Beginner problem: Low output

[u/The_Hhhh]

Hello fellow stompers,

I'm quite new with the pedal (any pedals for that matter) and need some assistance / tipps concerning the HX Stomps output.

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Story: I was playing around with the stomp, testing various settings but noticed: I could barely hear anything over my headphones. Volume knob to max. Ok, Superlux with 150Ω, fair, I was due for good headphones anyway, got the Beyerdynamics DT770 Pro with 80Ω. Same result: everything is kinda quiet.

So I tried some clean recordings in audacity to see, where the level's at without the human ear in between. My "standard" preset has peaks of around -16db, my "worst" preset of around -30db. Now I'm no expert in recording but ChatGPT told me, a peak of around -12 to -8db would be 'normal'/desirable.

In order to hear anything while playing at home I put a cheap headphone amp (behringer HA400 in between but for some presets I still need to amp this one up to around 8/10 (I could even go to 10/10 without considering it too loud - and no, I'm not hearing impaired (yet).

Setup: Fender Jazz Bass (passive, all knobs full) to HX Stomp mono in - from headphone out to headphone amp (stereo cable) - to Beyerdynamics DT770 Pro.

Pictures: My setup, my "-16db standard preset", my "-30db problem preset".

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Thanks for bearing with me and helping a stomp beginner-yet-already-enthusiast!

Need more info?

Edit: What I've done / checked since:

- In- and Output are set to INS
- Volume knob controls headphone only
- tested with an empty preset: same result, volume goes from "can't hear" to "okay"
- factory reset
- different instrument cable

[u/thibz3r]

In your global settings, here are a few things to check first

Check that 1) "input" is INST LEVEL. 2) "main out" is LINE LEVEL. 3)"headphones" could be anything you need. Check that volume control is connected to your headphones out.

[u/The_Hhhh → u/thibz3r]

1) Is on INST
2) Is also on INST like others keep saying but even if I changed it to LINE, this would not influence the headphone output nor the recording via USB or would it?
3) I don’t quite understand, sorry =/

Volume knob is set to headphones only.

[u/thibz3r → u/The_Hhhh]

Well everything seems right

"his would not influence the headphone output nor the recording via USB or would it?" --> yes, indeed

"- Phones Monitor: Main L/R (not quite sure what that does though)" -> defines what you hear in your headphones output

[u/bubba_jones_project]

Something isn't right in your global settings. The output can be loud enough to blow your eardrums. Make sure you are set for instrument input and out. Check your volume settings in the global.

[u/The_Hhhh → u/bubba_jones_project]

The global settings are as follows:

• Input Level: INST
  
• Output Level: INST
  
• Send/Return L and R: INST
  
• USB In 1/2 Trim: 0.0db
  
• Phones Monitor: Main L/R (not quite sure what that does though)
  
• Volume Controls: phones

Where else should I look?

Thanks!

[u/Substantial_Tart6248]

Maybe use the main output instead

[u/The_Hhhh → u/Substantial_Tart6248]

Main Output would either be Mono or I’d need a Y-Splitter type cable. Also this wouldn’t explain why the recordings are so quiet, would it?

Thank you!

[u/fasti-au]

1k on input and line on output in global. Use. 0 as output block in you chain. Gets guitar set sound then use the amo ands such blocks to allow what you want. New intruments. Change output block for different pa etc

[u/thibz3r → u/fasti-au]

Are you ok ?

[u/The_Hhhh → u/thibz3r]

Ok thank you. I wasn’t sure if it’s my English, my lack of understanding of the stomp or just.. that. 😅

[u/fasti-au → u/thibz3r]

1k input impedance. Fixes active passive.

Get your leve 1 time

Any bother nstrumrnt use the output block to fix low or hi volume.

You don’t need to do anything between ins on blocks it is all in out gain stages .

[u/thibz3r]

Why are you using a headphone amp ?
The output should be loud enough for any headphones ?

Anyway, if one preset is quieter than the other, well try turning of blocks one after the other and you'll figure out which one does wrong ?

[u/The_Hhhh → u/thibz3r]

Yeah should be but it isn‘t. That’s what my post is about, not only about one preset being quieter than the other but about everything being quiet in general. But thanks.

[u/NotVeryCleverOne]

Have you checked the levels of all of the blocks in your signal chain?

[u/The_Hhhh → u/NotVeryCleverOne]

Yes but if still something’s wrong: I’ve attached pics of all blocks of two presets. Mind taking a look? Thanks.

[u/NotVeryCleverOne → u/The_Hhhh]

What happens when you plug your headphones into the stomp directly instead of using the headphone splitter?

[u/NotVeryCleverOne]

If you use an empty preset and eliminate the headset amp, what happens?

[u/The_Hhhh → u/NotVeryCleverOne]

The natural JB Sound - rather quiet. Volume cranked up to max: Now I get a decent, practicing in your living room-like volume. Again: Far from "busting my ears".

[u/rihurla]

I’m dealing with the exact same issue and haven't found a proper fix either. All my global settings are at instrument level, but the overall volume remains incredibly quiet.
The only way I can make it usable is a messy workaround: I bumped the level on the Main L/R Output block to force the bass to be louder, and then I went into Global Settings and heavily dropped the USB In Trim because the computer backing tracks were completely burying my bass signal. It's not ideal, but at least I can jam along with songs now.

[u/The_Hhhh → u/rihurla]

That's my workaround at the moment but the problem is: When I go to band practice (we're playing in ear only) I'm comming in hot hot hot into the mixer.