Stage 4 Output Level too low?

[dansnord]

I have my Stage 4 connected to my Mackie Onxy16 (the new Onyx series, not the old FireWire from a long time ago.) With everything set to unity gain, and the Stage 4 at 75% volume level, playing the White Grand with the fader in the Piano Section at max, the levels on Mackie are still lower than I would expect. Is this normal for Nords? I can't even get close to yellow in the meter.

Also, when connecting the Mackie to my Mac via the built-in USB port in the Onyx16, the levels in Logic Pro are even lower. When I record a track, the waveform never get above 25%. Again, all levels are set to 0/unity.

I'm just getting back into recording after a 20 year hiatus. I used a Digidesign 001 as my last rig! Things have changed, but I'm good with computers and fully understand recording and related sound engineering concepts. But can't figure this one out.

[cgrafx]

when you say unity gain what exactly are you talking about?

You have to set the input gain on the channel to an appropriate level to match the NS4.

As for the miss-match between the Mackie and the Mac, that doesn't have anything to do with the Nord.

A very basic way to setup the gain. Turn on the synth section of the Nord, dial up a simple sine wave and hold a c6 note (two octave above middle c). Open all filters and set the synth section level to 100%. Turn up the master output to 75-80% and then adjust the input gain on the Mackie to reach 0 VU on the channel strip.

This will give you a starting baseline to work from.

[dansnord]

Thank you for the reply. The odd thing about the Mackie mixer is that the stereo channels don’t have any input gain. The gain knob only works with the mic preamps. But maybe I’m overthinking it. It may be a strong enough signal to do my recording regardless.

[cgrafx]

Thank you for the reply. The odd thing about the Mackie mixer is that the stereo channels don’t have any input gain. The gain knob only works with the mic preamps. But maybe I’m overthinking it. It may be a strong enough signal to do my recording regardless.

if the stereo channel doesn't have a gain knob then its probably hard set as a +4 line level input.

The Nord outputs are -10db not +4. so just use a pair of standard input channels and pan each pair hard left/right.

[PHILF]

That makes sense. It has always seemed like the Nord has been lower than other things plugged into the mixer, including my old, trusty Kurzweil PC2r, which must be +4 as it seems to be a hotter signal. I hate to not use a stereo input, because I love being able to just grab one fader (or eq) and not worry that somehow I didn’t exactly raise or lower each one to the same level. But that would also explain why the level is so low going into logic pro. The mixer outputs each input channel separately over USB, pre-fader. Thank you, again! I think this explains pretty much everything.

[dansnord]

In thinking about this, given the lower output, shouldn’t I just turn the volume all the way up on the stage 4, and keep it there all the time, using the mixer fader as the volume control?

[cgrafx]

you can, buts it’s nice to have a way to increase/decrease the overall level of the entire keyboard. try running at 90 percent and see if that gets you closer to what you are looking for. although i’m guessing it will probably still be less overall level than you are going to want, in which case you would be better off just using the two inout channels.

[maxpiano]

I also suggest to keep the NS4 volume around 80-90% and see if it is enough. But.. . on the Onyx16 I see also a minijack stereo input, Ch 17/18, with Gain control, have you tried to use that one (you can also connect NS4 headphones output to it)? It has no EQ or FX, but probably not needed for the NS4

[cphollis]

Back when I was having to plug my Nords into random older analog boards for gigs, I carried an active stereo DI box that ran off of 48v phantom power supplied by the mixer. Not expensive at all.

One channel each for L and R, hard panned. My signal was nice and hot as a result -- big sound!

When people shifted to digital mixers (e.g. XR-18), I didn't have much call to use it anymore.

[Afghanza]

Just bought a NS4. And my first impression was that the output level from the NS4 is a lower than my NE5D.
I plugged the NS4 and NE5D into a dedicated stereo channel on my mixer. Also without a gain knob.