I’ve searched the manual and tried searching and couldn’t come up with anything. There is no level control for the EXT in on the AR MKII. I’m currently running my A4 MKII into the EXT in on the AR MKII to get around using a mixer. I don’t know if this is optimal, the signal is pretty low and I have to crank up the A4. My OT inputs are all used up with the AR using 2 and 2 Avalons using 2.
What do you think I should do?
I’d be thinking about a mixer/larger capacity sound card
Not helpful I know
So I’m not crazy? There is no level anywhere in the AR MKII for the EXT In?
It’s identical to the MK1 by design, it’s analog straight to the compressor (no gain/trim pots) - there are no differences electrically in terms of i/o either iirc so anything you see for the mk1 applies - there are possibly hotter outs on the A4 mk2 iirc which are rated in the ballpark of the AR ins (for all 4 voices firing) … A4 mk1 is sorta usable into AR mk1
Nothing is going to change this, so read up … basically use modest levels in AR voices or boost externals pre input or use hot(ter) gear etc
I’d would consider looking into a small mixer. If you are trying to keep everything routed into the OT for whatever reason. you could grab one of the little xenyx mixers with 4 inputs and put the AR and A4 into that with its output running into the OT.
I would go with something a little larger running 5 synths But ultimately a mixer is probably a good idea
Same issue here. I’m routing a Digitone into the ARmk2. Even with levels all the way up on Digitone I have to go back to super low levels on the AR. Pretty useless. My inputs on the Digitone and Octrack are perfectly fine. It’s the AR that has super low EXT IN level. Damn!
if I remember correctly you can „level up“ by turning all internal sounds to 50/60% of their original level value.
the Analog engines drowning the external sound
have a look in this topic: same issue - solved via mobile amplifier (€33,-)
give enough gain for my A4 - I am totally happy with it cause I can use the AR compressor with A4 
cheers
Useless for some types of sounds/genres, maybe.
My experiences with the overdrive and compressor have lead me to use medium levels at either the SRX/SAMP stage or the AMP stage, for most tracks, most of the time. I find this give more control and a wider range of tones from the OD and comp. Plus you get good relative level at the Ext In for free.
Nah, it’s pretty useless.
It’s a thing that would be useful before using a small mixer, or as 2 extra in’s in a live setup.
But you need to have a small mixer for gain, so EXT IN is useless*.
(PS: EXT IN works perfectly like that on the TR8-s, albeit summed to mono)
I wanted to use the EXT IN on the Rytm because all ports on my small mixer are used / and Dist + Comp seemed like a fun bonus. But EXT IN is just too weak.
In the end I used a ‘cable splitter’ to have extra ins on my small mixer haha lame.
*EXT IN could be usefull if you want to use the Dist / Comp on external gear, to then record via USB / Overbridge in DAW. But without gain controll, it’s useless for live.
I thought i could fix the low volume ext in issue with my MS70CDR pedal until i discovered the compressors in it sum to mono 
pretty much, unless you want dirt, in that case you can boost the overall signal with compressor MUP but still would have to go really low with the internal sounds
I WAS WRONG !
It’s amazing. Now I send my mixer trought the EXT IN and use the Rytm as the end-of-chain device 
The mixer gives more than enough volume, so that’s a problem out of the way!
It’s clunky because I have to mix the mixer with the Main Volume knob of the Rytm, but it actually works fine. (Only thing I miss now is a dedicated EQ/Volume for the Rytm drum sounds as a whole).
Overall, the EXT IN compresses all my Synth/Drums from my liveset nicley in the Rytm, with the Rytm drum sounds, for a very dirty, compressed & bouncy sound. Just like real music 
that’s exactly the problem with sending some external that have low output, you need something to boost it and it becomes wonderful, I did couple of tests running Live’s External Effect from the audio interface into the EXT IN and it’s juicy and nice, but when I tried running the tr6s it was really weak, so you need something to boost and control the signal
What mixer are you using? When you amplify the incoming signal, is it still a clean sound or is it colouring/saturating as a result of the gain increase?
Hey, I’m using a crappy Behringer xenyx mixer.
Not sure about the colouring/saturating, the Behringer mixer is the one going in red when I put things too loud.
The signal is routed through the AR’s compressor, so that’s nice.
Sadly not through the distortion, no gain, eq or anything to control the EXT INPUT.
I’m happy it works, but Elektron could definitely upgrade this EXT INPUT L/R situation in a Rytm MK3 version!
