Hi guys,
I've been home recording for nearly 15 years now, nothing major but for my own amusement and to share with family and friends. As I imagine like most people, I pick up techniques, tips, methods along the way....sometimes the ones you wish you knew 15 years ago.
Anyway, recently a studio engineer (friend of a friend) came over to check out this song we were recording and reeled back when I had the volume on some tracks turned up from 0. "Everything should be set on infinity, and then ONLY turn the volume down on the tracks to suit" is what he said. when I asked why, he said it causes distortion when they are above 0 but the tracks sounded ok to me?
So the question I forgot to ask him, is what if say the guitar I originally recorded was at a low level? what if I do what he said.....mix down....then find the song barely audible? is this then turned up through mastering or some other process?
I guess I'm at a cross roads, I've nearly finished a new bunch of songs for an album and I'm debating if I should go back and reset everything at infinity, then mix. I'm worried the volume of the songs wont be consistent unless I'm missing something.
Any advice would be great!
I've been home recording for nearly 15 years now, nothing major but for my own amusement and to share with family and friends. As I imagine like most people, I pick up techniques, tips, methods along the way....sometimes the ones you wish you knew 15 years ago.
Anyway, recently a studio engineer (friend of a friend) came over to check out this song we were recording and reeled back when I had the volume on some tracks turned up from 0. "Everything should be set on infinity, and then ONLY turn the volume down on the tracks to suit" is what he said. when I asked why, he said it causes distortion when they are above 0 but the tracks sounded ok to me?
So the question I forgot to ask him, is what if say the guitar I originally recorded was at a low level? what if I do what he said.....mix down....then find the song barely audible? is this then turned up through mastering or some other process?
I guess I'm at a cross roads, I've nearly finished a new bunch of songs for an album and I'm debating if I should go back and reset everything at infinity, then mix. I'm worried the volume of the songs wont be consistent unless I'm missing something.
Any advice would be great!