How should I set my Mic Gain/Impedance on my Pre-Amp?

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mksprior

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I have a Focusrite TwinTrak Pro Pre-Amp. I am recording fairly quiet, soft, gentle, feminine male vocals with a Rode NTK Condenser Microphone. However, I am unsure as to how I should set my impedance/gain when recording these vocals through my pre-amp.

If you look at the picture below, you will see I have circled the three areas I am concerned about. I am bypassing all EQ/Compression settings on the preamp, so if I can get the gain and impedance right, I will be happy. As you can see, I have also circled the high-pass filter button. Should I use this when recording my vocals?

https://img230.imageshack.us/my.php?image=focusritegreen2zk.jpg


In addition to all this, I must configure the input gain on my MOTU828 Soundcard (see picture below). What, then, should be the relationship between the gain here and the gain/impedance on my pre-amp...?

https://img382.imageshack.us/my.php?image=motu1mf.jpg
 
The impedance setting is subjective, but the TwinTrak manual has general suggestions as I recall based on the type of microphone.

The rest of your questions are gain staging ones. The important thing is not to overload any of the gear in your chain. You can increase the gain on the preamp until you either go into the red on the preamp or overload the MOTU, neither of which is a good thing. I can't comment on your MOTU since I don't have one, but the manual may offer an option for a healthy input level. The last place to check the level is in your computer to make sure you're not sending too hot a level from the MOTU.

High Pass filtering is commonly used on vocals, but you need to decide whether to do it during tracking or later during mixing. Many would advise saving it for later to give you flexibility, but if the filter in the TwinTrack sounds better than anything else you have then you may want to use it.

Sorry for being vague but that's the nature of the business sometimes.

BTW, your picture shows the "Line" light on the TwinTrak. This should not be used when using a microphone.

Best of luck
 
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