Br-1600 Normailizing when mixing ?

[mattkw80]

I have been trying to record my audio signals, regardless of what they are
(ie: Bass, Drums, etc.) at anywhere between -12 and -4. After that, before I start mixing I normalize every track. This takes a long time.

Is this wrong or right ?

Is there a better way ?

What levels do you guys try to record at ?

When do I normalize a track ?

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Why would you normalize when mixing???? Normalizing is nothing more the automatically applied gain, so it doesn't do anything differently than a fader does, so there's little point to it - especially for mixing.......... if you find yourself wanting to normalize a lot, then you probably aren't tracking at the right levels to begin with (recording too soft...) -- and if you're normailzing because you want ot get the overall mix level up after mixing, then that's not even the right tool for the job (look-up "limiting")!!

 

[Farview]

Like Bluebear said, there is no point to doing that. If you are using a studio in a box you could be really screwing yourself. Those things (mostly) only have a 24bit mix buss, if you normalize all the tracks you will quickly run out of headroom on the mix buss. This will make all of you recordings sound harsh (and distorted).

 

[sp_clark]

I ONLY normalize when I have to, and the 'better' I get at recording, the LESS I have to. When I first started with the 1600, I was having trouble getting hot enough levels on certain things, and so I'd normalize a track or two to boost them. But lately, I never do it because I get the levels hot enuf comin in. On the 1600, you really have to crank up the input sens knobs almost all the way to get any kind of level (depending on your setup). I crank mine all the way, then back them down until the 'noise' is gone. This is less of a problem with vocals than it is with micing my acoustic guitars. This usually does the trick for me. Hope that helps.

Steve

 

[mattkw80]

Yes this all helps. Thanks for your comments.


So I guess the magic question is, what level should I
be trying to hit when I record various things ?

I read somewhere about the -12 to -4.

Would this be diferent in analog ?


Matt

 

[Farview]

Yes this all helps. Thanks for your comments.


So I guess the magic question is, what level should I
be trying to hit when I record various things ?

I read somewhere about the -12 to -4.

Would this be diferent in analog ?


Matt

Your information is correct.
It would be different in analog because the meters are different. In analog, you try to keep the needle (lights) bouncing around 0. In digital 0 is as far as you can go. I try to keep the lights bouncing around -12.