New to Recording

[TWmusic]

Hi,
I just purchased a Roland VS2400CD, and being that I've never owned a piece of recording equiptment, I feel completely overwhelmed by what I am looking at. I plan on starting out very basic, and building my knowledge up from there. I have recorded 2 instrument tracks and a vocal track, and have also put these onto a CD, so I guess I'm doing OK. However, I am pulling my hair out over two issues, so hopefully someone can help me...

My vocal track is track 1. When I try to add a little reverb, it takes the substance completely out of the vocal track, and puts a distant echo on the track. Everything I read says to assign the FX to the FX1 channel, so I'm assuming that the unit (or myself) is putting all the effects on my main vocal track and that's what I am hearing. For my first project on this I just want some keyboards and vocals, and as soon as I figure this problem out, I'm homefree (for now).

The second problem is a very low volume level on the CD I burned to test the unit. I had all my faders up, and I get a nice quality through my monitor and headphone mix.

I'm going crazy, and am on a relatively short timeframe. Please help!

[72fender]

You might want to post your question over at VS-Planet http://www.vsplanet.com/cgi-bin/ubb/...ubb=forum;f=27, they have a active VS-2400 forum. Don't get too discouraged, it's a great recorder.

[Louddog]

I also own a VS2400. On the effect, when you click on any patch, esp Reverbs, the effect is usually at 100%, you can change the parameters of any effect, just turn the rev down and the direct signal up. You should read about using the effects in the Aux's and you can access the effect on any recorded channel and adjust the levels there. As far as getting a better signal at mixdown, you can use a Mastering Tool effect to help get the signal level up, make sure when you are tracking down in the mastering room, that your output signal is between -4 and 0db. I use a VGA monitor and would really recommend getting one. It makes this unit so much easier to use when you can see everything thats going on. This is not that complicated of a unit, but if your new to recording, I know that the telephone book of a manual can be intimidating. Most of the stuff you'll never need!
Good Luck
Doug

[Cloneboy Studio]

Your mixdown audio SHOULDN'T be as loud as commercial CD's. In fact, it should sound 1/2 to 1/4 as loud. Aim for a -12dbfs on mixdown so a mastering engineer (who can make it as loud as you want) has some room to maneuver and make it sound as good as possible.

By the way, a little reverb goes a LONG way. My idea of heavy reverb is 11% or so. I try to keep reverb well under 20%, and optimally around 4-5% wet.