Getting levels

[grachuss]

Can anyone tell me how to get levels, is there a different way to do it for each instrument, I must have missed this in my recording class. I think all you do is try to get the volume on each channel as high as you can without it cliping is this right?

 

[justwantyou2kno]

I'm not exactly sure what you are asking, but you do want to get your levels of everything as loud as they'll go without clipping. Especially if your recording digitally which I assume you are. If you want to change levels of an instrument you should do it when you mix.

 

[Raydio]

yeah, what he said; but if you are indeed in digital; try your best not to go over the 0db mark; clipping occurs after that. Its ok to have some audios go over 0db at certain parts sometimes, but watch it. Peace!

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

In general terms, you set your levels so that your peaks (or anticipated peaks if tracking live) do not exceed 0dbFS....

If you exceed 0dbFS you get instant (and nasty) digital distortion -- yes, depending on where the meters are reading, you may be able to actually squeeze another percentae of a db out of it before it actually distorts audibly, but it hardly makes sense to worry about it......

Just get your levels clean and strong without distortion (use your ears FIRST, and meters second) -- er - this is assuming, of course, that you have a monitor chain that is capable enough of letting you actually hear what's your recording! (That's where cheap usually fails!)

 

[grachuss]

Thanks all of the replies have helped alot and saved me from looking like an idiot in front of my peers.