CardDeluxe

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

I have a CardDeluxe for Digital Audio Labs and I absolutely hate it for
my home studio application. This card has been the biggest challenge I
have ever had in matching input levels. An SPL Gold Mike preamp has to
be almost wide open with a U87 to drive the card to 90%. The cabling is
correct -- balanced XLR out on the SPL to balanced (TRS) input on the
CardDeluxe. The internal jumper is set to +4. If I set it to -10, it
distorts. DAL was no help.

At first in desperation I was going to buy a SoundBlaster Live (I
believe) to have a card with a high impedance input to interface with
some consumer gear I have, but then I found out that the SB samples at
48K and the downsamples to 44K. For this project, that wouldn't make any
difference at all, but if I'm going to buy a card, I'd like to have one
that can be set to sample at 44K for projects that are going to be
burned to CD. Suggestions?

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"mcp6453" <mcp6453@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:9Lqhe.44721$Fa.1526307@twister.southeast.rr.com...
> I have a CardDeluxe for Digital Audio Labs and I absolutely hate it for
> my home studio application. This card has been the biggest challenge I
> have ever had in matching input levels. An SPL Gold Mike preamp has to
> be almost wide open with a U87 to drive the card to 90%. The cabling is
> correct -- balanced XLR out on the SPL to balanced (TRS) input on the
> CardDeluxe. The internal jumper is set to +4. If I set it to -10, it
> distorts. DAL was no help.



Depending on what the actual output of the SPL Gold is, this sounds
like correct functionality to me. 90% of input level has you well into
bit number 16.

DM

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Steve King wrote:
> "mcp6453" <mcp6453@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:9Lqhe.44721$Fa.1526307@twister.southeast.rr.com...
>
>>I have a CardDeluxe for Digital Audio Labs and I absolutely hate it for my
>>home studio application. This card has been the biggest challenge I have
>>ever had in matching input levels. An SPL Gold Mike preamp has to be almost
>>wide open with a U87 to drive the card to 90%. The cabling is correct --
>>balanced XLR out on the SPL to balanced (TRS) input on the CardDeluxe. The
>>internal jumper is set to +4. If I set it to -10, it distorts. DAL was no
>>help.
>>
>>At first in desperation I was going to buy a SoundBlaster Live (I believe)
>>to have a card with a high impedance input to interface with some consumer
>>gear I have, but then I found out that the SB samples at 48K and the
>>downsamples to 44K. For this project, that wouldn't make any difference at
>>all, but if I'm going to buy a card, I'd like to have one that can be set
>>to sample at 44K for projects that are going to be burned to CD.
>>Suggestions?
>
>
> Your experience is completely contrary to mine. I've used the CardDeluxe
> for several years moving it from computer to computer as I upgraded. I've
> used various professional and consumer equipment as analogue sources with
> never a problem about achieving appropriate levels. You've no doubt checked
> the cables. Are you recording 16 bit or 24 bit? If 24 bit you must have
> the 24 bit header information set properly for the software you are using
> (according to the DAL manual). Mine is set to "left justified", which works
> with all the software I use both audio and video. In short, something is
> going on in your setup that is not an inherent characteristic of the
> CardDeluxe. Unless, of course, your CardDeluxe is defective.
>
> By the way, when you say that the "internal jumper is set to +4", do you
> mean the SPL Gold? I don't think there is a physical jumper on CardDeluxe,
> though I haven't opened the computer case to check.


I don't doubt a word of your post (although there are internal
input/output levels on the CardDeluxe for +4/-10 level settings.) Since
the card was in a Windows 98 computer, and since the web site says "for
Windows 2000 and XP", I just moved it to a Windows 2000 computer. So far
the results are the same, so the problem is not a bad driver.

There was one on eBay with an XLR patch bay for $250 that didn't get a
bid. I wish I had not paid $400 for this thing. I have NEVER been this
frustrated with a piece of audio gear.

If I discover the problem, I'll be back to apologize to DAL, but I'm
getting ready to start dubbing through the sound card built into my
Intel 815 motherboard. That's how desperate I am!

Thanks for your thoughts.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"mcp6453" <mcp6453@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:9Lqhe.44721$Fa.1526307@twister.southeast.rr.com...
> I have a CardDeluxe for Digital Audio Labs and I absolutely hate it for
> my home studio application. This card has been the biggest challenge I
> have ever had in matching input levels. An SPL Gold Mike preamp has to
> be almost wide open with a U87 to drive the card to 90%. The cabling is
> correct -- balanced XLR out on the SPL to balanced (TRS) input on the
> CardDeluxe. The internal jumper is set to +4. If I set it to -10, it
> distorts. DAL was no help.

