CoolCat
Well-known member
There's the common debate of compressors, limiters going in....some say comps are not needed anymore Tracking in the digital world DAW. My understanding is its because digital doesnt have all the tape hiss noise when the track isnt max'd out, empty tape area = tape hiss. (for lack of correct terminology.)
So today I was checking my Input levels.
I have a Pbass into a JDI, into a PreAmp. The preamp out has a meter with a calibration pot and the interface allows monitoring Input or Output, I selected Input today...to see if my gain stage was right going in. It was all "calibrated" and -12 was -12 was -12 etc,,,
Then I thought I would lay a couple tracks using what some HRists use, the -24db tracking level.
Then I did a track with -12db as some HRists say thats their tracking levels.
as I reviewed my novice hobby Bass playing on the waveforms they both appear to have all kinds of room before clipping.
but due to some pick hits....some spikes -6 were seen in nanosecond movement of the needles, and I thought about a compressor or limiter would smooth it out. But the waveform was so far away from clipping I thought why spend the cash?
so the question is to anyone, are you using a compressor/limiter going in? yes, no...and why?
Seems a comp/limiter isnt really needed.
1) is it just to offer peace of mind insurance? to catch a peak from clipping..which would have to be super loud,,,
2) or is it a FX unit for warmdirt? its not really a tool its used as some effects box.
3) just record levels of -12 , -24 and save money and do the dynamics ITB during mixing?
So today I was checking my Input levels.
I have a Pbass into a JDI, into a PreAmp. The preamp out has a meter with a calibration pot and the interface allows monitoring Input or Output, I selected Input today...to see if my gain stage was right going in. It was all "calibrated" and -12 was -12 was -12 etc,,,
Then I thought I would lay a couple tracks using what some HRists use, the -24db tracking level.
Then I did a track with -12db as some HRists say thats their tracking levels.
as I reviewed my novice hobby Bass playing on the waveforms they both appear to have all kinds of room before clipping.
but due to some pick hits....some spikes -6 were seen in nanosecond movement of the needles, and I thought about a compressor or limiter would smooth it out. But the waveform was so far away from clipping I thought why spend the cash?
so the question is to anyone, are you using a compressor/limiter going in? yes, no...and why?
Seems a comp/limiter isnt really needed.
1) is it just to offer peace of mind insurance? to catch a peak from clipping..which would have to be super loud,,,
2) or is it a FX unit for warmdirt? its not really a tool its used as some effects box.
3) just record levels of -12 , -24 and save money and do the dynamics ITB during mixing?