2488 meters - is 0dB really 0dB?

  • Thread starter Thread starter lemonchili
  • Start date Start date
L

lemonchili

New member
This might be a silly question...

I have a 2488 Mk2, and like most people I'm trying to get a reasonably loud final mix without pushing it too far.

The meters are marked 0dB down to 48dB with 16 in the middle. The meters seem to have a few steps above 0dB, then a darker line appears which I assume is the peak/clipping point.

I seem to be able to have a track regularly (but not constantly) going just over 0dB without triggering the dark line and I can't *hear* any clipping. Is it normal to do this? I figure either 0dB is actually a bit higher than shown, or the clipping is too subtle and I can't hear it.

(I only hear clipping if I push the levels so it's really triggering the dark line)

Any thoughts or comments appreciated.
cheers,
chili

Edit: This really is a dumb question, so ignore or delete this thread. I wasn't watching it properly - The dark clip line does appear every time it goes above 0dB, so I am pushing it too hard, I just can't hear it.
cheers,
chili
 
Last edited:
well, it may have been a silly question but it revealed a flaw in your recording technique. for tracking, you should not try to hit the 0db mark. you should be tracking at -16db, and mixing the final mix to near 0db. for mixing the tracks, you'll need a little headroom, which is why most people track at -16 or -12db.
 
Ok... (swallowing pride)... this is what I've been doing:

I recorded our rehearsal session a few weeks ago. I tried to set the input levels as high as I could, so the loudest sound for each input is just on 0dB, and the average for that track can end up anywhere between -10 and -20. Should I be setting them lower?

The drum tracks (just two overhead mics) on one song are giving me the most drama, the dynamic range is really big. I think the average is around -20 (by fluke) but they peak just over 0dB reasonably often, say about a dozen times through the song. I've been trying to pass them through a mild compressor to keep the peaks below 0 and the average is ending up somewhere around -10 to -16. Is this a good or bad approach?

cheers,
chili
 
for sounds that peak excessively, i'm not sure what to suggest. some use compression in the recording but if you do that, you lose the option of not having it. and i wouldn't use much at all if that were the route i took to keep from peaking too much.

but if you're average level is somehwere around -16 to -12db then you're doing ok. i thought you were using 0db as your goal for what the average level should be. my apologies. :)
 
You probably want the average level for most things sitting around -16 to -18. For drums and things that are all peak and no sustain, just set the highest peak so it hist at -4 to -6.

It isn't necessary to record anything way up at 0db. It's always better to record lower.
 
Farview said:
You probably want the average level for most things sitting around -16 to -18. For drums and things that are all peak and no sustain, just set the highest peak so it hist at -4 to -6.

It isn't necessary to record anything way up at 0db. It's always better to record lower.
Click to expand...

ty farview :) i haven't recorded drums much, so i learned something :)
 
Record a test track (single instruments) at the lower settings, and then a few practice mixdowns to get an idea of what head room is left to play with. Easier to sample different instruments singularly on test tracks then to make the whole collage work afterwards.

Then you have an idea of how hot you can go at each mic during actual recording. Make sense?
 
I've been focusing too much on trying to get the peaks as close to 0dB as I can, leaving no room for error. I'll pull the input levels back a bit more next time, and aim for -4 or -6 on the drum peaks.
This is only the second time I've recorded the band live, rather than just recording myself doing one instrument at a time. I've learnt a lot :D
 
The peaks for other instruments will be considerable lower. Things like distorted guitars, synth pads, etc.. that have no real peak to them will sit closer to half way up the meter. That's where they are supposed to be.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top