Has any other Firepod users noticed this? Any advice on adding more gain? (other than buying a new interface :wink: )

I'm the only one? :(

Hi mrbwnstn,
No you are not the only one to use the firepod...
I'm using 2 firepods..I probably know what you are talking about...
If you are using the 1/4 inch input instead of XLR inputs, yes you'll have on the channels 1 and 2 pretty good signals but not so great on the other channels ( 3-8 channels)...

I don't have this problem because I use only the XLR inputs, I'm using the firepods mostely to record drums.... But when I record any other instruments like bass, guitar, etc... I use the channel 1 and 2, because they are the one to use for that purpose, if you read the manual I believe you'll find some info about the matter... I hope that helped...
But I have some questions... What are you recording with the firepod? Are you using all 8 channels at the same time? If you can give me some more info, I may can help more and better............

Tano wrote: Hi mrbwnstn,
No you are not the only one to use the firepod...
I'm using 2 firepods..I probably know what you are talking about...
If you are using the 1/4 inch input instead of XLR inputs, yes you'll have on the channels 1 and 2 pretty good signals but not so great on the other channels ( 3-8 channels)...

I don't have this problem because I use only the XLR inputs, I'm using the firepods mostely to record drums.... But when I record any other instruments like bass, guitar, etc... I use the channel 1 and 2, because they are the one to use for that purpose, if you read the manual I believe you'll find some info about the matter... I hope that helped...
But I have some questions... What are you recording with the firepod? Are you using all 8 channels at the same time? If you can give me some more info, I may can help more and better............

Hey Tano,
Thanks for responding. Yeah, I'm using my Firepod to record whole kits, as well as reference demos all at once. (1 - 4 on the kit, 5 - 6 for guitars and vox) All my mics are input via XLR on the front of the interface. But inputs 3 - 8 are so quiet that I have to first send my signal through exterior pres prior to input to boost the level. Kinda sucks. I'm close miking amps and such, but I still can't get enough level.

I'm thinking about selling my Firepod and going with a Mackie Onyx to get around this. Anyone know if this is the issue with the Onyx 800r?

mrbwnstn,
I don't have any problems at all with the XLR inputs... I record with 12 mics at the same time and I don't even have turned up half way having great signal from every channels... I must be something wrong...
What Program are you running? And are you using 1/4 inch cables for guitars? What mics are you using, condesor or dynamic ? I will take a look with more attention where the problem could be before selling the firepod... I repeat again I have been using 2 firepods for about 7 months now and they work great for me....

Tano wrote: mrbwnstn,
I don't have any problems at all with the XLR inputs... I record with 12 mics at the same time and I don't even have turned up half way having great signal from every channels... I must be something wrong...
What Program are you running? And are you using 1/4 inch cables for guitars? What mics are you using, condesor or dynamic ? I will take a look with more attention where the problem could be before selling the firepod... I repeat again I have been using 2 firepods for about 7 months now and they work great for me....

Tano,
Yeah, all XLR. I'm not inputing any of my mics via the 1/4 rear jacks. Using a combo of dynamics and condenser. I'm using Cubase SE3. Even with my levels cranked, I can't get full gain out of jacks 3 - 8. I'm wondering if maybe there is an internal gain adjustment for the Firepod, other than the input mixer in Cubase, that I can adjust the peak input level.

very weird,

I can easily distort the xlr ins3-8 even with a sm57
and xlr3-8 is the same as xlr1-2 for me

are you sure there isn't something small you've overlooked?
try switching the same mic between xlr1 and xlr3 with same gain settings on the firepod
different cabling?
phantom on?
check the cubase settings for input gain as well as the firepod input gain knobs

cheers

GentleG wrote: very weird,

I can easily distort the xlr ins3-8 even with a sm57
and xlr3-8 is the same as xlr1-2 for me

are you sure there isn't something small you've overlooked?
try switching the same mic between xlr1 and xlr3 with same gain settings on the firepod
different cabling?
phantom on?
check the cubase settings for input gain as well as the firepod input gain knobs

cheers

Same here, I have a great signal and I can easely distort the XLR ins 3-8 even with a cheap mic... Like GentleG said, that's wierd!

You said that you are using condensor mics, is the phantom power on? Just to make sure...

Bummer.

Ghosts

Yeah, it sounds like you need to turn on the phantom power.

Take a dynamic mic, and plug it into channel 1.
Check the levels/record a test/check it again.
Repeat with channels 2-8 at the same gain.

Now, if channels 3-8 are quieter with the exact same mic & exact
same cable and exact same gain setting, then the problem
is your FirePod... if the problem mysteriously goes away, then
try turning on phantom power the next time your track with
your condenser mics.

Re: Ghosts

2012 wrote: Yeah, it sounds like you need to turn on the phantom power.

Take a dynamic mic, and plug it into channel 1.
Check the levels/record a test/check it again.
Repeat with channels 2-8 at the same gain.

Now, if channels 3-8 are quieter with the exact same mic & exact
same cable and exact same gain setting, then the problem
is your FirePod... if the problem mysteriously goes away, then
try turning on phantom power the next time your track with
your condenser mics.

I've been messing around with it, and I'm not having problems when I use XLR connectors. I'm having the problem when I use 1/4" jacks in. I have to run it through an external pre amp to get enough gain.

mic cables

If your micrphone is low-impedance (57. 58) and you use a hi-z mic cable you will get a shitty signal like you describe.

You cannot use a low-impedance mic with a high-impedance cable.

If you use a standard XLR mic cable with XLR plugs on both ends with an XLR to 1/4" adapter at the end, it should fix that problem...

Now then, i do not understand why you are running into the 1/4" jacks when the FirePod has 8 XLR inputs...

If you take a look at your FIRE POD users manual you will see that only 1/4" inputs 1 and 2 have 45dB of gain. Channels 3-8 have -10dB to +10dB of trim adjustment (i.e. they are line level)

1-8 XLR inputs have 45 dB of gain.

Basically you need to follow 2012's advice. use the XLR inputs or get an additional preamp to get higher gain.

-Chris