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?

[AndyH-ha]

No that is incorrect. Some of those that use the Windows mixer may, but genuine audio cards do not have input level adjustments (I don't think any quality audio soundcard does use the Windows mixer). Their control panels only operate in the digital domain, after the signal is digitized. Maybe some of those Creative cards, and their clones, have an analogue adjustment preceding the ADC, but those are hardly considered serious recording devices. Only the most awful of the Creative cards have that nasty compressor/limiter.

No doubt there are one or two professional cards that have some adjustable analogue front-end, to be "the exception that makes the rule", but they are certainly a small minority. Of course this is sort-of different for the microphone inputs on professional soundcards that have microphone preamps in the same box; those operate entirely in the analogue domain and always include a gain control (not an input level control). The same applies to those with included instrument amplifiers. The line level inputs on those same cards are static, not adjustable.

Mixers are the norm in any professional recording setup. I doubt that any professinal or semi-pro card has too little headroom for any normal recording task.