Hardware mixer levels...

[Ivo V.]

Hi,

I will be recording a band during their rehearsals. But I need some things sorted out first:

I have a RME multiface and a Behringer 2624A mixer. I need to match the output levels of the hardware mixer to my soundcard. So if i'm getting 0 dB on my mixer, I also want 0 dB on my soundcard. The RME has quite a sophisticated hardware chip with a mixer inside of it, so level checking is very accurate. On the other hand, my behringer is not so accurate . What is the best way to do so ?

Greetz,
Ivo

 

[mixsit]

The best place to start is at the mic chanel input. Set the chanel fader at the mixer's 'nominal' optimum zero point, then in 'solo' mode adjust the input's trim or pad, so that the levels are also in your mixer's center range- gererally this is with the average signal hovering around the '0' range, with peaks not extending into clipping.

With you first analog stage now optimized, if your going direct-out to the sound card, (the cleanest, shortest path) you can use the chanel fader to set your record level. Here, just make your peaks hit safely below 'o' on the digital meters and your good to go. The converter's signal to noise range is almost always a lot wider than your analog signal, so hitting near zero here is not an issue.
If you have to run the mic chanel's fader significantly out of it's normal 'zero' range, this would indicate a level missmatch between the mixer and the RME. (My rme's have input gain selectors, dont know if the Multi face does.)
If your going out through another of the mixer's analog stages (a buss or main out) you would want to leave the chanel fader at '0' and use that main fader to set the record-output level. (Unless of course your doing a mix mic chanels to feed that output.)
Hope that helps.
Cheers.
Wayne