HX Stomp Output Levels (very low signal)

[TStr]

Hi there to all. My name is Teo from Greece.

I am a bass player and new to the Line 6 world/community. Great to find you.

I play a Fender American Professiona II Precision Bass and just bought the HX Stomp to make some sounds.

 

Out of the box very good sound. Very impressed till now.

I need some advices though and guidance, especially on Output levels.

 

As known a P Bass is a passive instrument. My connectivites goes:

-> from the bass to the Instrument Input of the Stomp with a very good quality 1/4" TS unbalanced instrument cable.

-> from the L/MONO output of the Stomp to a LINE Input of my audio interface with a very good quality 1/4" TRS balanced cable.

-> the provided USB cable to a usb port of my pc (in order to have access to HX edit).

-> the provided power supply.

Other than that no other connections are in the way...

 

In that point I must clarify that:

* My audio interface is at a pro level category. I don't want to use the HX Stomp as a standalone audio interface.

I have my audio interfcace and the point is to use the HX Stomp as an external device in conjunction with the audio interface,

play along my studio monitors and make some music.

* I have registered the product and made the appropriate and newest firmware update.

* The Input Level for the Line Input from my audio Interface is set to +4dBu (as it is suggested to do).

* The Input from the HX Stomp is set to INST levels from the global settings (as it is suggested to do).

* I use the 1MOhm Input Impedance at the Main Input of the preset.

* The Outputs from the HX Stomp is set to LINE levels from the global settings while I use Balanced TRS connection (as it is suggested to do).

 

So... I have tried to make my first preset. It sounds already magnificent, full, powerfull. Very pleased. 

Simple things till now:

-> A split crossover at the beginning of the chain at 250Hz and below, following by an LA Studio Comp.

-> For the Upper frequencies an amp/cab simulation followed again by an LA Studio Comp.

No hard settings here. No heavily gain reduce or the opposite. Everything is set at normal gain stages.

 

However I have noticed that in order to be heard and "catch" a unity volume level with my rest audio levels (and play together with

backing tracks or general songs), I am forced to raise very high the Output Levels from the Stomp.

The physical external Volume on the Stomp must be set at maximum and the Output levels from Main L/R on the HX Edit has to be set to about +15dB in order to have a sound that matches my rest levels.

The signal doesn't clip. Everything is green at I/O's.

 

Is that normal? Is it something I'm doing it wrong? Is it something I must change?

The solution isn't of course not to use the Line Input from my audio interface and a Balanced connection.

I don't want to go unbalnced to the general inputs of the audio interface. However I have also tried that and again the signal is low.

While the signal is not clipping I can live with that. My main problem is what happens when I have to play with the stomp anywhere else.

If I make 100 presets in my home setup and go play a live then I must reset everything down not to blow speakers?

 

Thanks in advance.

[silverhead]

You can set the level of the incoming USB audio in Global Settings -> Ins/Outs. Sounds like you should lower this setting to balance with your normal Stomp output level.

[rd2rk]

On 8/24/2023 at 8:58 PM, TStr said:

My audio interface is at a pro level category.

 

Being specific is important when asking for help. Be EXACT - make, model?

 

Assuming that it is, in fact, PRO level, then it's essentially a mixer and you have lots of I/O available.

You also have a mixer app to control it.

Take the output from your audio source (computer, phone, ?) into your AI. Use the AI's mixer app to balance the levels from the audio source and the HXS.

This is how I do it using my Scarlett 18i20.