Gain... how to turn it down?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jeamstudios
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jeamstudios

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Hello, I'm brand new to this site, and the home recording. I'm using Cakewalk Home Studio XL. I've figured out how to get midi recorded, but when I try to record a voice, I'm getting a ton a feedback - static, distortion, all of the above. How do I get a nice, clean vocal recording? I was told to turn down the gain, and can't figure out for the life of me how to go about that. Can anyone walk me through that? (I really don't understand what db's are)

Thanks!
 
If you're not using a mixer, then turn down the Input you are recording in the Windows Mixer (the little speaker next to the clock). Open the Windows mixer and chooce -> Options -> Preferences -> Recording and turn either "Mic in" or "Line in" down.

You really shouldn't use the mic in. Most of these inputs are baaad. You could use a small mixer (check www.behringer.com). :)
 
Here's how it works, jeamstudios.

A mic needs a preamp to boost it's output signal before you can record it. The "mic in" port on your sound card has a built in preamp. But it is el cheapo and sounds like crap.

Therefore you want to use an external preamp (or as moskus suggested, you can use the preamps in an external mixer). If you use an external preamp, then you plug into the "line in" port on your sound card and bypass the el cheapo preamp on the card.

In the meantime, if you are using the "mic in" on your sound card, you can go to the Windows mixer. Navagate to the Recording controls, and look for Microphone fader. You can lower that. Or you can click on the Advanced tab and see if the checkbox for for "mic boost" is checked. If so, uncheck it. That should help immensely.
 
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