Newcomer

Solved

Output volume too high on Mac with audio interface

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
March 14, 2024
3 replies
25 views

I use a Behringer XR18 digital mixer as my audio interface, to an M1 Mac running Sonoma 14.3.1. Zoom is version 5.17.10.

Everyone hears me completely clearly, and I hear them. However, there is digital distortion (crackling sounds) now and then when multiple people speak, or one speaks particularly loudly (not when I speak - I have two levels of hardware compression ensuring my signal never rises above -18 dBu).

The problem appears to be that the Zoom output signal is simply too hot. My mixer's channel meter clearly shows the output signal going into orange and red all the time, and this corresponds with the digital distortion. I have USB 1-2 mapped to the Zoom return channel, with the USB trim (mixer setting) at its lowest, -18.

As I'm using an audio interface, the speaker volume slider is locked.

Is there a way to reduce the output of Zoom into my audio interface?

Audio

Best answer by DovJ

@storyhub I found a global Monitor "Source Trim" setting in the Behringer XAIR app under Audio/Midi. It seems to move independently from the USB Trim on the USB return channels. It was set to +1. I've moved it to -18, which in my testing so far has kept the USB return to -6 dBFS, eliminating the digital distortion.

bstrelko

Community Champion | Customer

You might need to run analog audio back to the mixer to get the level of attenuation you're looking for 😞

If Zoom is not providing any level control / attenuation for the USB output, you can't really attenuate the signal further before hitting the digital returns at their lowest setting and still peaking.

I have also found the XR18's USB i/o to be a bit spotty in general.

D

DovJAuthor

Newcomer

Do you mean loop a pair of outputs back into the mixer, lowering the output volume on those channels?

I suspect that wouldn’t help, as the audio will already have digitally distorted in the USB return into the mixer’s input stage. I would be lowering the gain on a signal with crackles in it.

Is there no way to turn down the USB output in Zoom?

bstrelko

Community Champion | Customer

No, that's not what I mean.

I'm suggesting using analog audio to/from the mixer instead of USB (USB returns will not come into play at all), as USB audio from Zoom is proving to be problematic. At the application level (Zoom), USB audio output is indeed fixed.

storyhub

Community Super Champion | Customer

Since typical audio recording on a DAW is at 44.1KHz be sure that the audio rate (the word clock) in the Behringer software audio/MIDI tab is set to 48Khz and that the Mac is also set to 48Khz. You can check the clock rate that Zoom sees in the Settings > Statistics tab. You can lower the audio output from Zoom in audio settings (which just lowers the speaker audio for the selected device)

D

DovJAuthor

Newcomer

Thanks for continuing to offer ideas.

My mixer is set to 48kHz.

The volume slider in Zoom is disabled when output to the XR18 is selected. Do you have any idea why?

The only control I have over this particular gain is the USB “Trim” in the XR18. It is set to the minimum, -18, so I have nowhere to go with that.

storyhub

Community Super Champion | Customer

LOCKING the Zoom slider is a function of the MAC OS NOT A FUNCTION OF ZOOM. All Zoom does is change the systems speaker volume if it is locked that is most likely a function of the Mac OS in combination with the interface. USB keeps all audio in the digital domain. So all audio levels should be measured in the digital domain which is DBFS (DB full scale). Zoom's OUTPUT is NOT controlled by Zoom but is controlled by the OS. So all your issues are between the OS and the interface device. More than likely you need to install proper drivers as the Mac is very picky about audio and drivers especially since you are using an ARM processor. You may want to look at other forums about Mac and Behringer audio issues or get hands on consultation with a Mac expert. But your issue is NOT with Zoom.

storyhub

Community Super Champion | Customer

Since typical audio recording on a DAW is at 44.1KHz be sure that the audio rate (the word clock) in the Behringer software audio/MIDI tab is set to 48Khz and that the Mac is also set to 48Khz. You can check the clock rate that Zoom sees in the Settings > Statistics tab. You can lower the audio output from Zoom in audio settings (which just lowers the speaker audio for the selected device).

D

DovJAuthorAnswer

Newcomer

@storyhub I found a global Monitor "Source Trim" setting in the Behringer XAIR app under Audio/Midi. It seems to move independently from the USB Trim on the USB return channels. It was set to +1. I've moved it to -18, which in my testing so far has kept the USB return to -6 dBFS, eliminating the digital distortion.

Getting Started

Sign up

Login with SSO

Login to the community

Login with SSO

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded