Nord User Forum

He's using a fixed-gain "line level" input on his Focusrites, he can't adjust the input gain on his interface, that's why this thread exists. If he could, no problem.

I, too, have zero issues with the Line In (fixed gain) on an RME with the master keyboard volume at ~50%... I can easily clip my converters with a loud patch at this setting. I suppose the Focusrites just have insanely low gain on the line level inputs?

Same here. My newer Focusrite has gain controls on each input, and I run them at 50%, run the Nords at 75%, gives me the correct level into ProTools.

-dj

Sorry, I needed to reread the OP
Then perhaps the headphone output might work, I do not have a cable at home for testing the output level, but guess that are a bit hotter.

modalmixture wrote:I did some experiments last night. Loaded up the Royal Grand with no effects or eq, set the program level to maximum and the keyboard volume to maximum. With hard playing I was getting -15 to -10 dBFS (time averaged, not peak). More typical playing had me down at -30 to -15 average. Good enough for recording but at any lower program/volume levels it would not be. With the organ and synth engine on, leslie engaged and some reverb and all levels maxed I was averaging -6 dBFS. Not sure why I am not getting the same levels through the line inputs as @DJKeys, but it seems I may still need to invest in a pre-amp.

For your recording, the PEAK level is the one to keep an eye on. As you probably know, with digital you cannot go anywhere above 0 dBFS. It's quite common practice, I think, to try to hit your peak level somewhere in the range of -6 to -3 dBFS, which would leave a little headroom "just in case" you have accidental spikes in the music (a single spike will often ruin your recording with a harsh digital clipping and needs fixing afterwards).

So if you can hit -6 dBFS peak level, that should be completely fine. Remember that if you're at -6 dBFS, you typically use 23 out of the 24 bits available for meaningful information, and you only have one bit extra "in spare" So you use 96% of the bits in the converter...

Just found this post.
I encountered similar issue. I have a Nord Grand plugged into the line-level inputs of Motu M4. I turned the master volume and piano volume to max while the input meter on the M4 only showed 1/3 filled. I tried recording in Performer Lite with master volume at 12'o clock then saved as MP3. After I imported the MP3 as soundtrack in Premiere Rush with auto-volume setting, I can hear white noise in the video when the music is quiet. I am totally new to the recording workflow and not sure what was wrong. I just ordered a Radial J+4 Stereo Line Driver to boost the signal but did not have a chance to record with it yet.

Galvalume wrote:Just found this post.
I encountered similar issue. I have a Nord Grand plugged into the line-level inputs of Motu M4. I turned the master volume and piano volume to max while the input meter on the M4 only showed 1/3 filled.

The first thing you have to to (except from plugging in your device of course) is using the gain (input amplification) knob to get a proper input signal coming from your NG. For this you dont even have to turn up the master volume. Make sure the input indicators are not hitting the red limits.
After you have set the proper gain, you can continue your steps in the signal flow (turn up master volume).

This article could help you understand the principle of gain staging: https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/ ... interface-

Berretje, thanks a lot for your input.
Today I experimented with Radial J+4 to boost the signal level pass half of the input meter on Motu M4. I did the same workflow as previous and the white noise is not audible any more.

Berretje wrote:
The first thing you have to to (except from plugging in your device of course) is using the gain (input amplification) knob to get a proper input signal coming from your NG. For this you dont even have to turn up the master volume. Make sure the input indicators are not hitting the red limits.
After you have set the proper gain, you can continue your steps in the signal flow (turn up master volume).

This article could help you understand the principle of gain staging: https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/ ... interface-

Galvalume wrote:Berretje, thanks a lot for your input.

No problem. Eventually, it's your audio "input"

Today I review the user manual of my Motu M4, for inputs 1 and 2 with preamp gain, it says "Try to adjust gain as high as possible without clipping, which is indicated by the red rectangle at the top of the meter. "
Inputs 3 and 4 do not have gain knob, but I think they also expect high gain signal without clipping.