What is an acceptable noise floor........

[rpe]

using n-track, tracking a mic'd amp into a mixer then to the soundcard? It probably depends on a lot of different factors in the signal chain but I'm wondering what is levels you are getting when you view the n-track record vu-meters.

thanks,

rpe

[Treeline]

I get different levels based on the computer. My Dell bigvanillabox has a nearly silent floor; the only grunge is from signal I toss in - may pick up something from a mixer, or the parakeets in the next room, and so forth. But when I tried it on my laptop - with its "soundchip" - UGH. -40dB without signal. No point in going any further with that.

[rpe]

I'm trying different attenuation options (amp, mixer, sound card gains) to discover the lowest noise level while still getting a strong enough signal.

rpe

[Treeline]

I've always been told to start with a strong signal and cut progressively through the signal chain so as to avoid adding noise at each stage. So my mixer usually has a pretty high trim setting and I shut off anything not absolutely necessary to run raw signal into the computer. I'm dealing with borderline equipment, so it's a challenge and sometimes the track is noisy as the dickens.

But if the preamps are kicking in with greater noise after a certain attenuation level, maybe there's a way around it. I've found the virtual preamps in the n-track effects units are pretty good. So one experiment might be to run signal into a mixer with with the channel trims down a bit ( like a third or so ) and see whether boosting signal with a reverb or short echo virtual preamp later in the chain improves the sound floor or makes it worse.

I've also been experimenting with volume envelopes in n-track to cut any signal not necessary for a mix. It's a pain but it helps. I haven't learned much about compression yet (other than reading everything here I can find!!) and that'll be the next thing to tackle.

But I guess there's just no substitute for a good mic and a good preamp, any way you look at it...

[shackrock]

DELTA 44.

if i got no inputs there, but i select monitor - i get -85db

now as for my room, it is a terrible room, so lets just say its noisy.ha