How to increase output volume

[higginsdj]

I have an Mbox Mini 2 and Pro Tools 8.0.3 on my iMac OSX 10.6.3. I only have headphones plugged into the MBox (no monitors). When I record dialogue the monitoring volume can be wound up to ear splitting levels. My Mic level is fine and ProTools records what I say at very close to peak levels - BUT - when it comes time to playback, I wind the MBox volume knob up to Max and the playback is soft. I set the volume control on the PT Track mixer to max and I can get what I would call normal speaking level.

Surely there is something not right here!

[Keybeeetsss]

Its an Mbox Dave Jr

U can only get so much out of it...

put a limiter on the MF or a comp on the track or som'n...

[higginsdj]

I note on the OSX Audio Midi Devices settings for the MBox that the output for the MBox - Volume settings, are set to minimum and they are protected so I can't adjust it. This looks like a problem with the driver or a major limitation in the MBox itself. A compressor or limiter isn't going to help with a signal that is already max'd out (ie in the red). The signal is not the problem - it's the output volume.

[Keybeeetsss]

U didn't get what I said but ok...

Like I said, its an Mbox mini...

[higginsdj]

MBox Mini is no excuse for poor output levels..... A $20 set of USB headphones performs better!

[browniespeaks]

are you leaving the mix knob in the same position it was in when you recorded? mix knob should be back all the way to the right for playback. Its a pain but is common to the mbox2 fam.

[browniespeaks]

the mix knob is subtracting gain from Pro Tools to make your "LIVE" mic input relatively louder. When you play back the "Live" mic input is not present but the pro tools gain is still lowered.

Hope this helps,

[higginsdj]

Yep - that did it, many, many thanks - Obviously I have a lot more to learn about PT. Of interest (I am doing all my testing with the PT Demo), my iMacs are the only things that will play the demo all the way through. One iMac is using a USB drive, the other is using a firewire 400 drive. My Win XP system with a separate seagate 7200 rpm audio drive won't get more than 10 seconds in before it dies with a can't keep up error.

Using LineIn.app I can now get playback through the iMac speakers - woohoo :)

[browniespeaks]

are you using a USB hard drive? do you have the session saved on a separate drive than the one windows is loaded on? It wont work reliably if the answer to either of those questions is yes.

[edit:] Im sorry i mis read your post. I would guess that the drive is probibly fragmented or experiencing performance degradation but who knows. Do you have a sandra report. At the top of the page there is a help us help you link. click it and start reading :P welcome to pro tools.