192 Analog Output Gain Very High

[Mount Royal]

Setting up a new-to-us HD6 system running Protools 10.3.8 on OS 10.8.5. One quirk that appears very odd is that the analog output of 192 is outrageously hot - probably in the range of 12-15db. Audible clipping of that output occurs with a master fader is high at -10db. At 0db, the analog output is heavily distorted.

The same session sounds fine through our PT8 HD3 system with our other 192 interface.

I'm speaking here about Analog Outputs 1-2, which I have mapped to "Main Outs". Is there some under the hood setup pref that could produce this hot output?

Many thanks,

John Caldwell

[JFreak]

It should be hardware calibrated with the little screws on the card. Software shouldn't have any part in analog levels.

[Mount Royal]

Yes, Makes sense. But the levels are well out of the range expected by trim adjustment.

Thank you,

John-

[JFreak]

Please hit default on all setups to make sure it isn't any preference quirk

[Mount Royal]

Originally Posted by JFreak

Please hit default on all setups to make sure it isn't any preference quirk

This has solved the problem, it appears. Don't know what aspects were at fault, but your "default" suggestion took care of this.

Many thanks, JFreak.

John Caldwell

[bonfi64]

I have the same problem, i do analog summing on a Studer 169, if i engage trim plug in on the out of the tracks going to mixer sounds become thin and without punch, a technician told me that the problem is the 192 impedance,people get the same problem also on A huge SSL4000, so months ago i try to trim down the D/A with little screwdriver, but the trim on the back of 192 is very little (that's why is called Trim) now i do all my mix and master 5 DB lower the average and is ok, NOW YOU KNOW WHY MASTER ENGINEERS GET 90% OF MIXES TERRIBLY HOT, (because 90% of mix are made out 192)

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by bonfi64

NOW YOU KNOW WHY MASTER ENGINEERS GET 90% OF MIXES TERRIBLY HOT, (because 90% of mix are made out 192)

Yes, if the mixes are taken out of 192 DA and recorded to tape or some other external format.

No, if the mixes are bounced internally, in which case interface and DA don't have any effect on the final WAV file.

[bonfi64]

What i Do is: Stems out from PTHD into studer Channel, Sum and Back to 192 PT
wich is a tipical Analog summing and print to a stereo track on PT, the out from 192 are very hot and going back the sum is very low, like losing 10 db of headroom, the out from the studer is balanced and goes to balanced input on 192
i did a test also with signal generetor and is the same, i think is impedance or something, the Studer is a 1976 machine maybe the two units have different calibration.

[JFreak]

It seems to me that you have +4/-10 mismatch somewhere