# USB Audio Interface Doesn't Seem Loud Enough
**URL:** https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/usb-audio-interface-doesnt-seem-loud-enough/54148
**Category:** General Discussion
**Tags:** traktor, audio-interface, gain, focusrite, volume-problems
**Created:** [March 5, 2013, 5:32am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/usb-audio-interface-doesnt-seem-loud-enough/54148 "2013-03-05T05:32:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@niu02kevin](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/niu02kevin)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2013, 5:32am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/usb-audio-interface-doesnt-seem-loud-enough/54148/1 "2013-03-05T05:32:50Z")
**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.
 
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
---
### Author:  [@SirReal](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/SirReal)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/usb-audio-interface-doesnt-seem-loud-enough/54148/2 "2013-03-05T05:40:34Z")
Turn up your Speaker gains if it’s not loud enough.
---
### Author:  [@LXJ](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/LXJ)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2013, 8:43am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/usb-audio-interface-doesnt-seem-loud-enough/54148/3 "2013-03-05T08:43:20Z")
Thanks for letting us know you’re a doctor though.
---
### Author:  [@makar1](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/makar1)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2013, 9:15am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/usb-audio-interface-doesnt-seem-loud-enough/54148/4 "2013-03-05T09:15:37Z")
> [@niu02kevin](#):
>
> 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?