Distortion While Recording Vocals

[MisterJoe49]

Hello,
I've heard a lot about distortion when the input levels are set too high. That I understand. But the meters look fine. They should actually be higher and closer to the red zone. But it makes the sound worse.

Last week I made a pretty decent recording with the same setup. Any ideas? Thanks.

Setup: Windows XP in an iMac,
Presonus Blue Tube, Mbox
Shure SM-58

[mjbphotos]

Blue Tube settings? (Gain too high)

[buzzard bass]

My first thought, gain on the interface pre too high.

[Massive Master]

They should actually be higher and closer to the red zone.

They shouldn't even be in the same area code as the "red zone" -- Especially with low transient sources.

Wondering if this falls back to my usual "Cheap" and "tube" in one sentence almost invariably leading to "crap" in the next...

That said - You're not doing something goofy like running the line level output of the Blue Toob into the MIC level input on the M-Box perhaps...?

[MisterJoe49]

Thank you so much for all the quick feedback. Sometimes it takes years to get a response from other forums.
My first impression is the same as yours. The gain must be too high on the Blue Tube or the Mbox source level. But they are both below the 12 o'clock position [below mid range].
And I also mentioned that I made a nice clean recording with the same setup only one week ago.

[StevenJacksonMu]

Maybe singing too close to the microphone....????
Probably a ridiculous suggestion but we have to eliminate all possibilities.

[MisterJoe49]

It's not a ridiculous suggestion at all. But I'm aware of of that. When I get to the heart of a song I have to move the mic away to avoid the red zone on the meters. I'm also aware of the gain controls. There is something else going on that I'm not aware of. So, I'm open to all suggestions. I'm singing to a store bought music track and I'm wondering if there is something screwy about the way I'm working with it. I'll post it when I find out. Thanks. Joe

[Bob F.]

Have you tried using a different mic cable?

[RAMI]

They shouldn't even be in the same area code as the "red zone"

Worth repeating.


You're not, by any chance, trying to "record as close to zero without going over", are you?

[Massive Master]

Thank you so much for all the quick feedback. Sometimes it takes years to get a response from other forums.
My first impression is the same as yours. The gain must be too high on the Blue Tube or the Mbox source level. But they are both below the 12 o'clock position [below mid range].
And I also mentioned that I made a nice clean recording with the same setup only one week ago.

WHAT source level on the M-Box...? You should be going into the LINE input. There shouldn't BE a source level. AGAIN, are you going into the MIC in?