Hi,
When I use the 'old midronome plugin', and connect the output of my audio interface to the input of the midronome, the output has to be really, really, loud before the midronome picks up the signal. I mean way above 0dB loud.
I'm worried about destroying the output of the audio interface, is this normal? Can I do something about it?
Audio interface: motu m4
midronome old plugin - input signal has to be really loud
Re: midronome old plugin - input signal has to be really loud
Hi 
0dBFS is literally the loudest your audio interface can ever do, it usually converts to a maximum value in dBu in the real world. Looking at the M4 specs ( https://motu.com/de/products/m-series/m4/specs/ ), it seems your max is 16 dBu, that means when in your DAW you're at 0 dBFS, the M4 is outputting 16 dBu.
16 dBu is about +7V, and the Nome will work from about 0.3V, which should be around -2dBu (note that all these values are quickly calculated now - not precise but they should give you an idea).
I would suggest to leave the track and DAW output to maximum (i.e. 0dBFS, which the plugin sends by default), and then put the physical analog volume on your interface to about half.
Check your output volume chain (maybe something is all the way down somewhere, on the audio interface software, somewhere in the DAW), and make sure you are outputting a mono signal using a mono cable.
Either way don't worry you will not damage your audio interface by sending loud audio out of it - you might tire the output DACs if you constantly do it, but even that would take a while
Simon
0dBFS is literally the loudest your audio interface can ever do, it usually converts to a maximum value in dBu in the real world. Looking at the M4 specs ( https://motu.com/de/products/m-series/m4/specs/ ), it seems your max is 16 dBu, that means when in your DAW you're at 0 dBFS, the M4 is outputting 16 dBu.
16 dBu is about +7V, and the Nome will work from about 0.3V, which should be around -2dBu (note that all these values are quickly calculated now - not precise but they should give you an idea).
I would suggest to leave the track and DAW output to maximum (i.e. 0dBFS, which the plugin sends by default), and then put the physical analog volume on your interface to about half.
Check your output volume chain (maybe something is all the way down somewhere, on the audio interface software, somewhere in the DAW), and make sure you are outputting a mono signal using a mono cable.
Either way don't worry you will not damage your audio interface by sending loud audio out of it - you might tire the output DACs if you constantly do it, but even that would take a while
Simon
Re: midronome old plugin - input signal has to be really loud
Seems the cable was the problem indeed, thanks for your patience. It works great now!