How do you know exactly how "hot" you're recording in Reaper

  • Thread starter Thread starter Armistice
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Armistice

Armistice

Son of Yoda
Just taking baby steps in recording actual audio in Reaper - what I can't work out is how hot I'm actually tracking, short of recording the track then soloing it in playback and checking in the Master meter... the individual track meters in the mixer don't seem to have numbers against the graduations.

What am I missing?

Note - I'm not asking HOW hot to track (I already know), and I'm not asking how to adjust the input levels (can't) in Reaper - I'm just trying to cross reference the levels I'm setting in my interface software (RME Fireface UCX's Total Mix) with what's "hitting the tape" in Reaper.

Cheers
 
Wow - and it doesn't have peak readouts? Every daw I've ever used has a little numeric readout for the peak at the bottom of the fader. That's what I used to calibrate with (using a tone...).

Just taking baby steps in recording actual audio in Reaper - what I can't work out is how hot I'm actually tracking, short of recording the track then soloing it in playback and checking in the Master meter... the individual track meters in the mixer don't seem to have numbers against the graduations.

What am I missing?

Note - I'm not asking HOW hot to track (I already know), and I'm not asking how to adjust the input levels (can't) in Reaper - I'm just trying to cross reference the levels I'm setting in my interface software (RME Fireface UCX's Total Mix) with what's "hitting the tape" in Reaper.

Cheers
 
You can go to 'options' and 'preferences' and determine what scale you want to appear on the tracks. Values appear on the volume slider for each track on the left hand side track view, not necessarily on the mixer view.

When recording, the actual value of whatever scale you use is largely immaterial. The faders control output level, not input level. You set this on your interface.

When recording, the tracks show input levels coming in. Just make sure they don't go into the red.
 
You can go to 'options' and 'preferences' and determine what scale you want to appear on the tracks. Values appear on the volume slider for each track on the left hand side track view, not necessarily on the mixer view.

When recording, the actual value of whatever scale you use is largely immaterial. The faders control output level, not input level. You set this on your interface.

When recording, the tracks show input levels coming in. Just make sure they don't go into the red.

Thanks gecko... I figured there was a setting somewhere... and I didn't see it in the left hand view but I'll look more closely.

Cheers
 
Thanks gecko... I figured there was a setting somewhere... and I didn't see it in the left hand view but I'll look more closely.

Cheers

I guess it doesn't matter much, but I'm still curious about peak readouts. I guess I could download reaper and try it myself if I was that curious :-)
 
When I record in Reaper, when I arm the track and have selected the appropriate input, the volume bar will fill when I play (whether recording or not) - a little number underneath the bar (this is on the left hand track view, but I guess it also shows in the mixer) shows the highest peak volume reached. Double clicking the little number resets it to 0, then I can play/sing some more to determine how hot it's coming through. I use the default skin, it might be different with others.
 
When I record in Reaper, when I arm the track and have selected the appropriate input, the volume bar will fill when I play (whether recording or not) - a little number underneath the bar (this is on the left hand track view, but I guess it also shows in the mixer) shows the highest peak volume reached. Double clicking the little number resets it to 0, then I can play/sing some more to determine how hot it's coming through. I use the default skin, it might be different with others.

Exactly what I wanted to know... cheers Jonny.... sorry to hear you've split up with the missus...:eek:
 
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