Ableton Forum

Hi, I'm using Live 8 on Windows 7 and I'm trying to record from my EMU 0202 USB.

I have the EMU ASIO driver setup in Audio preferences in Ableton. I have a phono pre-amp output going into my soundcard, and the level lights on the EMU 0202 USB look good (flashing green, no red).

But in Live, after I arm session recording, the levels look very low. They're too low to hear.

Even when I set the gain knobs on the EMU soundcard up to maximum, and both the red and green lights are on, the levels in Live are this low: http://i42.tinypic.com/20z8ymv.png and don't go any higher.

I've also tried via ASIO4ALL drivers with the same results. I can't seem to get the MME working.

Anything I can try?

Did you manage to find a solution?

I have the same problem with the EMU 0202 USB when recording from my Moog Little Phatty. The input is very low and only the gain in the Utility Tool can increase the volume - however, the dynamics of the Little Phatty are clearly missing when compared to direct monitoring with headphones from the headphone-out on the LP.

Perhaps the 0202 is just a piece of junk and a better audio interface is needed? I'm looking at Line 6 and Sapphire.

did you turn the (multifunctional) direct monitor volume all the way up to send the full signal to the outs?

monobeach wrote:did you turn the (multifunctional) direct monitor volume all the way up to send the full signal to the outs?

I'm not exactly sure of what you mean. Where is this located?

I'm talking about the direct monitor level control knob on the front

Ah - of course. Yeah, well, the direct monitor volume doesn't really alter the volume when turned. It just stays the same ..

ahhhh, right - my bad.

how exactly is the phono-preamp/LP connected, what are the settings in Live?

I have the same problem with my old Emu card with an 1820m breakout box using ASIO4ALL. Not enough gain on those mic pres. Mic'd up a Rode NT2-A and it was weaker then a chain smoker running a marathon. Even went Hi-Z direct with my bass recently and I had to crank it ALL the way up. Probably best to have some kind of outboard preamp into the line ins. I hear the Golden Age 73 is a steal at $299.

I'm posting this because I had the same problem, and managed to solve it by pure chance. I have the above mentioned EMU 0202, and I tried to record data in Ableton using it. I also experienced very low recording levels, and tried to find the answer in this forum, as well as in EMU support forums, and elsewhere on net with no avail. This is why I want to share this here, in hope that it will save somebody from frustration I had

Anyway, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TO SET MASTER PLAYBACK VOLUME IN WINDOWS ALL THE WAY UP. Why is this connected to recording level, I don't know. I'm also curious whether this is Ableton feature or EMU glitch. But it solved the problem, and everything now works like a charm.

EMU 0202 is a great little peace of hardware from a company that always knew how to make devices sound good, but was bought by a company that NEVER managed to make decent drivers and documentation. I would hate to see it thrown away by people just because of this strange behavior.

Hope this brings peace to someone out there.

Thank you! I've been tearing my hair out with this intermittent problem since moving to Vista then Win 7. I thought it was fixed several times. Now I realize those actions just happened to reset the playback volume.

vkost wrote:I'm posting this because I had the same problem, and managed to solve it by pure chance. I have the above mentioned EMU 0202, and I tried to record data in Ableton using it. I also experienced very low recording levels, and tried to find the answer in this forum, as well as in EMU support forums, and elsewhere on net with no avail. This is why I want to share this here, in hope that it will save somebody from frustration I had

Anyway, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TO SET MASTER PLAYBACK VOLUME IN WINDOWS ALL THE WAY UP. Why is this connected to recording level, I don't know. I'm also curious whether this is Ableton feature or EMU glitch. But it solved the problem, and everything now works like a charm.

EMU 0202 is a great little peace of hardware from a company that always knew how to make devices sound good, but was bought by a company that NEVER managed to make decent drivers and documentation. I would hate to see it thrown away by people just because of this strange behavior.

Hope this brings peace to someone out there.

Yeah, thanks!

However, I sold my Little Phatty, so I no longer have to record audio - but thanks for the feedback