# Low volume output: normal or not? **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [February 1, 2025, 2:07am UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187 "2025-02-01T02:07:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chemie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba8739/32.png) [@chemie](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/u/chemie)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 2:07am UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187/1 "2025-02-01T02:07:59Z")
I finally started to explore my Gills. When browsing through the user patches, I realized the output volume is VERY low. Is it normal? ---
**Author:** ![Ksoloti](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/ksoloti.discourse.group/ksoloti/32/71_2.png) [@Ksoloti](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/u/Ksoloti)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 7:38am UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187/2 "2025-02-01T07:38:52Z")
Not really, it should be line level, unless certain patches have a low output volume to begin with? ---
**Author:** ![reubenfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/82dd89/32.png) [@reubenfinger](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/u/reubenfinger)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 9:08am UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187/3 "2025-02-01T09:08:12Z")
I have a low output issue on my Gills, but have not had the time to properly troubleshoot. However, I have noticed that my headphone level is unaffected, do you get decent level from headphones? Initially I had thought it was an issue with the codec object, which had tripped me up in the past. Here is a list of helpful troubleshooting ideas that Ksoloti suggested: Though not likely related, here are some usual pitfalls: Software/Firmware: - controller object set in the preferences but forgot about it (never, never happened to me I assure you) - _audio/inconfig_ and _audio/outconfig_ placed at some point (those reconfigure the hardware codec and have always been a bit… odd. Though they do not configure the left and right outputs independently) - upload empty patch to flash as startup, or to SD card as startup (this has solved a corrupted patch case before) - reflash firmware (Board \> Firmware \> Flash), make sure Axoloti legacy mode is not enabled Hardware: - a small particle or solder bead got stuck somewhere near the audio pins - a wire running close to an audio pin or jack - a part got loose (bigger audio caps C55, C57, C58? small cap C20?) (Though this would usually kill the signal altogether) - no-clean solder flux creating capacitance between pads or pins This is all I can think of at this point. If it is a hardware problem we may have to start measuring resistance How much quieter is the perceived signal? Like half as loud but still clean, or noisy or distorted/filtered? ---
**Author:** ![chemie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba8739/32.png) [@chemie](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/u/chemie)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2025, 2:35am UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187/4 "2025-02-08T02:35:20Z")
It’s like ~4x more quiet. It’s totally clean, no noise or anything. Just incredibly quiet. It’s normally not a big deal but I am trying to produce tracks and record audio directly from Ksoloti Gills. So the loudness becomes a big issue. ---
**Author:** ![Ksoloti](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/ksoloti.discourse.group/ksoloti/32/71_2.png) [@Ksoloti](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/u/Ksoloti)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2025, 4:59am UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187/5 "2025-02-08T04:59:43Z")
Weird, let me investigate if this could be a firmware setup bug… also weird that only a few devices seem to have this problem. Does the output volume knob work as expected? ---
**Author:** ![Ksoloti](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/ksoloti.discourse.group/ksoloti/32/71_2.png) [@Ksoloti](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/u/Ksoloti)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2025, 10:59am UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187/6 "2025-02-08T10:59:08Z")
Could you check out the below test patch: [test\_playback\_line\_output.axp](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/isGeUX31MxYeVpKFlJWYDGxyjfk.axp) (2.0 KB) I tentatively changed the LEFT channel setting. If the left channel volume has improved while the RIGHT channel is the same (problematic) low volume, we found a bug! ---
**Author:** ![chemie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba8739/32.png) [@chemie](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/u/chemie)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2025, 7:13pm UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187/7 "2025-02-08T19:13:29Z")
Yes, it sounds about right like this in this test patch! I don’t have to crank up the volume of my audio interface to hear it. ---
**Author:** ![Ksoloti](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/ksoloti.discourse.group/ksoloti/32/71_2.png) [@Ksoloti](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/u/Ksoloti)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2025, 6:17am UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187/8 "2025-02-09T06:17:35Z")
Interesting, didn’t expect this change to make a difference! Just to confirm, the left line out channel is louder than the right channel in this patch? @reubenfinger possible fix? ---
