AJA LHe card– LOUD gain and hiss on G5 Quad; output sound way too high

[Gary Adcock]

[Khashyar Darvich] “I had the audio output on the Mac set to the Kona card, but I would assume that there would be some way of having better control of the audio level from the Kona card, since having the Mac audio level set to about 5% seems too low to acheive a normal sound level.”

Update your Kona Driver!!

that will add a check box in the Kona Control panel to match the Kona audio outs to “unity”

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows
Chicago, IL
gary@studio37.com

[Khashyar Darvich]

Thanks for your feedback, Gary.

I actually did download and install the 1.2.2 software update package from the AJA website, and I have the “lock input audio gain to unity” box checked.

I wonder if it has something to do with my Tannoy Reveal Active speakers (which haave no volume control knob on the speakers?)

It seems strange that I have to set the output volume on the Mac to 1% or 2% to get a normal sound output level from the speakers. I know that this shouldn’t be.

Any other ideas?

Thanks,

Khashyar

[Bob Zelin]

It is amazing to me that you want to plug your AJA box – OR ANY PROFESSIONAL audio device (like a VTR) directly into a powered speaker.
May I URGE YOU to purchase a small mixer to allow you to attenuate the level coming out of your AJA into your speakers. If you don’t want a mixer, you can purchase a volume control like the Mackie Big Knob, to adjust your levels.

The second you get yourself into a feedback situation with your AJA and VTR, you will blow out your speakers.

Bob Zelin

[Khashyar Darvich]

I appreciate your advice, Bob.

So, are you saying that powered speakers are designed to have a mixer between them and the incoming XLR audio?

I assume then that passive speakers (non powered) could be safely connected to the Kona XLR audio outs.

Does everyone on this board who uses a Kona card and active speakers, have a mixer connected between the two?

Would the mixer correct the hissing sound as well?

Thanks again for your feedback,

Khashyar

[Ron Thompson]

Bob is right, powered or not, you should have a mixer between your board and speakers. I’ve cut on a variety of systems, small and large, and have never been in a studio that didn’t have a mixer in it.
I swear by the Mackie 1402 because its the ultimate “router” for small edit suites, but a big knob or any 4 track mixer will do the trick.
B&H has the 1402 for $399.

Ron

[Gary Adcock]

[Bob Zelin] “It is amazing to me that you want to plug your AJA box – OR ANY PROFESSIONAL audio device (like a VTR) directly into a powered speaker. “

I agree,
I did not realize the Tannoy’s being referred to were self powered.

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows
Chicago, IL
gary@studio37.com

[Khashyar Darvich]

Thanks, Ron… I think that I will buy a mackie 1402.

Since the sound level seems to be very high going into the speakers (or perhaps the powered speakers are really amplifying the XLR audio signal), would adding a mixer and adjusting the input and output gain on the gain remove the hiss that I hear as well?

Khashyar

[Ron Thompson]

[Khashyar Darvich] “Since the sound level seems to be very high going into the speakers (or perhaps the powered speakers are really amplifying the XLR audio signal), would adding a mixer and adjusting the input and output gain on the gain remove the hiss that I hear as well?”

As far as hiss and gain, double check your sound settings in the system preferences too. Why yours is so loud is a mystery. My output volume is set at 90% and I use the Mackie to ride levels into my monitors and equipment. I’m not super-techie, but it sounds like it might be a setting on your monitors too. Gain, mic, line, etc… If you have excessive hiss, that indicates the sound is being amplified somewhere. Maybe some inline attenuators??
The Mackie is a good choice…good luck. If you don’t need 14 channels, the 12 channel (1202) is fine too.

Ron

[Khashyar Darvich]

Thanks again for the feedback.

I just picked up a Mackie 1402 at the Guitar Center a couple of hours ago, and now I’m going to set it up in my system.

The Tannoy Reveal Actives must be a really amplified speakers… I don’t know why the volume is SO high on them (there is no volume knob on the speakers to make any adjustments).

I also have a Tannoy subwoofer…

Do I place the Mackie between the Kona card and the Subwoofer (which then has XLR outs to the speakers), or do I put the Mackie between the subwoofer (which DOES have a volume control) and the speakers?

I will let you know how it all works out.

Khashyar

[Khashyar Darvich]

Well… I took the very good advice of getting and hooking up a Mackie Mixer, and it sounds great and there is no hiss 🙂

The one thing that I need to adjust is that there is a slight delay in the sync of the sound compared to the picture…

Any ideas of what to adjust?

Thanks,

Khashyar