Source
r/BossKatana•
Rod_23

Help: Katana 100 usb recording volume problems.

Hello everyone,

I've got a Katana 100 for a couple of months now and play it every once in a while without pluging it to pc. Right now, with the quarantine thing, and since I got more free time, I've decidided to plug it to my PC and record some song ideas that I had. A couple of problems arised:

  • . The volume is strangely low and flat in my DAW, and after searching this sub for solutions, i've tried the following:

  • Increasing USB mix % in settings: Doesn't do anything. I've even set it to 0 and tried recording to see if it would make any change at all (i.e. cut the sound signal) to the but no luck.

  • Increasing the vol gain in the DAW: I'm using reaper. The sound improoved a bit, but clipping increased too. It doesn't sound so good after all.

  • Tried it in other DAW's: The problem persists.

  • Change the usb cable: Same.

  • Reinstalled the drivers: Katana and ASIO4All, the problem persists.

What am I doing wrong? I see people on youtube getting freaking damn good tones with it plugged to usb and mine does not do that. One thing that might be relevant is that in the past I've played it plugged to my pc and the audio was not like this before (was way louder, for sure) but I can't remember what I did that time to make it sound like that.

If anyone can help me with this I'd be much obliged.

Thanks in advance and stay safe.

Posted Mar 25, 2020, 2:21 PM UTC

925
Rod_23OP•

Update: I've noticed that my amplifier volume was only 50% and change it to 100% as some of you suggest, which improoved a bit the sound quality. Thank you very much.

After that, I just followed u/lolmemelol suggestion and used Melda MUtility VST to increase the gain even more and that has also worked. The sound quality is much better now, thank you all for your help !!!

3
wyrdfish42Katana Head•

I have USB mix settings to 200% in tone central.- settings.

Also effect out level to 200%

but dry is 100%.

Not really recorded much though, but at least I can hear it now.

2
metal-jKatana Head•

I had this same exact problem and was never able to fix it automatically. My (manual) fix was to record into my DAW (Reaper) and then click on that wav file itself in the track (or right click and 'properties'), click 'normalize' and then adjust the volume as necessary after that. The volume and quality are acceptable then, but I have just been using this to create scratch tracks for originals my band is playing.

2
ScepticalSensesKatana 100 Combo•

Same issue here. My solution was to use the 'Panel' preset as a completely clean (or as clean as I can get it w/ some boost) signal and selecting the 'Katana Primary' channel in Reaper. Not the best solution but has served the purpose. Now, if I could only play better to actually benefit from it.... lol

My secondary issue with a couple DAW's is the USB single use issue. I understand its a driver limitation and the workings under the hood of Windows. However in other video/audio capture programs, such as [OBS] (https://obsproject.com) , I can capture and utilize simultaneously 3 USB webcams, My 12 channel USB mixer, My USB Piano, a USB midi pad all at the same time and mix them with it's built in mixer. For the life of me I can't understand why DAW's are constrained to a single USB device only. I'd love to be able to use and capture multiple USB devices within a DAW without having to change devices in Preferences and physically swapping in/out USB devices. I have yet to venture into the various Virtual Audio Cables programs, but I'm tempted to try.

2
Mr_Fender•

Not a USB issue. Issue is with ASIO drivers. Download and use ASIO4ALL. This will allow multiple USB devices to work with DAW

2
ScepticalSensesKatana 100 Combo•

Interesting, I do use ASIO4All V:2.14.. I believe I have it setup correctly but I'll revisit and see if maybe I've missed something.

1
Mr_Fender•

I'm using Sonar Platinum DAW with both a PreSonus Audiobox and Katana 100 MK II. Before ASIO4All I could only use either the PreSonus OR Katana. After switching to ASIO4All I can use them both at the same time (Katana directly in for recording guitar and PreSonus out to powered monitors. LMK if you need help configuring.

2
ScepticalSensesKatana 100 Combo•

Well, whata ya know. In ASIO4all settings you not only have to turn the devices on(green), you must also have the little green arrow as well and sometimes it takes a few clicks to actually engage.

In addition, It was also my complete misunderstanding of how The settings worked within Reapers Preferences section. Once I 'understood' what selecting the "From/to device" settings truly meant, I was able to assign each/all devices to different tracks simultaneously. Rock on.....

Thanks man, I appreciate the kick in the pants to dive deeper. Much appreciation to ya.

1
Rod_23OP•

u/wyrdfish42

I have USB mix settings to 200% in tone central.- settings.

Also effect out level to 200%

but dry is 100%.

Not really recorded much though, but at least I can hear it now.

I've done that but for me there's no diference between 50,100 or 200% in terms of volume after changing the mix settings.

u/MarioBuzo

Check that every software has the same in/out sample rate. It does make weird stuff happening for me in Ableton.

You've set the USB mix settings up to 200%?

AFAIK the samplerate has the same rate by what ASIO4ALL tells me.

As for the volume mix: I've done that but for me there's no diference between 50,100 or 200% in terms of volume after changing the mix settings.