**Author:** ![chemie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba8739/32.png) [@chemie](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/u/chemie)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2025, 6:18pm UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187/9 "2025-02-09T18:18:17Z")
OK I see what you mean now. Sorry for the confusion. Let me summarize. Now, I realize some patches have very low output themselves. BUT, here is a patch I made very quick and this is incredibly quiet: If I don’t crank up math/\*c, it’s literally no sound. When I set it to 64.00, I still have to go like 4-5X higher volume in my audio interface compared to for example the test patch you provided. What am I doing wrong? Or am I doing something wrong? ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/ksoloti1/original/1X/764511005233f250c27dba81d0c87713e32ab35d.png) ---
**Author:** ![Ksoloti](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/ksoloti.discourse.group/ksoloti/32/71_2.png) [@Ksoloti](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/u/Ksoloti)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 2:16am UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187/10 "2025-02-10T02:16:22Z")
math/\*c is an attenuator and at 64.00 the gain is 1x. Place a scope anywhere in the signal chain and check the signal… Try a math/gain anywhere you need to recover some gain. ![2025-02-10 09_53_08-_untitled](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/ksoloti1/original/1X/13c3c2a947432203c9c7c92361da1aa313c5c9e5.png) Looks okay so far! You may also check what velocity range you’re sending via MIDI and scale the range using something like a _tsg/math/map_ if required: [untitled.axp](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/cBhesrC4p8kfDmowZ3TknqTOKto.axp) (4.4 KB) ---
**Author:** ![ktttttt](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/ksoloti.discourse.group/ktttttt/32/305_2.png) [@ktttttt](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/u/ktttttt)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 3:49am UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187/11 "2025-02-10T03:49:42Z")
some of my patches have a ‘gain’ object or an ‘outconfig’ object to compensate the low volume. i usually check the tiny VU meter on the ‘audio out’ object to check my levels and get the volume I want. ---
**Author:** ![chemie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba8739/32.png) [@chemie](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/u/chemie)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 11:23pm UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187/12 "2025-02-11T23:23:36Z")
Thanks for the suggestions! ---
**Author:** ![chemie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba8739/32.png) [@chemie](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/u/chemie)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 12:42am UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187/13 "2025-03-14T00:42:03Z")
Here is an example I have tonight. The patch is “fun -\_with\_delays” I run Softpop 2 through Gills and I can see Audio In (see the screenshot below) but I get nothing out. See the screenshot. What do you do for patches like these? ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/ksoloti1/original/1X/b65b43bba0957881ebf074179f63c06021f7740e.png) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/ksoloti1/original/1X/f254af27ba31d2054e62250026b7f029c5c3aceb.png) ---
**Author:** ![Ksoloti](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/ksoloti.discourse.group/ksoloti/32/71_2.png) [@Ksoloti](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/u/Ksoloti)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 1:53am UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187/14 "2025-03-14T01:53:13Z")
![2025-03-14 09_47_24-fun_with_delays.axp C__Users_sbcw_ksoloti_1.0.12_axoloti-contrib_patches_mtya](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/ksoloti1/original/1X/be0ba7eebe93dbd8650c77f62e1de30ab020c73e.png) There is a wall of midi/in objects at the top, which gives us a hint that MIDI is required to pass the sound. ![2025-03-14 09_49_32-patcher_1 (subpatch)](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/ksoloti1/original/1X/194862d7000dc8a6efdf04868bb131eaeca55081.png) Opening one of the subpatches confirms this: rec-gate has to be high for any audio to be passed. It looks like playing the respective MIDI note for “rec-gate” will turn on the gate and record the sound into the delay buffer, and playing the respective MIDI note for “rec-erase” will clear that delay buffer (or the current area in it). For Gills, for example, you could modify this patch to only use 4 delays and make each button turn it on using single-click, and erase using double-click: ---
**Author:** ![chemie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba8739/32.png) [@chemie](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/u/chemie)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 2:04am UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187/15 "2025-03-14T02:04:22Z")
Interesting. Thanks. I will play around with this. I am very interested in using Gills as an FX box for my Softpop 2. I am still too new to understand how to make patches except the basic things I can see in Community patches and in the book. So, looking at these more complicated stuff is mind-blowing so far. Patches in patches…wow. ---
**Author:** ![Ksoloti](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/ksoloti.discourse.group/ksoloti/32/71_2.png) [@Ksoloti](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/u/Ksoloti)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 2:23am UTC](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/t/low-volume-output-normal-or-not/187/16 "2025-03-14T02:23:27Z")
You can also see the black squares with “C” next to the knobs, this means the creator was using some MIDI controller to control this patch (“MIDI Continuous **C** ontrol” or “CC”) … [fun\_with\_delays\_gills.axp](https://ksoloti.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/wdTDVppxU32XmINUB8imNlsYPL6.axp) (70.9 KB) This is a quick Gills replug: 4 stereo delays Pots 1-4 control delay times Pots 6-10 control delay feedback Pots 5 and 10 left and right control output volume. Press S1 to toggle record for delay 1 Press S2 to toggle record for delay 2 and so on The four LEDs will show record state.