Possible to fix low line input gain via software update?

PK The DJ

I did. I'm not expecting a consumer device to be outputting a really hot signal (earphone saftely etc), and for this brief test I was playing a random track on Spotify. Their levels and quality do vary, and I had Spotify's auto-gain turned off, so potentially it could have been louder.

The idea was to show that the level is not unusably low.

LostInFoundation

On this you are right.

As I said, we can be ok with how it is.

But to obtain the same level on my Force or my MPC Live 2, or Kaosspad, or Kaossilator, or even some interfaces I use with my iPad (like iTrack dock),…I don’t have to crank up their gain knobs or max the input device volume.

This is why I say Maschine inputs level are low. It doesn’t mean they are not usable at all (even if as soon as I would like to sample something with lower volume, let’s say someone speaking with a low tone, things won’t be so usable anymore).

And in any case having to set up everything at its max and/or having to use normalize are all things that are not so “quality” friendly. All of this causes distortions on the signal received.

So, to recap: is Maschine input level unusable? No. But can we say it is not low? No

Btw: if with Spotify auto-gain you mean the automatic normalize, turning it on usually lower the volume, to allow it to have room to make all the tracks being more similar in their level outputting. Having it off gives you higher volumes, not lower. I’m unaware of any auto-gain function in Spotify (other than manually setting the volume level choices low, normal or high)

LostInFoundation

If you sample things like techno or EDM (or anything else with high power performances), you won’t even ever notice anything.

But try to sample something Jazz… Paolo Fresu performing a wonderful intimate, delicate, very volume variating phrase on his flicorno… then you’ll start wanting a little more room for your recording. And not having to crank everything up to the max making his flicorno sound like a distorted metal guitar ☺️

PK The DJ

I just tried the same thing on my MPC X SE.....

Same phone, same cable, same source. I'm still having to turn the gain up quite high. To hit -3 on the input meter, gain is at 3 o'clock. That's on the rear inputs 1/2 or 3/4.

Using the INST sockets on the front it's a bit hotter (as I'd expect) with gains at 1 o'clock for -3 on the meters.

LostInFoundation

Exactly. Same level, no need for maxing everything up.

Maschine input levels are lower

PK The DJ

Maschine input levels are lower

SLIGHTLY lower, but not "insanely low" as OP was claiming.

LostInFoundation

Could be. But enough to make me often use other devices to sample things and then import the samples in Maschine. Which is a pity

His main point remains: the question was asked to know if in some way it is possible to make Maschine inputs work as many others devices inputs do, so that we would be more confident in using it for all our sampling needs

enz0

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/141972#Comment_141972

Yes that’s the type of cable I’m using. Thanks for clarifying

PK The DJ

@enz0 if this is not about sampling, but just mixing in external signals to the Maschine audio bus, then you can route the input to a pad & apply gain and effects to the audio input to help increase the level.

I do this when feeding the output of a Roland VT-4 into the Maschine+

It's all in the manual...

enz0

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/141980#Comment_141980

maybe sampling things in isolation is “usable” which is what this screenshot seems to prove

Like i said in my OP, i lay down drums then monitor samples while playing back the drums. I can barely hear the monitoring from my phone with the volume maxed out and input gain in maschine maxed out. I don’t have this problem with other samplers. So for this workflow (which is common btw; it’s not just me who does it) it’s not usable in maschine without a workaround

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/142005#Comment_142005

pretty much

PK The DJ

See my previous post. If you monitor via a "sound" (pad) then you can boost the level coming in, going out, routing to a group and turning that up etc.

enz0

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/142075#Comment_142075

It’s about monitoring potential sample material to eventually sample. I appreciate the suggestion, although I’m not looking for a workaround or a solution. I think i generally know what they are. I was just hoping to accomplish what i need without one (via an update if possible) since workarounds aren’t necessary for this task with other samplers

PK The DJ

These things are not workarounds. They're just related to the audio routing of the Maschine hardware.

Different products have different designs. I have other samplers too, but I have no beef with the way the Maschine works. If you learn how it works, it's not difficult to set up for any particular requirements.

If you're not looking for a solution though, why post? End of thread. 😁

LostInFoundation

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/142075#Comment_142075

That’s a good suggestion. 👍🏼

Saying that someone asking to accomplish something in a direct way shouldn’t post…not so good ☺️

PK The DJ

Ah, life on a typical forum. Somebody posts, seemingly looking for help and/or advice, then proceeds to dismiss all the responses.

What can we do? (rhetorical) 😁