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    3,419

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by niu02kevin View Post
    DJTToolers:

    As I've been reading a lot lately, being relatively new to digital DJ'ing, I realized its not good to have your volume faders turned all the way up usually. When I do, the VU meters go into the red. Now, When I have them about 75%, that seems to be the sweet spot and no red unless I'm mixing in another track at the same volume for a few seconds. BUT, now I have to turn up my USB AI (Focusrite Scarlett 2i4) all the way and I must say the volume just isn't enough. I have two KRK Rokit 5's connected with TRS --> XLR.They are 3 feet from my head and facing right at my ears.

    Traktor Gain is at +0dB, Rokit 5's gain is at +0dB, my headroom is set to -6dB. Sound quality is primo, but it sure could go A LOT louder for my taste. Someone told me that the headphone pre-amp was weak, but actually, I can't listen to it more than 3/4 of the way up or I'd damage my hearing (V-Moda M100's).
    If you get distortion with your faders at 100% you should reduce your gain. Have you tried reducing your headroom to either -3 or 0?
    VCM100 / X1 / DJM250 / DJM900 / CDJ2000s / Maschine / Audio2+4 / 2i4 / HS8s / TSP 2.6.8
    Macbook Air i7-3667U+8GB 10.9 / Win7x64 i5-3570k+24GB


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