Help w/ Akai s950 - volume way too low

[inverse1]

Even when I sample at full volume and full volume on the mixer the volume is still low as hell when I play it back. I know it cant normalize but I use my other sampler for normalizing. the problem is the volume is so low initially that I get alot of hiss after normalization..anyone got any ideas on how to fix this?

 

[Fade]

Hmmm. Did you check all your connections? Maybe something's loose. But from what you're describing, it sounds like there's something wrong internally with the 950. When/where did you buy it?

 

[soundboy2]

What are you sampling from?, If its a phono/turntable you may need to run it through a Dj mixer of some sort to boost it before you send it to your mixing board and before it goes into the s950? Thats what I do for the MPC, But I only mess with the s950 for like a week, OR were you refering to a Dj mixer when you said mixer.

the chain is


Phono/dj mixer / sampler /

 

[inverse1]

my set up is like this:

turntable>dj mixer>sampler>monitors

and I bought it off this dude that works at a music store, if the shit is broken imma beat his skinny ass

 

[Fade]

Originally posted by inverse1
my set up is like this:

turntable>dj mixer>sampler>monitors

Ok wait - maybe I'm not getting the picture right but you have your dj mixer hooked IN to your sampler? Also, where's your amp in all of this?

 

[inverse1]

correction then, my bad


table>dj mixer>s950>amp>asr-x>monitors

^^exact setup,....do i gotta put the amp before the s950? when i used to sample straight into the asr-x pro i didnt need to but do i have to for this?

 

[Fade]

I'm guessing that it's probably because you have the signals coming out of your S950 and straight into your amp (the signal coming out of the S950 is probably not strong enough). You don't have a multi-channel mixer? I don't know about your ASR, but at least the rest of your gear should run through your DJ mixer, then into your amp. Try this:

>Turntable, S950, ASR-X (depending on what your setup is for)
all those into
>>DJ mixer
then into
>>>Amplifier
then out to
>>>>Monitors

I could be wrong but that's how I would try it.

 

[inverse1]

that would work except i want to sample from the s950 into the asr-x so they cant be in the same "step"

 

[vitaminman]

Hey,

If I' not mistaken:

1. The turntable needs to go through the dj-mixer to get boosted to line-level.

2. Both samplers are already line-level, so they don't need to go through the dj-mixer.

With this in mind:

1. Once the turntable has gone through the mixer, it is at a line-level and the Akai should be able to sample it nice and loud. Make sure that the inputs of the Akai are set to line-level as well.

2. Once sampled, the Akai should play back the sample nice and loud if it is plugged directly into the amp.

3. If it is loud, you need to make sure that the inputs of the ASR are set to line-level. Plug the Akai into the ASR's inputs and sample.

4. When you plug the ASR back into the amp, the sample should be nice and loud.

Most samplers I've worked with, even older ones like the Emax II, have some sort of input metering which tells you how hot the input signal is before you sample it. See if your samplers have that feature, that way you can see at what point the sample is losing volume.

Take care,

Nick