first recording done- few questions

[mcl116]

just did my first recording. I put my dynamic mic in front of the soundhole of my acoustic pointing towards the 12th fret- checked the volumes to make sure I wasn't clipping. Hit record and played a few chords for about a minute.

For playback, I plugged a pair of headphones into the back of my interface.

2 things: the volume of the playback was really low, so why is that and how do I fix that?

and 2- when I was playing back what I had recorded, I was still hearing any noises my mic was picking up as I was moving around during playback, how do I "shut off" the mic so I don't hear that?

thanks!

 

[Seafroggys]

If playback volume is too low, turn up your volume knob.

What were the levels you recorded at? Basically, what is the loudest your instrument got, and what was the average?

 

[mcl116]

If playback volume is too low, turn up your volume knob.

What were the levels you recorded at? Basically, what is the loudest your instrument got, and what was the average?

I'm not sure the exact level (although if you could please tell me how to know, that would be greatly appreciated) but when I was testing the volume of the instrument, I let it go as high as it could on the meter without clipping.

 

[mixsit]

#2- Improve it at the source first. This is your room and unwanted noise level vs wanted signal level and both will go up and down with whatever boost you do for 'issue 1. The best thing to strive for is to improve this ratio- distance from the noise and set up small soft surrounding to help isolate you and the mic. Playing more forcefully, and miking closer also (but not to the extent of hurting your playing/singing or your mic tone).

Noise reduction, (gates & expansion) is the last resort.
Sure, they turn off the noise when there's 'no signal' but the main bugger in that plan is that when there is signal the noise is back along with it. That's just fine when it's a snare smack, but when you're playing anything soft or sparse the noise is still there.

 

[GOYA]

Which meter were you looking at during recording? The input in Cubase or the interface?

If your interface doesn't allow you to mute the mic could you just unplug it?

It might be helpful to know which interface you are using.

 

[mcl116]

Which meter were you looking at during recording? The input in Cubase or the interface?

If your interface doesn't allow you to mute the mic could you just unplug it?

It might be helpful to know which interface you are using.

I'm going by the meter in cubase. I'm using a audiobox usb

 

[NYMorningstar]

Mixsit has the right idea. Improve from the source. Get rid of the room noise you don't want in the recording. Using a hardshell guitar opened and standing on a chair works well for isolation. Just stand it up, place the mic in it pointing out and play into the case. You don't need to play more forcefully however.

The next thing you want to do is use a condensor mic instead of a dynamic. A couple of Rhode NT5's changed my world but even cheaper condensors would be better. Don't forget you'll need phantom power on.

Also, when you record you should average around -18dbfs on your meter. You add the gain back while mixing and mastering.

 

[mixsit]

Mixsit has the right idea. Improve from the source. Get rid of the room noise you ..

Then looking back it looks like he actually did mean 'turn it off' when not recording. Oh well, at least no harm done there.

 

[mcl116]

Mixsit has the right idea. Improve from the source. Get rid of the room noise you don't want in the recording. Using a hardshell guitar opened and standing on a chair works well for isolation. Just stand it up, place the mic in it pointing out and play into the case. You don't need to play more forcefully however.

The next thing you want to do is use a condensor mic instead of a dynamic. A couple of Rhode NT5's changed my world but even cheaper condensors would be better. Don't forget you'll need phantom power on.

Also, when you record you should average around -18dbfs on your meter. You add the gain back while mixing and mastering.

I still don't get why the playback was so low, when the meter was reading it fairly high.

I'm recording acoustic guitar, so I thought a dynamic mic would be better for this no?

 

[mattr]

The peaks may be high, but the average/RMS may be low. Perception of volume is affected by the sustain of the loud parts.

You may also be trying to compare the loudness of it to that of heavily mastered, commercial recordings, which is really a bad idea. You set your own ideas of how loud your recordings should be.

Stupid question, but if playback is low then have you tried turning your headphone volume up?

I'm recording acoustic guitar, so I thought a dynamic mic would be better for this no?

Nope. I prefer condensers on acoustic, but its really down to your choice.

I was still hearing any noises my mic was picking up as I was moving around during playback, how do I "shut off" the mic so I don't hear that?

If you mean when you're not playing then just gate it or chop out the silent bits.
If you mean while you're playnig, this is down to many things such as mic placement, you staying still relative to the mics and the room acoustics. There's no magic solution to this other than to 'work on it'.

 

[mcl116]

The peaks may be high, but the average/RMS may be low. Perception of volume is affected by the sustain of the loud parts.

You may also be trying to compare the loudness of it to that of heavily mastered, commercial recordings, which is really a bad idea. You set your own ideas of how loud your recordings should be.

Stupid question, but if playback is low then have you tried turning your headphone volume up?


Nope. I prefer condensers on acoustic, but its really down to your choice.


If you mean when you're not playing then just gate it or chop out the silent bits.
If you mean while you're playnig, this is down to many things such as mic placement, you staying still relative to the mics and the room acoustics. There's no magic solution to this other than to 'work on it'.

I'm not comparing it to commercial volumes but comparing it to my experience using garageband, playback was as loud as I wanted it. The volume of the guitar was so low it was like I was playing really far away from the mic.

Yes definitely turned the volume on my headphones up, the volume did go up but it still sounded very very low (like described above).

 

[NYMorningstar]

I still don't get why the playback was so low, when the meter was reading it fairly high.

I'm recording acoustic guitar, so I thought a dynamic mic would be better for this no?

Read these two links. John explains the process real clearly for you.
http://www.massivemastering.com/blog/html/blog_files/My_Mixes_Are_Too_Quiet.html
http://www.massivemastering.com/blog/html/blog_files/Proper_Audio_Recording_Levels.html

And no, a condensor mic is better on acoustic instruments generally.

 

[bohunk06]

I am going to throw my 2 cents in here. First, I agree, the condenser is definitely going to be better. Second, I may have missed it in all the replies, but are you using a preamp at all? That may help boost the signal. Also, someone touched on it already, but check the level on the interface going in. You want to make sure that is hot (without clipping). Third, you can try some compression to level out the volume a little and help raise overall volume level. And lastly, to solve the noise during playback issue, you dont have to unplug the mic...there is a monitor button that switches whether you hear your mics or not. If you click that button off, you wont hear anything through the mic.

Hope this helps.

 

[Waffleness]

I am going to throw my 2 cents in here. First, I agree, the condenser is definitely going to be better. Second, I may have missed it in all the replies, but are you using a preamp at all? That may help boost the signal. Also, someone touched on it already, but check the level on the interface going in. You want to make sure that is hot (without clipping). Third, you can try some compression to level out the volume a little and help raise overall volume level. And lastly, to solve the noise during playback issue, you dont have to unplug the mic...there is a monitor button that switches whether you hear your mics or not. If you click that button off, you wont hear anything through the mic.

Hope this helps.

Don't over do it though, or Massive Master will get you

 

[shizzane]

Being a newbie to my own setup at home, I have experienced other studio setups and home setups as well. I couldn't agree more that using a condenser mic (in my experience) has made much better recordings.

My question in this case would be the distance from the mic to the guitar? I might have missed it as well in an earlier post, but that could have a lot to do with the low playback levels. But I would say give a decent condenser a chance a see what happens.