Mbox Mini Knob Gain problem

[zachy]

Hi There

I can't seem to find help for this....I appreciate any help at this point...

So, I have a Mbox Mini 3 that I came with ProTools 8 LE and my microphone is ElectroVoice RE20 (Cardioid)- My PC runs on Windows 7.

The problem - Unless I turn my Gain Knob all the way to the right, I almost don't hear anything. When I do finally reach the last part of the turn, sound pops in and I hear at MAX volume.

Now, Everything is plugged in fine, Gain knob is NOT pulled out, Mic volume is in the middle, mix knob is in the middle...software works fine, Mic is tested and works, I even tried a different mic and a different cable...So, am I the only one with this problem. OR is this a KNOWN problem?

Please help...
Zach

[SKI]

What other mic did you try?
The RE20 is just like the SM7/7B it needs a lot of gain.

Mics like that aren't designed for just any pre.

[zachy]

Hi,

The other Mic I used was the AKG D5...it had more or less the same reaction...

[zachy]

What type of mic would you suggest i use to test it?

[SKI]

Try a condenser

[gremlin984]

Originally Posted by zachy

Hi There

I can't seem to find help for this....I appreciate any help at this point...

So, I have a Mbox Mini 3 that I came with ProTools 8 LE and my microphone is ElectroVoice RE20 (Cardioid)- My PC runs on Windows 7.

The problem - Unless I turn my Gain Knob all the way to the right, I almost don't hear anything. When I do finally reach the last part of the turn, sound pops in and I hear at MAX volume.

Now, Everything is plugged in fine, Gain knob is NOT pulled out, Mic volume is in the middle, mix knob is in the middle...software works fine, Mic is tested and works, I even tried a different mic and a different cable...So, am I the only one with this problem. OR is this a KNOWN problem?

Please help...
Zach

Hi Zachy, This is probably something you have looked at, but I wanted to point out the 'headphones' knob may have something to do with what you are hearing. With this adjusted, the gain adjustments seemed to make more sense for me.

[zachy]

Hi Gremlin, I've tried tinkering with the headphones volume but its not the case...imagine that yopu hear nothing and then all of a sudden you hear 100%...and when I say 100%, you can hear the air move...meaning distortion...so I can't record.

Ski, I still need to try a condenser mic.

[zachy]

Someone (technician) told me this might be a software conflict with my operating system...said he's heard about this issue with the the mboxes...does that sound logical to anyone?

[SKI]

Originally Posted by zachy

Someone (technician) told me this might be a software conflict with my operating system...said he's heard about this issue with the the mboxes...does that sound logical to anyone?

Not really.
I would get a condenser and they look at the gain settings in the mBox Control Console while testing it.

[Boona]

Did you ever determine the root cause to this problem? I purchased an mbox 3 yesterday and am having the exact same issue. No volume in the monitor headphones until turning the gain all the way up. I barely able to hear the mic until about 98% then it is too loud to record because of the distortion

This happens with my dynamic microphone and condenser mic on two different computers.

I'm beginning to believe I got a defective unit. Wondering if you came to the same conclusion.