My Mixers output is +4 and my sound card is -10

1.) is this a DB problem?

2.) If i use a line level shifter from +4 to -10 thats alot of db loss right?


Do i need a Line level shifter for each piece of gear i have to balance out the +4 and -10 problems?

doesn't most line level gear have a +4/-10 switch built on?

you'll be fine switching down to the -10 to match your soundcard.

just think of it like a pad button on a mic preamp

Thanks uncle for the help

What happens when audio is hooked up in theses configurations


+4 output >>>>>>>> (-)10 input is this BAD or GOOD db loss?

(-)10 output>>>>>>> +4 input is this BAD or GOOD db loss?

What happens when i hook up equipment like this?

+4 output to a -10 input will most likely cause wave clipping.

-10 to +4 will result in a weaker signal, but you always just normalize that. it's better than clipping.

I think both of those are my problem

Because my sound card sound really THIN

Do i need a Line level shifter for each piece of gear i have to balance out the +4 and -10 problems?


mixer output -10db or +4
guitar pedals -10db
keyboard outputs -10db
microphone output -20db
preamps -10db or +4
eqs -10db or +4
compressors -10db or +4
AD converters -10db or +4
DA converter -10db or +4

ok, just make sure all the gear with +4/-10 switches match the level of your soundcard (which you said is -10)

microphones shoud be plugged into the preamp.

the guitar pedal and keyboard are going to need a DI box (AKA Direct Inject, Direct Box). this will match the impedence from the guitar (and pedal) or keyboard to that of your soundcard/mixer.

guitars/keyboards produce an instrument-level hi-impedance output. The mixer is looking for a low-impedance input. The DI Box will make the pedal's ouput match the line level input of your soundcard/mixer.

Thanks Uncle

So DI boxers make the Impedance and the Line level matching