Oh yes ,I remember that turning up the input gain can make it noisy. Make sure to sample sounds at a decent volume and don´t boost it internally. But maybe your power supply adds some noise? Have you tried different power supplies?
Of course I’ve tried all power options, various adapters and powerbanks. It makes up to 5dB difference, but even the best options are the worst I’ve seen in modern h/w.
I know my gainstaging well enough, but it’s unrelated at all: to repeat myself, what’s your meter’s numbers WITHOUT any audio incoming? and without anything plugged in at all?
I guess its mediocre internals were chosen to suit Eurorack power limitations, as only modules can be that noisy )) One can mask the noise with a well-gainstaged signal of course, and I imagine it’s not a dealbreaker to many fans of the device, as it has other merits (but many other downsides too), yet imo it’s only worth something in a rack, not standalone.
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maybe blackboxes can differ depending on the batch? mine is practically noiseless.
if nothing is plugged in and my gain is set at 0, meters are usually -80 dB.
additional gain is linear, so at +20 noisefloor is around -60 dB.
since BB outputs are quite hot, my headphone out is set to 30%, which makes internal noise at any gain level inaudible even when i listen for it. Evidence.
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much thanks for this!
yes, I got similar numbers here unplugged: it starts the same initially, then drops even lower to –87/–76 dB after a short warm up. I could live with that, but I can’t consider this a good self-noise (on par with old analogue desks…), while 5 to 10 dB channel imbalance is no good sign by itself too.
yet the real problem is that with any cable plugged in w/o no mass on the other end, it’s a whopping –38dB on both channels… ) connect the cable to the desk (unpowered) and it becomes –43dB, then with the mixer on, it settles at –47dB, and I presume this is the final realistic figure.
I’ve seen a few other BBs irl and in threads discussing the issue, and can’t remember anyone’s was above –54dB when connected, which is imo unacceptable
huh, plugging in a cable into audio in doesnt affect my levels at all (just tested it again). Both with no weight and a digitone at max master volume at the other end for example, still -80 dB.
let me know if i can be of any help with figuring it out in the BB topic, if you want. good luck 
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