.Wav file volume level is way too low

[Ricklh]

Hey mrx, & the others who replied to my previous thread about not getting the card reader to read my card, well tonight I've got it to work!! Finally! I used the other port on the back of the computer with the Memorex reader and found the .wav files on the card. So, I sent the 2-track mix to My Documents and played it back but the level is horribly low and when I turn the volume up to a listenable level there's a bunch of background noise, static, etc. Is this because I didn't mix it high enough? I had the master fader not to the max position but to where the markings are that the book recommends. Anyone else experience this? Suggestions? I think my problem here just may be I recorded the basic tracks at too low of a level and had my headphone volume boosted thinking I was getting a good signal when in fact it was too low. How high are the meters in the display supposed to go anyway - to the top line? I'll keep experimenting with this and try again. Man, I wished I have got the levels higher - I did a demo of "Norwegian Wood" with two acoustic guitar tracks, a lead vocal, and harmony vocal and it came out pretty clean-sounding (except for the level). This MR-8 impresses me more every time I use it!

[mrx]

Great news about the card reader finally working! I've had several USB devices that require being connected to a powered hub - I wonder if it was just a case of not enough power on that port...

Regarding levels, it sounds like you may have recorded too low. Try to keep my record levels between the top two lines (1 and 12) and get good wav levels on the PC.

[digitcallous]

Another thing to check is the volume control settings on your PC: the little speaker symbol down on the bottom right. Since what are trying to play are WAV files, check to see what play volume level is set for it. What I'm suggesting is that your recording volume might have been good, and your play volume is not set correctly.

My experience is that with the MR8 recording at peak of 0dB, the playing volume is still lower than most CDs. I find that I have to adjust my song volume by using a PC recording/mixing tool to get 'proper' volume for normal listening along side regular CDs.

DC

[Ricklh]

Originally posted by digitcallous
Another thing to check is the volume control settings on your PC: the little speaker symbol down on the bottom right. Since what are trying to play are WAV files, check to see what play volume level is set for it. What I'm suggesting is that your recording volume might have been good, and your play volume is not set correctly.

My experience is that with the MR8 recording at peak of 0dB, the playing volume is still lower than most CDs. I find that I have to adjust my song volume by using a PC recording/mixing tool to get 'proper' volume for normal listening along side regular CDs.

DC

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[cellardweller]

You meant you had the master fader in the recommended position during mixdown, or in the initial recording? Does the master fader affect levels during mastering? Or is it the individual faders, or all?

I know that during the initial recording of tracks that only the trim knob affects levels... and the faders are only for playback levels/monitoring at this point....