A Few NooBiSh Questions

[BSharp810]

Let me begin by saying this is my first post, and im sure i could have scoured the boards for hours , and found the answers im searching for.

With that being said, heres what Im working with.

Tascam 144 usb interface
M Audio bx monitors
AKG perception 220 Micrphone
ART ps Pre amp
Reaper
Akai ax 80
akai mpd 18
M aidio keyrig 25
reason


One problem im having is that when I export audio from reason, its not giving me the whole song, only the first few seconds( no i am not exporting loop, im exporting the song)

Another is with reaper , my audio levels are all out of wack, i bought the pre amp because my vocals were very quiet, honestly with the pre amp im using like a +20gain. My main question in this topic is: is there a such thing as recording and mixing with the volume too low.

One last question, my monitors, i have a feeling i should be able to crank the volume on them a little more, which i cant. They are powered, can i use an amplifier with powered amps? OR should i just get a woofer, that way the bass wont be using up all the power i have for my Monitors.

I appologise in advance, my questions are all over the place, but PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

 

[JimmyS1969]

Does Reason have locator markers? In Cubase, I have to move these to designate area to be exported.

You cannot really record too low digitally. You can always add gain after without pulling up the noise floor.

You cannot add power amp to a powered speaker. You are limited to its own power. You can only adjust the output you are sending to them. They should get loud enough on there own that the woofer will start to 'fart'. If not you need more output gain from your master buss.

A sub woofer can really help to relieve the monitors need to reproduce low frequencies. The sub must be setup correctly and most preferably 'matched' to the monitors (SBX 10 for yours).

Hope this helps

Jimmy

 

[arcadeko]

I have to leave the room when my monitors start farting.

dont those monitors have a gain control on back? they should be thumping

 

[BSharp810]

Yeah they do have a gain dial on the back, im thinking that because my mic records at suck a low volume, i have to bring the music down so far to mesh with it, that by the time im cranking the volume, its soooo low in my daw.

 

[c7sus]

You cannot really record too low digitally. You can always add gain after without pulling up the noise floor.
Jimmy

Raising the gain on a recorded track will by its' nature raise whatever noise floor the original take has. Using compression will raise the noise floor as well.

 

[arcadeko]

Yeah they do have a gain dial on the back, im thinking that because my mic records at suck a low volume, i have to bring the music down so far to mesh with it, that by the time im cranking the volume, its soooo low in my daw.

Well there is the problem! You need to boost that track not bring everything else down. Add in a compressor or preamp into the effect track. Boost that signal, you might also try to normalize the track. But c7sus is correct, if there is hiss in there the boost will raise the noise floor also - so if you find the noise in there compression will make it worse, although if there is a large enough range the volume boost and a limiter might work. But it sounds like you need a preamp on your mic. But that mic looks like a decent mic - are you using phantom power and the XLR input? That Tascam should work great with that mic.

 

[BSharp810]

I have a ART pre amp on the mic, im going to be doing some experimenting today with double tracking, hopefully thatll make my vocals louder, and sit on top of the mix more. Thanks for the tips guys