Give a beginner some pointers??

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gtrplyr

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Hi guys...just need some pointers...

First, here's what I'm working with:

Behringer Eurorack MX602A
Shure SM-58 Mic
M-Audio Revolution sound card
with Cool Edit Pro 2.0 software

I'll be recording electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and vocals.

Questions:

1) About where should the line-in level be in my sound properties? Do I want it to be max? or in the middle or 3/4?

2) Is it better to have the guitar louder and the levels on the mixer low? Or vice versa?

3) When looking at the recording levels in Cool Edit...where should they be maxing (at what db)?

I realize I'm not gonna get great sounding recordings with the gear I have, but I'd like to get something decent. I've done some recording and the problem I seem to have is that electric guitar sounds very compressed...like, maximum distortion and volume, but suashed to a low volume? I don't really know how to explain it.

And when recording vocals...they just don't seem to "mesh" with other instruments...they still sound "seperate"...is that possibly my recording technique? or is there a way to mix them so they blend well?

I know its hard to give advice without hearing whats being recorded...but I just want some pointers...general advice to get me started.

Thanks in advance.
 
1. After reading on maudio's site, I doubt that you can actually control the input gain of that soundcard through the line in. It probably has it's own 'control panel' which is where you would adjust it's audio settings (not through windows mixer). That said, I'd leave its input cranked in windows (although I'm almost positive it has no effect, test it both ways and see) and use your hardware mixer to set the appropriate levels in your software multitracker.

2. Unless the preamps in your mixer are unusually noisy (when set to higher input gains) it comes down to what sound you like. Does the amp sound better cranked or at a normal practicing level. Experiment with gains, mic position etc.

3. Above 0dB is clipping in digital recording, set your levels accordingly. Typical for me are in the -6dB to 0dB instrument depending.

I think you should be able to get some decent sound out of that setup.
 
gain staging:

from the first point in the signal path (ie. guitar....mixer....soudncard), try to take teh level as high as it can go without clipping (not true for the amp, get that to the level you think it sounds best at), then do the same with the next stage etc.

I.e. I use a 602A as well, and am recording out of the mains. The level on the mains is only at about 1/4 because the other steps earlier in the chain are up high.

Try t get the peaks in Cooledit to be around 6dB.
 
Get a pre-amp for the vocals.

And the level of your mixer: Bottom line: You want the volume to be as loud as it can get without distorting. And the mixing meters in coll edit pro should be somewhere in the green-yellow sections, with temp. peaking in the red sections sometimes. if the level is to high or loud, it will stay in the red section.



good luck.

zeke
 
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