Donovan Banks wrote:
I've got the same setup. I was amazed at the quality after using the Boss BR600. Having a higher bit rate available made quite a difference, but it exposed other flaws in my setup like mics etc.
What are you battling with?
For one, I can't seem to get proper volume out of it. The headphones output is useable but still softer than I would've liked. The TRS output on the back is so soft that I can't do squat with it. Here's what I'm doing:
1. Guitar with volume and tone controls full open.
2. Goes into Mic/Instr Input 1 on the front of the AI (using a TS jack).
3. The Inst/Line button is out (Inst)
4. The input gain know is turned to more or less the 1 o'clock position and the Pad button is out. This way, when I hammer out a chord on the guitar, the red Clip LED almost, but not quite, lights up.
5. On the output side, the Stereo/Mono button is in (Mono).
6. The A/B button is out.
7. The Mix knob is turned more or less to the 11 o'clock position which is where I get the best balance between the REAPER track and the guitar input. If I turn this knob all the way counter clockwise, of course I don't hear the REAPER track on the headphones, butthen the guitar volume is pretty good.
8. The headphone output level knob is turned all the way clockwise.
Like I said, this is still useable. I'd have liked to get better volume through the headphones but I can record this way.
When I try to use the TRS Output 1 on the back of the device though, I'm having no success at all. The settings are as above and the Output leve knob on the fron of the device is turned all the way clockwise. I run a cable from the TRS Output 1 to my guitar amp (which has an AUX input) but I can virtually not hear anythign coming thought the amp, only the softest of signals. If I unplug the cable from the AI and plug it into my iPod I get volume that rattles the fillings out of the neighbour's teeth.
I just figured out that, if I use the RCA Outputs 1&2 at the back the volume is perfect. In fact, I can now plug the headphones into my amp as opposed to the AI and then I'm flying. It's unfortunate though as it is rather unwieldy.
Looking at the manual it seems that the difference between the TRS outputs 1&2 and the RCA outputs 1&2 is that the TRS outputs are balanced while the RCA outputs are unbalanced. What does that mean?
Other than that I just need to get the hang of REAPER. I can do a quick and simple recording (just posted a recording in the "clips for review" section) but it's just a matter of getting to know the software. For one, the tone I get out of the guitar when playing straight into the AI is quite different from the tone I get going from the guitar into my amp. The tone through the amp is brighter whereas the tone through the AI is a bit muddier - like I've turned down the tone pot on the guitar somewhat.
I'd imagine that I should be able to tweak this using some VST but where to start on VST's is still a bit daunting to me.
Also, and I'm not sure if this is a problem with my input into REAPER or with my rendering the project to an mp3 but the results I get have a fair bit of crackle. I don't hear this when I just play the project in REAPEAR but the end result once I've rendered it to a mp3 contains the crackle. Here's a quick sample recording where you can hear it.
http://www.box.com/s/gnpp36tciujjzpi1u7e3
