Recording Input Levels Low - M Audio MTrack Plus and AT2020

[Mr_MylesD]

So I've been recording VO work using Adobe Audition with my M-Audio M-Track Plus and AT2020. Recently the levels on my recordings have all been stuck between -30 and -35db regardless of my gain settings on my M-Track Plus. I've double checked all my audio settings and the settings for my M-Track driver, but none of the settings seem to have been changed, so I'm not sure what could be causing this issue. Please help! Thanks!

[ryclark]

Are you on a Mac or a PC? If a PC are you using the M-Audio ASIO driver and have it selected in Audition's Audio Hardware preferences?

[Mr_MylesD]

I'm on a PC, and I've been using the MME driver setup.

[ryclark]

You should really use the M-Audio ASIO drivers since these bypass the Windows operating system completely. So Audition will receive what the MTrack is sending it rather than letting Windows mess with the audio.

[Mr_MylesD]

When I first attempted to use the ASIO driver, my system was indicating that it wasn't working. So I reinstalled the driver from the M-Audio site. The ASIO driver works now, but it hasn't fixed my issue... My recording is still coming in between -30 and -35 dB regardless of whether I have the input gain turned down or cranked up.

[Mr_MylesD]

To test whether it was some setting I may have messed up in Audition I downloaded and did a test recording in Audacity. I got the same results there... Low dB in the -30 to -35 range regardless of where my gain was set.

[ryclark]

Unfortunately that then seems like a problem with the MTrack interface. You should have a much larger range than you need using the gain control on the interface. How have you got the mic connected into the MTrack? It should be via an XLR cable plugged into one of the XLR sockets on the interface. The input should be switch to 'mic' and 48v should be turned on. What levels show on the meters on the front of the MTrack? Do they go up and down as you alter the Gain knob?

[Mr_MylesD]

I was thinking it may be my MTrack or my mic... I have my mic plugged into the MTrack with an XLR cable and use the 48v phantom power switch. Since my mic is set up in a corner away from my computer desk I can’t see whether the meter readers on the MTrack are registering my levels while recording. I just know that up until last week my levels and settings for recording were fine, and then this problem suddenly started.

[ryclark]

For test purposes can you just handhold your mic and take it closer to the MTrack so that you can check to see what the signal levels are reading on it's meters.

[Mr_MylesD]

So I handheld the mic so I could see the signal levels on the MTrack. When holding the mic at the approximate distance that I usually record at it wouldn't register on the MTrack's meter, but when I held the mic right in front of my mouth it barely registered on the meter at -20. While doing this I also had the gain on my MTrack turned up to it's max...

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Has this system ever worked correctly? And have you tried another mic lead with it?

[Mr_MylesD]

It wasn't until this last week that I started having any issues...

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

This doesn't sound like an Audition issue at all, as previously you got no signals registered on the Mtrack, so I'd still be rather suspicious about the cable, since this is the vulnerable link here.

[Mr_MylesD]

After I set my mic back in place, readjusted my XLR cables, and reconfigured a few settings in Audition (like I'd tried to do so before) it's all working again. My levels are now adjusting like they should be when recording... Weird.