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question regarding hardware recording
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psyaudionamics
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
38
Posts :
546
Posted : Apr 21, 2006 02:36
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first of id like to say hi to everyone in this forum this is my first post in this community. i've checked out plenty and have felt that this one and the ableton forum are the best out there!!! but I like everyones attitude in this one a bit more... so i joined. I've been recording for bout 3 yrs on my own and the results have been in the middle not garbage but not at top yet even though some think so.... guess im hard on myself but aren't we all never satisfied ..
my question is as follow and i'll appreciate everyones respondse in advance!!!!
I understand my recording values and what not but my concern is when im recording my hardware synths to my hardware mixer mackie... the manual states that in order for the sound to be top notch i should keep all tracks in unity for optimum performance... on the mixer now from what i know of digital synths is that it's best to keep the volume all up and to adjust from the mixer unless your playing the parts multi-mode then i can't i have to lower from synth...
am i doing things right??? also why does everyone say to keep the mix below 0 but the manufacturers states that i can peek up to 7 at most it still not clipping ??? am i missing something here???? thanks and always appreciative from everyone's respondse.
Im glad to join this forum and will contribute whenever possible from my hectik schedule it's not easy being a graphic designer by day and producer by night thats about 13 hrs a day in front of a computer!! |
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hummingbird
Started Topics :
6
Posts :
115
Posted : Apr 21, 2006 12:09
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Surprisingly non-obvious question once you start digging, but one simplified answer is:
* I'm assuming you have the analog Mackie.
* Manual is correct, you set up each channel to peak at 0db and the mackie's input amps has about 6db of headroom above that.
* Digital equipment however sets 0db as the maximum allowed level, any signal above that gets clipped into a hideous square wave which sounds really bad.
So, assuming your signal chain is:
Synth -> Mackie -> Soundcard -> Ableton
1. Set your Mackie channel gain to peak at 0db
2. Set your recording level on Ableton to peak as follows:
a) -12db if you are recording a single part
b) -18db if you are recording a mix
(The reason you want to use -18db for a mix is that a typical mix has around 14 to 18db peak-to-average ratio)
Things get even more complex when you start to get into 16bit vs 24bit recording and the whole issue of metering [1] but for now this should keep you out of trouble. 
[1] Also see: http://www.digido.com/index/pmodule_id=11/pmdmode=fullscreen/pageadder_page_id=59
--
PLUR and say: "Where's my Fostex ?"
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psyaudionamics
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
38
Posts :
546
Posted : Apr 22, 2006 10:10
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hey ya hummingbird the signal is more or less like that but it's actually more like this
synths midi-computer-computet-mixer=always my drums sounds and efx I keep it below 0 to the external outputs of my soundcard 6 in total...that go to my mixer i eq to taste,
apply hardware efx and walla i send differ tracks some solo but sometimes i add em together it can really change the outcome depending on frequency;s something you can't do with soft synth's efficiently all this audio to my laptop running cubase..
in other words live is my midi sequencer and drum machine cus every sound ends in the mixer and thats the way i like to keep it i run everything thrue the same port hehee.
then i eq hardware and compress with software and hardware aswell i'll group certain tracks and i leave others alone for more processing.so why
a) -12db if you are recording a single part
b) -18db if you are recording a mix
i send my kick at -6.5 and bass round -5.5 even -6.0 if its software like vb-1 clap at bout -5.0 - to -4.0 depends, hi-hats below
along with other high freq tones tamburines etc,,, so bass kick out of sound card out put 3 im sending that from live at -6.5 right. that is regrestrating at 6.5 in my mackie mixer analog should i bump it to 0 or even higher??? is more my question. thanks for your respondse and for that link mate!
i feel like that -12 db is too low though,
i need to boost from sample in live loud enuff so i don't have to raise the slider up from the mixer and perhaps introduce noise into the signal. so i feel like kick at -6.5 out of of live is fine i've been doing it and it sounds good.
thankks i know i wrote hecktik but i just did it as precise!!! it's friday!! i can relax, for a while have a good weeken mate
im out on a date ha |
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hummingbird
Started Topics :
6
Posts :
115
Posted : Apr 25, 2006 10:36
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*duh*
Okay, so you have it the other way round to me.
So ignore everything I said and peak at 0db on signal coming from the soundcard to the desk inputs.
i.e. If your kick is coming out of computer at -6.5 db crank the input gain on the Mackie so it peaks at 0db on the desk input - amazing little desks with tons of headroom so run it nice and hot!
Only other point is that if you're recording the mix from the desk outputs to some digital recorder (DAT, Minidisc, Computer etc.) keep your peak at -18db so that you can make full use of the expanded dynamic range digital offers and have some comfortable headroom left over for the mastering process.
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psyaudionamics
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
38
Posts :
546
Posted : Apr 25, 2006 23:42
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hey hummingbird how's it going??? well just as i imagined... hehee. thanks brother.. it's good to be on the safe side and ask for someone else's opinions...
learning on my own well im sure you know it can get tricky especially when it comes to stuff like this...
we all need guidense some time or nother,, well mate thanks for taking the time to answer back, very kind of you! have a good one and keep on tweeking
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