USB generic audio driver Line level input

[gliebisch]

How do you force the generic USB audio driver in Windows 7 to operate at LINE level instead of microphone level? My Audio Technica Turntable uses the generic driver and I have to run the microphone level all the way down to 4 (out of 100) in order to get the proper level. The old XP driver had a line-level selection tab but no such option in Windows 7.

 

[Sardonicus]

Have you tried right clicking on the volume icon?
Recording devices> Microphone> Properties> Levels

 

[gliebisch]

Have you tried right clicking on the volume icon?
Recording devices> Microphone> Properties> Levels

I have. Have you looked there yourself? That opens up a level control that has to be brought all the way down to 4 (from 100) in order to get the level low enough to accept a line level input. Surely, Microsoft didn't put a LINE LEVEL button on the XP version and then regress to expecting users to just attenuate the microphone level waayyy down in the Windows 7 version? Since this is not a microphone, one would expect that somewhere else there is a line-level input that has to be enabled, or the Windows driver development just never got finished!

 

[Sardonicus]

Hello,
Yeah I did see it.
I'll toss another option out, maybe it can help.

Highlight Microphone,
Configure> Set up Microphone.

Good Luck!!

 

[logicearth]

Its not called a Generic driver for nothing. It doesn't know what is a microphone or a line-in device when connected via USB.

 

[fireberd]

Why are you using the microphone? With a USB connection it uses it's own connection. I have a USB connected turntable and I have to be careful or it too will distort. You are not using the Microphone input (mono) or Line In (stereo) with a USB (digital) connection. The USB connected turntable I have, has a very high level (not really a good system) and for that reason I've went back to my regular stereo system turntable through my stereo system and use an analog signal through my sound card's Line In.

BTW, the AUDIO inputs on a PC are at "near line level", not low level like a guitar amp input or a standard mic input on a PA system or a standard "phono" level on a stereo system.

 

[gliebisch]

Configure Microphone just brings up the "speech recognition" software, and offers no ability to make the USB signal a "line level" equivalent. I repeat: In the previous Windows XP implementation of the generic USB audio driver, there was a tab with a selection button marked "USE LINE LEVEL FEATURES ON THIS INPUT". No such option exists on the Windows 7 USB Audio driver. They just assume that all USB devices will be microphone level.

Fireberd: I think you missed my points entirely. I am NOT using a MICROPHONE, I am using the USB connection and the driver is assuming (incorrectly) this USB connection to be at microphone level. Typically, microphone levels are about 65 dB below "line level" signals. Microphone levels require high gain preamplification. It makes no sense to have to attenuate a signal by 65 dB just so the next stage can amplify it by 65 dB! This has been a principal of good audio design forever! I do not want to do like you and give up a digital input and go back to using the analog line in. That introduces its own artifacts, principally hum and noise.

For the same reason that analog inputs must have a choice of "mic" or "line" inputs, USB inputs must also have a switch in software that accomplishes the same thing. LOGICEARTH is correct in that a generic USB audio driver has no way of knowing whether the device is a microphone or a line level device, which is why the driver configuration needs to have that mic/line selection, JUST LIKE THE XP implementation did.

 

[fireberd]

I know about signal levels, I'm a musican, an ex amp tech and have my own computer based (Sonar) recording studio.

Computer mics are condenser mics and have a high level output, compared to a standard PA mic such as an SM58.

The USB turtable I have "Inovative Technology" does not have any provisions for any level adjustment. I can adjust the level with the recording programs I have such as what comes with Nero and the Creative (SoundBlaster) recording program. But even with those record level adjustments, it still seemed to be too high. That was the reason I went back to my Stanton turntable and my stereo system with the phono input (for RIAA equalization). Lately, I've been using my Focusrite Saffire Pro 40, firewire connected recording input for the turntable and recording with my Sonar DAW software. This is not for everyone but for me it turns out great.

 

[gliebisch]

Fireberd,

You are experiencing the same problem I am when using USB. Your solution was to go back to the analog input, but I am trying to solve the USB digital input issue instead of bypassing it.

 

[fireberd]

Actually, the only reason I bought the USB turntable is that it will work with 78 RPM records and I have about 30 that I want to digitize.

There was other reasons for going back to the Stantron turntable, it has a variable speed control that the cheap USB turntable I have does not and the needle and cartridge are a higher quality.

 

[eddyad37]

I know this is a late reply, but this link addresses the level problem. The fact that it is on the ART Pro Audio site doesn't matter - that is where I obtained the answer.
Applied Research & Technology: Technical FAQs

 

[SoundBloke]

Me too!

Hi gliebisch, I hear you man! Generic drivers cause USB sound cards to operate at mic level. grrr!! Funny how many people didn't understand the issue... I prefer using simple USB sound cards because using generic drivers simplifies setting stuff up, and progs sharing audio and stuff, but the sensitivity issue is a pain....
Have you come across any solution yet?
I thought I might have a hunt round to see if there's a third party driver solution/ fix?

 

[SoundBloke]

I have discovered a work-around for the Annoying Windows 7 generic USB sound device running at mic level, not line level (thus overloading):
Go to properties for the sound card:
(right click volume icon/select recording device/double click your USB sound device (or select it and hit properties),/then in Advanced tab, select |Set Default| and |Apply| or |OK|.
Now do it again and select |2 channel 48k| (or whatever you want) and hit |OK|.
NOW IMPORTANT BIT!!!DO NOT CLOSE THE SOUND CONTROL PANEL. it is now set to line level as long as you don't close it, just move it out of the way!!! open your sound app and you will see that the input is at line level, and you can leave the levels tab at 100% and not have distorted/clipped sound!
If you close your application and close the control panel and open your application again the input will be overloading again.

...spread the word...

 

[Eutico]

Bingo!

I found the solution. Obviously I hope it works for you.
USB Audio ASIO driver - Descarga gratuita y comentarios de software | CNET Download.com
The USB Audio "Microphone" changes automatically to "Line In"!
And the levels are... perfect!