No Sound Firefly 302

[Katress]

Okay, I read all of the other threads mentioning Firefly and Cubase, but couldn't find an answer to my problem.

I have my mic running through the Firefly into my Mac. The Firefly display registers that there is a signal coming from the mic, but on playback, the sound is so faint that you can barely hear it when the volume is turned all the way up on the track and the monitors. This happens in both Garageband and in Cubase; I've made sure that the input source for both is the Firefly, the Firefly is the clock, etc...everything else through the Firefly works; the monitors, my MIDI controllers...just not any sound from the mic. Help?

[Renegade Studios]

Im not an expert or anything but I have used the firefly 302 with Cubase LE. Now I had the unit for 10 days in the first 2 days the Mic pre stopped working but since I was only making beats at that time it wasnt really an issue. I got feed up and decided to trade up. I returned it and got a TC konnekt 8, which imho is the best purchase Ive ever made. It also comes with midi which if Im right isnt available on the firefly. I recently purchased an Konnekt 24D and have the two connected to each other which gives me 18in/18 out. I dont know if this is gonna help ur specific situation but I really feel the firefly is poorly constructed and a very cheap alternative.

Im not an expert, Ive used that and have nothing good to say about it.

Good Luck!

Anthony B.
Developmental Sound Labs
Renegade Productions
Dev Lab Productions

[Katress]

Thanks for the reply...yes, the Firefly has MIDI...Its interesting that you say that you had it for a little over a week and the pre-amp stopped working, because I've had mine for about a month, and I seem to remember that when I first hooked everything up, it all worked...now all of a sudden, I'm having this problem.

My problem with trading up to something more advanced is that I am only doing this for demo purposes...it is a lot more cost effective for me to buy low-end electronics and use my own expertise than paying a studio to do it, when I know from past experience that I will get the same result for the money (better, though, since I can record multiple songs, whenever I want, etc...).

I am going to call Phonic (who are located in Tampa, if need be I will show up on their doorstep with the equipment and demand assistance LOL).

[brandondrury]

How much signal is going into the track. When you record a track is the signal nice and strong with a pretty wave form on the screen? Is the track super small?

What signal are you recording? What mic? How much preamp gain are you using?

If you important a major label cd into Cubase and press play, does it play at full volume?

I'm trying to figure out if your problem is routing, gain structure, or hardware failure.

Brandon

[Katress]

"How much signal is going into the track. When you record a track is the signal nice and strong with a pretty wave form on the screen? Is the track super small?"

There is virtually no signal going into the track. There is no wave form; in order to hear anything after its recorded you have to turn the volume all the way up on the track itself, mute every other track, turn the master volume all the way up, AND turn the volume on the monitors to full blast to hear a whisper.

"What signal are you recording? What mic? How much preamp gain are you using?"

It's a vocal recording, through an MXL V67G from 6 inches away, with the preamp gain turned all the way up.

"If you important a major label cd into Cubase and press play, does it play at full volume?"
Yes. My instrumental track is being imported into Cubase in mp3 format, 192 kbps. It plays fine.

"I'm trying to figure out if your problem is routing, gain structure, or hardware failure."

I doubt that its routing, as its mic - preamp - computer. Everything else works through the interface (midi controller, monitors...) I would love for it to be gain structure, but I am fairly certain its hardware failure at this point. I'm so frustrated b/c its a Sunday and I can't contact their tech support. Even then, its going to be days before I have a working product. This sucks LOL.

[Renegade Studios]

I don't that its part of the gain structure. I definelty think that its hardware failure. In a matter of days mine was under wrap unable to use a mic... The firefly is a great concept but the materials don't hold up...

Ant.

[brandondrury]

"What signal are you recording? What mic? How much preamp gain are you using?"

It's a vocal recording, through an MXL V67G from 6 inches away, with the preamp gain turned all the way up.

Is phantom power on?

[Katress]

of course it is.

i've figured out the problem, actually, but i have no idea how to fix it.

[brandondrury]

So what is the problem?

Brandon