About Levels...

[lowis5]

Hi guys, this is my setup:
SM58 -> TubeMP -> Mixer (behringer) -> Delta44 Soundcard -> PC (Magix Studio)

I have a question about how I should set my volume levels. I'm getting more than normal noise in my recordings and I suspect it has to do with the volume. I can control the volume from the preamp (input gain & output gain), the mixer out (as well as the separate volume knobs for each channel), Delta44 software, and finally the volume sliders in the recording software.
Can someone explain how they are related and the best way to get the less noise possible?(I know I have budget gear, but I'm looking for an explanation on the 'proper' method to record). Also, how is the input and output gain related in the preamp? Sometimes I have to set both at max to record decently, but I get a bunch of hiss.
Thanks for the help!

Luis

P.S. I recording mostly acoustic guitar, an amp for an electric guitar and a keyboard (not directly), and voice.

 

[bennychico11]

do you have to go through the Behringer mixer? try bypassing that by going from Pre straight into the Delta.

A lot of people have had problems with small Behringer mixers and their noise. Try that and I think you will see a dramatic difference.

 

[mshilarious]

On a Tube MP the input gain controls the tube and the output gain a solid-state gain stage. There is also a +20dB solid state gain stage controlled with a switch.

People will say bad things about the Tube MP (I think they are clever for the price), but they aren't particularly noisy. However if you've got all the gains all the way up, that is +70dB which is a ton of gain. I don't know that wouldn't be enough.

Also the tube control beyond +30dB doesn't sound particularly good.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Fire sale?

Is somebody having a blowout special on small Behringer mixer/SM58 bundles this weekend or something? Or are the kiddies making their prank posts again? This is the third or fourth new thread in the past 36 hours or so asking the almost exact same question with almost the exact same gear.

As far as which controls to set how, here's what I'd recommend:

1.) Set NO controls to 11. (or even 10.) You should never - and never have to - turn any of your gain stages up all the way. If you do have to, there' something wrong with the signal chain or another gain setting somwhere in the chain is set too low.

2.) Turn the input trim on the mixer channel strip all the way down and then set the channel strip fader to 0 gain (usually around 80% up). Then turn the output on the MP somewhere around halfway.

3.) Slowly turn the channel trim up until you are getting a decent level. If you have to trun the trim up more than 65% or so, you could probably stand to turn it down to about half and turn up the output on the MP a little until you get back to the same volume.

4.) Tweak the MP and the trim back and forth as described in 3) and see if there is a preference with regards to noise level.

5.) Leave the input faders at 0 gain and leave them alone, Use only if needed to fade out the instrument or to make minor level adjustments while riding the recording, to adjust for player style, etc. But you should rarely have to make major changes to the input channel faders.

6.) Turn the output levels on the mixer down to zero momentarily. Raise the input recording controls on you PC to 0 gain or about 7 out of 10 (depending on how your software measures it.) Slowly turn up the output levels on the mixer until you are getting a input decent signal on your software (-9 to -6 dB per track on a multitrack session should be about right.)

7.) If none of this works and you still don't like the noise, your ears are probably to good or too educated for the sound of the mixer and the equipment is just not there.

HTH,

G.

 

[lowis5]

Thanks guys. I looked for this question but didn't really find anything, sorry for the repetition. Anyway, I'll try what Glen suggested tonight. I did not record this way so I think I will find a big difference for the better.


Luis