So I’m a new Quad Cortex Mini user and have a couple questions about unity gain and volume settings using is with my Mac Mini. So I’m using the QC Mini as an audio interface with my Mac. Connections are Main XLR R/L to my studio monitors and UBC to my Mac.
First, the audio from computer was very high since I’m going straight to monitors, so I turned the USB volume down a little. The guitar input and output all same at 0bd. Now here’s my main question.. I’ve noticed most people run their QC with the main master volume knob all the way up or 3/4th up. I’m only able to get my QC Mini volume up to 35 as it’s pretty loud at that setting. Should this volume be 100? If so where do I take down the volume at them, the XLR outputs? Wouldn’t that be worse gain staging? I figure everything at 0db and use the main volume knob LOW as a master. Why do people have their QC volume knobs maxed? Is the volume buttons on the QC mini the same as the big volume knob on the big QC?
From my understanding and what others have explained, the Master Volume knob is at unity gain when it’s at max. Lower it acts as an attenuator which can increase noise floor (from what I’ve heard). If things are too loud and you are clipping, I would just the check I/O on the QC. You can turn down the volume on the grid by holding down the output block and adjusting the overall volume there, or by lower the volume somewhere within your chain on the grid. I never touch my Master Volume control.
UPDATE: So, I did discover that my HS8 speakers both had their volume maxed in the back, so I set them back down to 0db and now I can get the Mini’s volume up to about 75 for comfortable listening.
That was going to be my next suggestion is to check the volume of your speakers that you’re listening from. If all levels in I/O, and on your grid with the output block you’re feeding to your speakers isn’t clipping, then you’re all set.
I keep my output from the QC to be around -12db from the row that I’m feeding to the output block. So, if I tap and hold Out 1 on my Grid, I always check it there to make sure it’s around -12db at its loudest. If it isn’t, I go through the block and start turning down the main volume of the cab, or the amp block (not the amp gain or amp volume, the output master volume of the amp block) to get the levels down. Sometimes it can be an effect that really boosts the DB and makes things louder (reverb or delay can push the volume sometimes). So if that’s the case you have to work through the grid to find the culprit - unless it’s intentional and you want the effect to do that of course.
Hey thanks for the info. Yea now I have my master volume up to 75 I’m having to take down the treble a hair. When I was playing with master at 20 and speakers maxed the tone was more bass heavy and smooth. I’m in the normal realm of tone now.
Hi all, new to the forum and QC Mini. I have a seemingly well recognised and much discussed issue so apologies for regurgitating but nothing i’ve read seems to solve. the issue is concerning output volume from my QC Mini. I have tried all combinations of outputs 1&2 XLR and 3&4 1/4 jacks but both give very feeble output. I have my main output set at 100 which i’ve read to be ‘unity gain’, i’ve adjusted input, and all block, amp and effects levels but to no avail. I’ve tried both TS and TRS connectors, no difference. HELP!!
My set up is guitar into input 1 and stereo output from either 1&2 or 3&4 into my active studio monitors (Edirol MA-20D’s). I have to turn the monitor volume up all the way to get precious little output. As I said all QC Mini controls seem ok, overall output set to max., input and output not clipping so where am I going wrong? Incidentally, if I use headphones obviously from the headphone out all is good, deafening sound if i so choose! Likewise, if i run a single TRS jack from headphone out to a dual hi-fi in and connect thus to my Edirol monitors, hey presto, perfect sound and plenty of it. It just seems that the designated outputs 1&2 and 3&4 do not supply anything like proper sound levels; my active monitors are plenty loud enough and receive signals from all my other equipment without volume issues.
Being in the fortunate position of owning a Fractal FM3 and AM4 and a Fender Tonemaster Pro as well as Nano Cortex none of which I have had any issue with when connecting directly to my monitors, all have been seamless and provide accurate sound reproduction.
I have resisted the QC for so long only dipping my toe into the water so to speak with the Nano which I find quite limiting so took the plunge with the Mini which I do hope is not a big mistake aside from the output issue as I thus far seem unable to get the same quality sounds as I do from the TM Pro and certainly the FM3 both of which IMHO are this far quite surprisingly but substantially superior.
Would anybody be kind enough to make some suggestions to cure the output issues I have, most of which I think already tried spending endless time researching on line to no avail. Could it be simply that I have a duff unit?