Set it to -10, and turn the level down on the preamp.

Peace,
Paul

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"mcp6453" <mcp6453@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:nLrhe.45365$Fa.1536466@twister.southeast.rr.com...
> David Morgan (MAMS) wrote:
> >
> > Depending on what the actual output of the SPL Gold is, this sounds
> > like correct functionality to me. 90% of input level has you well into
> > bit number 16.
>
> As usual, when I get frustrated, I say things incorrectly. The highest
> attainable level is -9, not 90%. Sorry.

Okay, so if you change the jumper on the card (it is a physical jumper),
then the same setting of the preamp will get you about 12dB more level,
which is 3dB into clipping. Turn down the preamp 6dB and you should be fine.

Besides which, in a 24-bit recording, being 9dB down from maximum level
sacrifices essentially nothing in performance. Don't worry so much.

Peace,
Paul

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"mcp6453" <mcp6453@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:9Lqhe.44721$Fa.1526307@twister.southeast.rr.com...
>I have a CardDeluxe for Digital Audio Labs and I absolutely hate it for my
>home studio application. This card has been the biggest challenge I have
>ever had in matching input levels. An SPL Gold Mike preamp has to be almost
>wide open with a U87 to drive the card to 90%. The cabling is correct --
>balanced XLR out on the SPL to balanced (TRS) input on the CardDeluxe. The
>internal jumper is set to +4. If I set it to -10, it distorts. DAL was no
>help.
>
> At first in desperation I was going to buy a SoundBlaster Live (I believe)
> to have a card with a high impedance input to interface with some consumer
> gear I have, but then I found out that the SB samples at 48K and the
> downsamples to 44K. For this project, that wouldn't make any difference at
> all, but if I'm going to buy a card, I'd like to have one that can be set
> to sample at 44K for projects that are going to be burned to CD.
> Suggestions?


I've also have been using CardDeluxe for many years, and CardD before it
with Windows 3.11 and never had any problem. Feeding the analogue input with
1k tone at 4PPM, that's what I get out. Normally I am transferring digitally
from my DAT, a Fostex PD4, and again no problem.
If you're kicking it out, I'll have it.

Regards

Peter

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"mcp6453" <mcp6453@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:2iJhe.54347$Fa.1626575@twister.southeast.rr.com...
> Julian wrote:
>> "mcp6453" <mcp6453@earthlink.net> wrote
>>
>>
>>>It's like the input volume control is turned down, but there isn't one
>>>for the Windows 2000 driver, that I can find.
>>
>>
>> I have a LynxOne, similar price range and vintage and there is a software
>> driver for it separate from windows. It is called the LynxOne mixer and
>> you can control the analog input gain there. Does Card D have a Utility
>> like that? Also in the windows volume control, if you click on
>> properties, there is a window called, mixer device where you can select a
>> volume control for which sound card if you have more than one. If it was
>> turned down under Card D there it could cause the symptoms you describe.
>
> You're describing the problem exactly, but I cannot find a mixer control
> that sets the analog input level. I don't think there is one.
>
> I may take a ride over to a local store to see what they have available.
> I'm missing something somewhere, based on the other responses to my
> request for information, but whatever I'm missing is whacking my brain.
>
> In the end, it will turn out that my card is defective or that it requires
> a Crown D300 to drive it.

There is no adjustment available for analogue in. This is a professional
card that assumes that you are able to adjust the output level of your
driving equipment. See my email off list for a test set-up you can do
yourself along with the readings I got from my card.

And, if you're going to get rid of the card, I'll put my name in the hopper,
too.

Steve King

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"mcp6453" <mcp6453@earthlink.net> wrote

> You're describing the problem exactly, but I cannot find a mixer control
> that sets the analog input level. I don't think there is one.

Do you have more than one sound card???

Julian

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"leftofthedial" <robert@leftofthedial.com> wrote

> There is a mixer that adjust the digital inputs analog inputs digital
> outs and analog outs.
>
> If you cannot find it, you probably have not set up the card properly.
> There is an icon in the system tray that lets you fiddle with these
> settings.

YES!