Firebox And Monitor Volumes, Software output volumes too high? Options

[charlton]

I have a Firebox running with OSX 10.4.4 and Garageband/CubaseLE. For the most part, I've managed to get everything working just fine but I have one minor annoyance that I'm wondering if other people have noticed.

I find there is a huge difference in levels between monitoring (through the headphones) a solo mix of, say, lines 1 and 2 versus sending the inputs to Garageband (or CubaseLE), enabling monitoring of the channels in the application, and solo monitoring the software output (1/2 in the mixer application). This is with all tracks and master volume levels set to 0db with no effects enabled in Garageband. I realize that some differences should probably be expected but I find this difference a bit of a nuisance because I like to flip between monitoring the software (which would, theoretically, have the effects applied) and the pure signals being fed into the Firebox.

For now, I crank down the master control volume in Garageband to -10db and this seems to yield a monitored volume on the software track that is about the same as the levels of the individual inputs but I'm not entirely convinced this normal or necessary.

Thanks,
Charlton