CEP2 meters are lying!

  • Thread starter Thread starter FZfile
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FZfile

FZfile

New member
Hi.
I am recording a single channel using Cool Edit Pro2 and even though the level meters read -6, I am getting clipping.

My singnal path is:

Loop pedal > amp > SM57 > DBX mini-pre > Audiowerk2 > CEP2.

I have the pedal volume full, the amp at 7 (channel vol.) and 5 (mstr vol.), and the DBX at 6 and 7 (in/out gain), and the card and CEP at 0.

The weird thing is that I cannot push the CEP meters past -6.
When I am watching the waveform during recording and turn the amp volume up, I can see the wave END at -6.
It just squares right off.

Is this a CEP setting problem (couldnt find any limiter setting that was on) or is the DBX pre even shittier that I already knew???

-mike
 
You're probably clipping the preamp. How are you setting your levels? You should set the preamp gain so it doesn't distort on the loudest notes and then set the preamp output so you have a good level in CEP.

Does your soundcard have meters? Check those and make sure the levels are set correctly on the soundcard driver.
 
Its not the soundcard...must be the pre.

Well.....I know you cant trust the little yellow/red light on the pre (damn.....and I thought it was just the MP) but I'm way below any light flickering.
Its hard to monitor because I currently have everything set up in close proximity so I can twaek the amp/pedal settings or mic placement and then just mouse click RECORD.

But....at the amp volume I'm at the pre doesn't go yellow until I turn the input to about 9 (out of 10....not 9 o'clock).
Its at 6 now.
And it's weird (I think) that the signal shows that it clips right at -6.
I have been using CEP for recording for a cople of weeks now and have not run into this before.

Although I have never run the 57 through this pre.
Could the combination of mic and pre cause this???????

There is a pretty even level coming out of the amp.
Its just a guitar loop (guit > Rt66 comression > Digi Delay pedal) that I like and am now taking the oportunity to conduct my own Listening Sessions with my small handfull of mics and cheap pres.
(an MP, the DBX mini, and behringer mixing board)

.........the hair on my neck is standing up in anticipation of getting slapped in the back of the head.

I double checked my card. Not it.
Tomorrow I will screw with the pre input more and try the other pres with the same mic.

Day jobs suck until you get to spend that hard earned cash on cool gear like a decent pre.

I have had this loop going for 2 days now.
aahhhhhh the beauty of plugging in your guitar pedals.

thanks

-mike
 
hhhmmmmmm???? could it be the mic?

I switched pres.
Plugged in the Art MP.
Same thing.

I've never encountered this before in CEP with any other mic but logic would say that since turning up the amp AND/OR turning up the mic pre still only reached -6 on the CEP meters at maximum and since both follow the mic then it should be the card.

But it doesnt do it with my condensers.

Maybe I clicked something in the software without realizing it but I looked at all the options and preferences.
The Audiowerk settings are a full volume.

Has any one encountered this before.

-mike
 
That's an interesting problem.

You say you can't push past -6db..... it just so happens that 6db = 1 bit of resolution which is too much of a coincidence to overlook. My guess is that this is going to turn out to be either a soundcard driver issue or a problem with the combination of the soundcard driver plus CEP2. Try updating both.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Have you checked to make sure that your preamp and the input on the soundcard are set to the same operating level?

In this case, it would seem that the preamp is sending out a -10 level to a soundcard that is set to +4.

You may need to check the documentation on both units to verify that the in's and out's you are using are working at the same operating level. You should easily be able to get the input levels on your soundcard to hit 0 IF the operating levels of all devices are set correctly.

Good luck.

Ed
 
I'd agree with Ed on that one. Make you sure you are using the right balanced or unbalanced cables also.
 
Ahhh HHA!!!

That must be it because when I use any of my condensors (or almost every other time I can think of, come to think of it) I have run the pre into my Composer compressor and/or EQ.

This time its just the pre to the card and I'm using a DIY XLR to 1/4" balanced to unbalanced cord I made to hook up my NT3 to my Marantz cassette deck.

Thanks ED and everyone.

Just one additional thing.

If the pre and card are mismatched (-10/+4) does it matter which way they are mismatched???
This is esotirical (sp?) because obviously the implication is that they need to be matched.

I just want to get a better grasp on the whole -10 vs +4.
I read somewhere that one is typical of consumer grade gear and the other the norm for pro stuff.
Is that correct?

......Oh.....also......will a specific cable build (XLR to TS) enable me to overcome my 1 bit loss with this direct signal path????

I want the shortest path possible because I really want to dig into learning the details of my mics and amps (sound wise).

I guess I'm finnally starting to realize that unless I really start to learn the gear I got (modest as it is) buying more crap will only hinder me, ultimately.

Thanks for clue(s).

-mike
:)
 
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