Input Volume - How can I get it louder aside from the knob.

Hi All!


If an input sound is too soft, how can I boost the volume on the way in?

I know about the knob on the back. It's up full. But still the input volume is just too quiet to use.
I also know about boosting the gain after it's been recorded.

There must be a way to boost the signal on the way in other than the know. The input is so often just too quite to use otherwise.

Can anyone suggest a solution.


Thanks in advance and have a great day!

Which input are you using? And what's the signal source?
I have a hunch you might have plugged in line signal into phono input

The other way round: phono signal in line input

Normalizing the sample will bring it to maximum level.
If it turns out noisy, then point 1 of Lampdog‘s list applies: make the source louder (f. e. external preamp).

handthrow wrote:Which input are you using? And what's the signal source?
I have a hunch you might have plugged in line signal into phono input

I'm recording straight in to the L and R 'in' (Not the phono in) with the rec vol up full.

I worked out a way to boost the volume on the way in about a year ago, I just forgot how to do it. It was an 'on screen' setting - software. Nothing to do with using a VCA on the way in although obviously that would boost the signal.

The input gain could do with a little more headroom for sure - to my taste.
It seems it is just about right, to reach 0db by an optimum of source gain.
If you own a standard mixing desk - the following is what I do:
- I think it is normal behaviour to level out the source output first. I am running the audio signals through a mixer. I set the level meter to PFL (PreFaderLevel) close to 0db (where slight red is OK as it is an analogue mixer)
- I route the signals (individual strips or complete mix) through a submix, muting it for the main output.
- The submix sliders control now the MPCX input. I need to push it up to -6db in the desk to reach top level in the MPCX - as I said: just about right - nothing to complain about.

I should have been more clear from the get go...

There is a way to turn up the input gain of an MPC Live II. I know because I've done it before. It's on screen somehow. I just can't remember that way to do it.

Does anyone know that way?


The old MPC's, for example MPC2000xl have an input gain knob that allows you to crank the quietest signal so hot it'll blow your speakers. There is definitely a way to still do this, if not to such a high volume, at least a useable volume without having to have an amp or a mixer.

MPCs are standalone machines. They always have been and still are. There's a way to turn the input gain up without using and external amp. That's why you buy an MPC - so you can sample with it without using outboard gear. Otherwise you'd use a DAW and laptop and a midi controller.

Most consumer devices (mobile phones, CD players and such) output at -10dBv, and if I did the math correctly (which I doubt) that 0 VU equal to 0.5 V. Professional devices such as the MPC expect inputs with 0 VU at 1.23 V, which is almost 2.5 times the voltage consumer devices can provide. Typical line ins can provide +/- 10 dB of attenuation or amplification, some more.

If your source is a vinyl player, it probably uses -10 dBv as line reference. If the vinyl contains many songs (e.g. 7-10 songs per side) they are quiet as fork.

Make sure your „source player“ has its volume cranked up to max and try again. Otherwise your source material must be too quiet. The MPC doesn‘t come with amplifiers needed for very quiet sources, e.g. microphones.

83dude wrote:Most consumer devices (mobile phones, CD players and such) output at -10dBv, and if I did the math correctly (which I doubt) that 0 VU equal to 0.5 V. Professional devices such as the MPC expect inputs with 0 VU at 1.23 V, which is almost 2.5 times the voltage consumer devices can provide. Typical line ins can provide +/- 10 dB of attenuation or amplification, some more.

If your source is a vinyl player, it probably uses -10 dBv as line reference. If the vinyl contains many songs (e.g. 7-10 songs per side) they are quiet as fork.

Make sure your „source player“ has its volume cranked up to max and try again. Otherwise your source material must be too quiet. The MPC doesn‘t come with amplifiers needed for very quiet sources, e.g. microphones.

Ok intersting .Thanks for taking the time.

I could have sworn I found a way to do it a long time ago and just forgot (Boost the sound of a low input source, I mean)... Maybe I had it wrong.
I can definitely boost microphone signals with my preamp, was just hoping to cut one step and extra leads out of the process.

You can just use the maximizer effect on the signal input chain as previously stated. I'm too dumb to know if it colors the sound, but it makes it a lot louder at least.

The Maximizer is an option for sure. Nevertheless should the source be the best you can do for a start without e.g. ground noises. Everybody knows the effect in extreme: turn down the volume of the source and turn up the incoming gain will increase the noise as the maximizer lifts the complete sound to a higher level.
- This is for samples (from the web e.g.) more important than for digital samples from a synth.

I say record it low anyways. Give yourself some Headroom on the Input. You can always add Gain to sample or Track. One quick way is the ParaEQ. You can play with the frequencies and Add Gain to the Sample

Stevie Boi 69 wrote:

83dude wrote:Most consumer devices (mobile phones, CD players and such) output at -10dBv, and if I did the math correctly (which I doubt) that 0 VU equal to 0.5 V. Professional devices such as the MPC expect inputs with 0 VU at 1.23 V, which is almost 2.5 times the voltage consumer devices can provide. Typical line ins can provide +/- 10 dB of attenuation or amplification, some more.

If your source is a vinyl player, it probably uses -10 dBv as line reference. If the vinyl contains many songs (e.g. 7-10 songs per side) they are quiet as fork.

Make sure your „source player“ has its volume cranked up to max and try again. Otherwise your source material must be too quiet. The MPC doesn‘t come with amplifiers needed for very quiet sources, e.g. microphones.

Ok intersting .Thanks for taking the time.

I could have sworn I found a way to do it a long time ago and just forgot (Boost the sound of a low input source, I mean)... Maybe I had it wrong.
I can definitely boost microphone signals with my preamp, was just hoping to cut one step and extra leads out of the process.

just use the Channel Strip plugin? there are many presets to boost signal with gates and whatnot. add any EQ FX to filter out noise.