hey, i just have couple questions i'm technically not sure how it works. i recently bought myself a used Echo Audiofire 2 audio interface since i was desperately in need a 24-bit interface and needed something with much better converters and so forth. it's also my first ''firewire'' component i ever used in my life so finding out what firewire host my motherboard was and so first was very important(mine uses Texas Instrument on my Gigabyte motherboard, so i was lucky and told it's a sin if i don't go with firewire over usb lol). very happy with it so far. question i have is it's software gain. i notice lot of interfaces has this. i heard cause it's meant for balance uses so it can output higher voltages at the output. it has a -10db and +4db gain and it's near impossible listening with +4db gain with some stuff,even with my main amp with it's -20db muting switch on, so i kept it at -10db gain.
recently though i found out i should keep it at maximum gain the interface can output and lower the volume control till the red is no longer showing at peaks of music. with lowered volume in the software with +4db it's very reasonable listening to most stuff now. that's how i have it now. i'm just wondering if there is a better explanation to the gain levels on audio interfaces and anyone knows.