Here:

Usb mix 100% -https://sndup.net/8x84

Usb mix at 200% - https://sndup.net/9pp5

u/metal-j

I had this same exact problem and was never able to fix it automatically. My (manual) fix was to record into my DAW (Reaper) and then click on that wav file itself in the track (or right click and 'properties'), click 'normalize' and then adjust the volume as necessary after that. The volume and quality are acceptable then, but I have just been using this to create scratch tracks for originals my band is playing.

Can't even find "normalize" :(

u/lolmemelol

I've only recorded a couple short clips since I got mine about a month ago, but I didn't do anything special to it other than increase the gain in my DAW after it was recorded; I left the USB mix % at 100% and it sounded fine after just increasing the gain in the DAW.

Here's the example clip I used to compare my tone to what I was trying to emulate at the time: https://clyp.it/to43caow?token=3c6885b89524683b5258fb9016b3daeb Can you post a clip recorded at 100% USB mix without any additional processing, and then another after you have boosted it in your DAW?

Also, what is your channel Volume set at?

Damn bro, sounds really good! Well, increasing the channel volume and Katana EQ level does increase the volume a bit, but there's not really much. The downside of it is that the amp really goes way louder in my bedroom after crank it.

2
lolmemelolKatana 50 MkII•

I don't quite understand everyone's obsession with the low volume in recordings.

Like you said, that test sounded completely fine. Nothing special; just the MS1959 I+II sneaky amp, gain at 90, and a little bit of EQ + a bit of parametric EQ after the amp in the chain. Recorded at 100%, turned up in my DAW to match the song for the test clip.

That's why your DAW gives you options to turn it up. My impression is they intentionally have the recordings quieter than you expect to give you more headroom so you don't accidentally digitally clip the recording. A 24 bit WAV has waaaaay more dynamic range than is required to capture inherently noisy electric guitars, so might as well record at conservative levels so you don't accidentally ruin a great performance with clipping.

2
lolmemelolKatana 50 MkII•

So I took your USB mix at 100% recording, dropped it in Reaper, added a Melda MUtility VST (free) and added 24 dB gain, then rendered it back out to file so I could upload it for you:

https://clyp.it/nn4f0gtk

sounds great to me! With that 24 dB gain added it is peaking at approximately -7 dBFS.

2
Rod_23OP•

Indeed it sounds great! Just going to try other people's suggestions here but this is something already! Thanks!!!

2
rocketboots7•

Some changes that have helped me before have been:

  • Set the volume higher on the amp and not the master.
  • Check if the 'direct mix' on any of your effects is set to anything other than 100%
  • Toggle certain effects on/off, including reverb, see if any make a difference to the signal level when you record.

Hope this helps!

2
MarioBuzo•

Check that every software has the same in/out sample rate. It does make weird stuff happening for me in Ableton.

You've set the USB mix settings up to 200%?

1
lolmemelolKatana 50 MkII•

I've only recorded a couple short clips since I got mine about a month ago, but I didn't do anything special to it other than increase the gain in my DAW after it was recorded; I left the USB mix % at 100% and it sounded fine after just increasing the gain in the DAW.

Here's the example clip I used to compare my tone to what I was trying to emulate at the time: https://clyp.it/to43caow?token=3c6885b89524683b5258fb9016b3daeb

Can you post a clip recorded at 100% USB mix without any additional processing, and then another after you have boosted it in your DAW?

Also, what is your channel Volume set at?

1
LocomuleKatana 50 MkII•

I used the Level control on a Parametric EQ for some USB boost until I quit using the USB for recording and started running the Rec Out into a Focusrite interface. Now all my recorded tones, even the clean ones are maxed out.

1
MarioBuzo•

I got a Focusrite sapphire and just ordered a Katana Head MKII, I want to record from line out to the soundcard then in Ableton. Do you have any latency issues?

2
LocomuleKatana 50 MkII•

Nope, everything works great and I'm using an ancient laptop. I'm using Reaper as my DAW. Really wish I'd gotten my Focusrite decades ago. I just got my Katana 50 last Christmas and am still blown away with how great it sounds and how flexible it is. I'm layering guitars over a Pink Floyd soundalike backing track I found on YouTube and it is so easy to get not just good tones but the tones I'm looking for, it is a blast. Any time you are working on a song and it sticks in your head the rest of the day you are onto something good ;)

2
MarioBuzo•

Really cool man, glad to read that. I'm excited!

2
LocomuleKatana 50 MkII•

One thing about DI recording a Katana, in my opinion, that makes a HUGE difference is adding impulse responses or a cab sim in your DAW, I downloded a buttload of impulses but the free cab sim I've been using (Mercurial Cab 3.0) has been working so well I haven't even been using the impulses.

2
MarioBuzo•

u/Rod_23 did you sort it out?

1
Rod_23OP•

I'm going to answer to all right now, just finishing uploading some samples for you to hear!

2
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
AwakenMirror•

Maybe a bit late, but just to be sure:

You have the channel volume at max, right? That's the one that controls the volume of the USB output, as well.

The Master Volume does nothing in that regard and can be used to mute the amp for yourself or set it at a very low level at 0,5 watt to use as a monitor while recording.

1