Recording line in with Soundforge, and Audiophile 24/96 Options

[evereux]

I'm having a problem recording the output from my CD player through the line in of my soundcard, the Midiman Audiophile (Window's XP).

The problem is distortion. I can't seem to find a way to attenuate the line level input in soundforge and this is causing clipping.

I'm beginning to wonder if this can be removed since during normal playback (through PC) I also get audible clipping, even when the line in is attenuated using Midiman's control panel. I suspect the Midiman doesn't like the output levels of my CD player?

I'm quite sure the input signal itself isn't a problem since playback direct through my amplifier reveals no clipping.

Any ideas?

[Pio2001]

So I just can't imagine why an analog signal cannot be attenuated to a non-clipping ADC output in that case ... it is just a matter of voltage

Let's give an example :

Maximum recordable level of the line input : 1 Volt. It clips the 24 bits ADC
Mixer setting : at -12 dB, the full scale of the 24 bits is scaled to the full scale of the digital file output (gain = 1)

In you case : output of your keyboard = 0.5 Volts
ADC : Full scale minus 6 dB
Mixer setting : 0 dB, gain = +12 dB
Result : -6+12=+6 dB
Your file is clipped by 6 dB

Now you lower the mixer setting to -6dB : gain = +6 dB
Result : -6+6=0 dB
Your recording is OK

In our case :
Output of the phono preamp : 2 Volts
ADC : clipped by 6 dB
Mixer setting : 0 dB (gain = +12 dB)
Result : 6 dB clipping, then 12 more dB clipping.

We lower the mixer setting at -24 dB (gain = -12 dB)
Result : 6 dB clipping remapped to -12 dB, like in the first picture at the top of this thread.