audio issue : quieter than in others Softwares

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Slothorp

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audio issue : quieter than in others Softwares

PostThu Nov 25, 2021 3:30 am

Hello everyone,

I found this problem in others topics in the forum, but without solution. When I playback the files inside resolve, the sound is significantly quieter than in others software or NLEs (such as Premiere pro or FCP on my computer). I use a focusrite Scarlett solo 3rd gen, plugged on USB C port on my Mac mini to export the sound on stereo speakers. In the preferences, the audio I/O is set to the USB sound card. I can hear the sound, but the fact that it is quieter than it should be makes it very dull and with a lot of background noises coming from the speakers.
The problem was in Resolve 16, and persists IN resolve 17.4.2.
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Reynaud Venter

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Re: audio issue : quieter than in others Softwares

PostThu Nov 25, 2021 8:46 am

In Preferences > System > Video and Audio I/O > Monitor Speaker Configuration are Trims at unity?
(i.e. 0.0dB)

In the Monitoring Panel is the Control Room level slider at unity (i.e. 0dB)?

In the Monitoring Panel is Dim disabled?

Are you experiencing this behaviour on all pages or only specific pages? (e.g. Edit or Fairlight)
⟦ Mac Pro 7,1 Rack ⊕ 16-core 3.2GHz ⊕ 32GB RAM ⊕ Radeon 580X • Resolve Studio 18.6.6 • macOS 14.3.1 ⟧
⟦ Fairlight Studio Console ⊕ Fairlight Audio Accelerator ⊕ Merging Hapi • Anubis • Ravenna CoreAudio VAD ⟧
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Slothorp

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Re: audio issue : quieter than in others Softwares

PostThu Nov 25, 2021 3:29 pm

Trims are at unity (in Monitor Speaker Configuration) such as the Control Room level slider in the monitoring Panel.

The only way to listen to audio files at a audible level without background electrical noise is to raise Trims at +10.
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Reynaud Venter

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Re: audio issue : quieter than in others Softwares

PostFri Nov 26, 2021 9:25 am

Are the monitoring issues specific to the Scarlett or is built-in audio exhibiting the same behaviour?
⟦ Mac Pro 7,1 Rack ⊕ 16-core 3.2GHz ⊕ 32GB RAM ⊕ Radeon 580X • Resolve Studio 18.6.6 • macOS 14.3.1 ⟧
⟦ Fairlight Studio Console ⊕ Fairlight Audio Accelerator ⊕ Merging Hapi • Anubis • Ravenna CoreAudio VAD ⟧
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Charles Bennett

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Re: audio issue : quieter than in others Softwares

PostTue Nov 30, 2021 9:42 am

Electrical noise in your monitoring indicates a possible earthing problem with your computer, or a problem with the interface itself.
What speakers are you using and are your cables to them balanced or unbalanced?
As to volume, do you have the Focusrite Control software installed and is it configured correctly?
Apart from the usb connection, do you have anything connected to the mic or line inputs?
Resolve Studio 18.6.6 build 7
Dell XPS 8700 i7-4790, 24GB RAM, 2 x Evo 860 SSDs, GTX1060/6GB (546.01 Studio Driver), Win10 Home (22H2), Speed Editor, Faderport mk1, Eizo ColorEdge CS230 + BenQ GW2270 + Samsung SA200, Canon C100mk2, Zoom H2n.
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Slothorp

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Re: audio issue : quieter than in others Softwares

PostTue Nov 30, 2021 2:26 pm

Built-in audio is exhibiting the same behavior, with internal speakers or audio headset. In Premiere Pro or in VLC, the audio plays significantly louder than in Resolve, with Control room level at unity, and Monitoring Panel dim disabled (at 0dB).
The only way to align audio levels between resolve and others software is by raising trims at +10. It works, but should it be this way ?
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Reynaud Venter

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Re: audio issue : quieter than in others Softwares

PostTue Nov 30, 2021 3:11 pm

To reference this behaviour please capture 1kHz sinusoidal tone referenced to -18dBFS and patch both Control Room Monitor Direct and Control Room Monitor Out via Patch IO to dedicated new Timeline Tracks.

The Direct path is pre-Monitor Level, Dim, and Mute. The Monitor Out Path is post Trims.

Can you please confirm that the Buss metering is aligned with reference?
⟦ Mac Pro 7,1 Rack ⊕ 16-core 3.2GHz ⊕ 32GB RAM ⊕ Radeon 580X • Resolve Studio 18.6.6 • macOS 14.3.1 ⟧
⟦ Fairlight Studio Console ⊕ Fairlight Audio Accelerator ⊕ Merging Hapi • Anubis • Ravenna CoreAudio VAD ⟧
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Charles Bennett

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Re: audio issue : quieter than in others Softwares

PostTue Nov 30, 2021 5:48 pm

I've just done a test using the Realtek audio that I always use. Playing a project in Resolve and playing back the render of that project in VLC results in them both playing at the same volume.
VLC has the volume set to 100%, and this is the output patching that I always use for Resolve.
Attachments
Audio Patching 1.jpg
Audio Patching 1.jpg (54.96 KiB) Viewed 1372 times
Resolve Studio 18.6.6 build 7
Dell XPS 8700 i7-4790, 24GB RAM, 2 x Evo 860 SSDs, GTX1060/6GB (546.01 Studio Driver), Win10 Home (22H2), Speed Editor, Faderport mk1, Eizo ColorEdge CS230 + BenQ GW2270 + Samsung SA200, Canon C100mk2, Zoom H2n.
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Slothorp

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Re: audio issue : quieter than in others Softwares

PostWed Dec 01, 2021 6:13 pm

Thanks for your answers. Strangely, in order to play a file at the same volume between Resolve and another software, my output patching must be defined in control room Monitor direct as source, and not Control Room output.
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Reynaud Venter

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Re: audio issue : quieter than in others Softwares

PostWed Dec 01, 2021 7:06 pm

Please post a screenshot of the Monitoring Panel on the Fairlight page and include a link to a sample of the Monitor Out Path using alignment tone.
⟦ Mac Pro 7,1 Rack ⊕ 16-core 3.2GHz ⊕ 32GB RAM ⊕ Radeon 580X • Resolve Studio 18.6.6 • macOS 14.3.1 ⟧
⟦ Fairlight Studio Console ⊕ Fairlight Audio Accelerator ⊕ Merging Hapi • Anubis • Ravenna CoreAudio VAD ⟧
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Charles Bennett

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Re: audio issue : quieter than in others Softwares

PostWed Dec 01, 2021 10:44 pm

Bus Out L & R, Track Reproduction, and Control Room Monitor Direct all play bypassing the Monitor Volume slider and Dim button.
Control Room Monitor does not bypass these. Could it be that the volume slider is not fully to the right at the 0db position?
For me all four produce the same volume.
Resolve Studio 18.6.6 build 7
Dell XPS 8700 i7-4790, 24GB RAM, 2 x Evo 860 SSDs, GTX1060/6GB (546.01 Studio Driver), Win10 Home (22H2), Speed Editor, Faderport mk1, Eizo ColorEdge CS230 + BenQ GW2270 + Samsung SA200, Canon C100mk2, Zoom H2n.

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