Sound card problem. Help!

[slash1986]

Hi, I need your help. I connected my tube amplifier, a Marshall, to a reactive load box. The line output of the load box enters the line input of the sound card (Audient id4 MKII).
The problem is this: when I turn the mix control on the sound card all the way to the DAW, the sound passes through the speakers, as if the potentiometer wasn't working. (I hear the input signal) if I connect the guitar to the DI input the potentiometer works and I don't hear any signal when I'm on DAW. (the potentiometer works). Could it be that the signal coming out of the load box is too hot? I attach the characteristics of the sound card.
Thank you.


GAIN RANGE: 58dB
LINEUP:12dBu = 0dBFS
MIC MAX INPUT LEVEL:12dBu
LINE MAX INPUT LEVEL:21dBu
INPUT IMPEDANCE (Mic):2.8k
INPUT IMPEDANCE (Line):>8k
PHANTOM POWER: (48V +/-4V @ 10mA/Channel)
THD+N @ 0dBu:0.00170%
THD+N @ 0dBu MAX GAIN:<0.04%
SNR:101dBu A-Weighted
EIN:129dB A-Weighted
CMRR @ 1k:>75dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE – MIN GAIN:±0.5dB 10Hz to 40kHz

[acheld]

 Could it be that the signal coming out of the load box is too hot? I attach the characteristics of the sound card.
Thank you.

It's tough troubleshoot this scenario -- too many unknowns (switches, software, etc).   But I'd be mildly surprised if your input is "simply" too hot --  I'd expect gross distortion in that case.   Been there, done that.

[slash1986]

update: if I disconnect the two audio speakers from the sound card, and listen to headphones, everything works perfectly. no input signal passing through. I only hear the guitar processed by the DAW. could it be an impedance problem?

[acheld]

I'm betting on firmware settings.   Your gear may well be designed to behave just as it is doing . . . I doubt impedance mismatch.  But do I really know?  Heck no!