Stealthplug recording too quietly in Logic Pro X

Question

Stealthplug recording too quietly in Logic Pro X

I'm using IK Multimedia Stealthplug to record in Logic Pro X. I used the same device with Logic Express 7 for years and never had this trouble. I'm not a beginner when it comes to figuring these things out but I am finally frustrated. My friend brought over his Apogee JAM (which serves the same purpose in my book) and it's working as expected.

Basically, the stealthplug has no gain. When I plug it in I get a good clear white noise in my headphones for about three seconds (but no input monitoring yet), then the core audio initializes and then I have input monitoring. But once the core audio initializes, the volume drops significantly and I'm not getting any good gain at all. The recordings are all way too quiet. I can bump the master tracks and mess with the gain plugin settings but the white noise from the filters also gets louder in parallel - to the point of being obtrusive and frankly unbearable. Any ideas how to resolve this? Anyone else had this problem?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Dec 28, 2013 8:54 PM

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Answer 1

kcstudio

Level 4

1,808 points

Dec 28, 2013 10:07 PM in response to The Cashed Apples

Hi, I don't think LPX is to blame here. Could you give it a try in Garage band just so to shove some of the possibilities, for this gain problem of yours, out of the way? As you say yourself: "……I'm not a beginner when it comes to figuring these things….." And you have no clue……..

We on the other hand will try to imagine what the cause of problem could be and let me assure you, according to your description, the cause of it can be manifold.

Cheers!

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Answer 2

Dec 29, 2013 2:23 PM in response to kcstudio

Yeah, I agree, LPX probably isn't at fault. Things were "working" again this morning -- Stealthplug's input monitor was giving low volume to the headphones but the recorded tracks were the proper velocity so I was able to use mac's built-in output to monitor. Now it's recording crappily again and no input-monitor change-up can fix that. I got the sense, before my original post, that this was a stealthplug issue and not LP but I've read time and again that IKM's tech support is all but nonexistent, so I abused this forum somewhat by opting for crowd sourced troubleshooting.

As to the GarageBand idea, I know it's supposed to be basically idiot proof but it didn't help that I'm not familiar with the interface. I tried stealthplug with garagband this morning (shortly before trying LP again and having some success) and it seemed to work alright. I wasn't sure exactly what it would normally sound like but then again, this has been an obvious volume issue, so I'd say it worked properly in garageband and then in LP as well. The JAM, however, did not work at all with garageband, I didn't even research that because that's not my preferred hardware or software so I counted my blessings and went back to record on LP with the stealthplug.

Now I'm having the quiet recordings, fairly certain it's a problem with my stealthplug, seeing as how it's acting up intermittently and the JAM has not faltered in the slightest on LPX.

So, any ideas what might be wrong with the stealthplug? Physically, the seam on the interface "box" has always seemed to have a bigger gap than it ought to, particularly on the output end where the volume buttons are. I can press on it front to back and it will 'close up' slightly and momentarily appear to be a well-manufactured piece of plastic but the gap returns when I release pressure. I know that's a longshot, and I'd rather rule out physical defects like that.. I'll try pressing on it while recording and see if that's relevant. I take good care of the cable, it's never been stepped on or anything. Ugh, this is all pointing to hardware defect, isn't it...

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Answer 3

kcstudio

Level 4

1,808 points

Dec 29, 2013 9:43 PM in response to The Cashed Apples

The Cashed Apples wrote:

..........

Now I'm having the quiet recordings, fairly certain it's a problem with my stealthplug, seeing as how it's acting up intermittently and the JAM has not faltered in the slightest on LPX.

Count your blessings and move on, I know how it feels to get involved with this highly irritating malfunctioning of H/S ware whilst in a creative buildup.

I can press on it front to back and it will 'close up' slightly and momentarily appear to be a well-manufactured piece of plastic but the gap returns when I release pressure.

No comments needed here I guess, You already found one huge culprit candidate……..

....... Ugh, this is all pointing to hardware defect, isn't it...

As a matter of fact, I'm very much afraid so!

Good luck and have a nice day anyway!

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