Reaper refuses to record above -28.5dB

[Peeved T-40]

No matter what I do, reaper hard limits my input to -28.5dB. Boosting the gain on my interface does nothing. The waveforms come out completely flat and are barley audible. I can't record anything because of this.

My interface is a Motu M2. It's pretty much brand new and I haven't had any problems until now

 

[ddnidd1]

If you're not using any plugins, the first thing I would try, in the process of elimination, would be to do a simple re-install of reaper. If that doesn't correct things, I'd also then re-install the MOTU driver.

 

[Peeved T-40]

If you're not using any plugins, the first thing I would try, in the process of elimination, would be to do a simple re-install of reaper. If that doesn't correct things, I'd also then re-install the MOTU driver.

So there's no random setting that I might have accidentally changed?

 

[ddnidd1]

Nothing that I'm familiar with - which means nothing.

Check out the Reaper Forum - they will know the answer and are a great resource going forward.

REAPER Forums - Cockos Incorporated Forums

EDIT: And there is a MOTU forum.

MOTUNATION Main Forums - MOTUnation.com

 

[Snaxster]

So there's no random setting that I might have accidentally changed?

Hello. The following is from a recent email thread, in which reported to friends a similar experience recording with REAPER.

Snaxster:

Last night I lost some beautiful music and sounds because I assumed my DAW was set correctly. Instead of recording the undulating, deep, spacious, slightly disturbing synth music I made, I got ten minutes of a dog barking and cars driving by.

Why was my DAW’s audio device input setting incorrect? It doesn’t matter.

Recording music with a DAW? Check your DAW settings first, each and every session.

P.S. - I erased the recordings, so I don’t have to worry about the dog demanding royalties.


Friend:

OS update - that's my guess. Was there an update done between the last session and this?


Snaxster:

It’s possible. Since I don’t have a dedicated DAW PC, even though I am not taking the upgrade to the next generation of the OS, I still take OS patches for security.​

 

[Aloe]

what does the input meter on the front panel of the interface say? is the signal very quiet on it as well, it's the audio interface or the thing that you plug into it (bass? preamp? mic? you didn't specify; might be a cable between them as well).

 

[Crater]

No matter what I do, reaper hard limits my input to -28.5dB.

This is...very odd.

Check Reaper's Audio Hardware settings. Shortcut keys are crtl + P or on Reaper's menu bar, click "Options", then "Preferences" and if necessary the "Device" sub-menu. You should get something that looks like this, except for your interface instead of my Mackie 'Big Knob' unit.

Your interface has input metering, are you able to get a good level as indicated on the input meters? The input gain on your interface is the only means of setting the "original" recording level, so it must be correct. If the signal is too loud and clips during recording, it's often not usable. If signals are recorded at too low a level, boosting their volume via software is possible, but it will also boost hiss and other background noises, so again it's not recommended if you can avoid it.

Here's Reaper's 'track window'...If your interface is configured correctly, you should be able to click the small down arrow (indicated by the big orange arrow) and select either "Analog 1" or "Analog 2" as inputs. The green arrow shows the "input FX" switch, if it is green you have an VST effect on the input and that could be limiting the recording level.

Again, at the risk of repeating myself, the input recording level must be set by the input gain knob on the interface. For most instruments should land in a range from about -20 dB to a max of about -6 dB (others say a max level of around -12 dB is fine). The sliders and knobs in Reaper only control the playback level of the track.

Lastly, some recording interfaces come with their own "control panel" application, I don't know if the MOTU does or not, but if your interface came with one you check it's settings too...see if there are any settings called "Pad" or labeled "-15 dB" or "-20dB" as some interfaces can be switched to accommodate both mic level and line level signals.

 

[And I]

It is extremely unlikely this is a Reaper problem. like astronomically infinitesimally small chance of that. Have you tried recording into a different DAW? Do you get the same problem? If so have you checked the input device settings as Crater suggested?

 

[Peeved T-40]

what does the input meter on the front panel of the interface say? is the signal very quiet on it as well, it's the audio interface or the thing that you plug into it (bass? preamp? mic? you didn't specify; might be a cable between them as well).

I'm usually trying to record bass. What my interface reads doesn't matter. I can crank it to the point of peaking and reaper still tells me it -28.5dB

 

[WillyW]

Don't fear

 

[Aloe]

I'm usually trying to record bass. What my interface reads doesn't matter. I can crank it to the point of peaking and reaper still tells me it -28.5dB

so, it peaks on the interface, but very quiet in reaper?

well, it still could be all three:
1. interface went broke
2. something in your computer went broke. audio drivers, system update, sometimes hardware, whatever
3. something in Reaper went broke

from my experience, I'd consider 3. a much less probable option than the others. assuming, you tried from a new empty project and it's not a badly configured limiter somewhere. you might try some other DAW and see, but likely you'll see the same: the signal will be very quiet.

worth checking though. just get another DAW, Cakewalk is free, Studio One Prime is free, just get something and check.

if in other DAW it still will be very quiet, try your interface with another computer, so you'll be able to know, if it's your specific computer broken or it's the interface.

 

[Peeved T-40]

so, it peaks on the interface, but very quiet in reaper?

well, it still could be all three:
1. interface went broke
2. something in your computer went broke. audio drivers, system update, sometimes hardware, whatever
3. something in Reaper went broke

from my experience, I'd consider 3. a much less probable option than the others. assuming, you tried from a new empty project and it's not a badly configured limiter somewhere. you might try some other DAW and see, but likely you'll see the same: the signal will be very quiet.

worth checking though. just get another DAW, Cakewalk is free, Studio One Prime is free, just get something and check.

if in other DAW it still will be very quiet, try your interface with another computer, so you'll be able to know, if it's your specific computer broken or it's the interface.

I fixed it. Turns out my audio drive in reaper was set to something called "WaveOut". No idea what it is but never had a problem with it before so I never bothered to change it. Changed it to ASIO and it seems to have fixed it

 

[mike buzzetti]

thats your audio driver / output device you need to know the basics of a daw, ASIO is a semi pro driver device waveout is a stock windows driver always use ASIO FYI

 

[Aloe]

I fixed it. Turns out my audio drive in reaper was set to something called "WaveOut". No idea what it is but never had a problem with it before so I never bothered to change it. Changed it to ASIO and it seems to have fixed it

hehe, if you say, the signal was there, but very quiet, likely you were trying to record from the onboard audio device. like a laptop's mic was catching your unplugged bass. no wonder, it sounded quiet and bad.

anyway a lesson learned: if you don't get the proper signal from your audio interface, the first thing is to check if you're actually using the expected audio interface. it's a somewhat common thing, I sometimes also forget to select the proper audio interface before I start recording, but I quickly know if that's the case. you will as well now.