How to boost wav sound?

[nocturnalblood]

I recorded some music through Sonar Cakewalk 4. My method is recording the drums through an 8 track tape recorder, get the drums into the computer, then I do a simple plug a mic straight into the computer's microphone input and record bass, guitars, etc. with the mic by the amp.

Now, the sound is not too bad for an underground Metal recording... the problem is that if I put the volume up, too much digital clipping comes out. I want to boost the sound of the overall wav. but the clipping starts to come up more and more. I have to put my computer speakers up really loud to hear it at a decent volume (production doesn't sound bad, it just sucks that I have to put it so loud), then if I boost the overall sound I don't have to put it up but then the clipping comes out as I said.

Is there any other way to boost the sound without it sounding like S**t?

I'd appreciate any tips, ideas, suggestions, etc.
Thanks in advance!

 

[NYMorningstar]

I'm going to guess you are importing the recorded tracks at too high a level leaving yourself no headroom. Try importing and tracking at around -18dbFS and see if that helps.

 

[Massive Master]

If you're using a computer mic, there's part of the entire problem (not much to do with volume, but it takes an awfully clean signal to react well to later abuse).

If you're plugging a regular microphone into a line-level input on your computer, that would explain even more.

 

[nocturnalblood]

So what would be the best way to recording with a mic straight in without it getting the clipping? Maybe a new sound card? A USB soundcard?

Please if there is anything you can suggest, I would appreciate it, thanks!

 

[The Cancers]

Yeah, you need some sort of Audio/digital conversion device, and just about any is gonna be better than your computer's stock soundcard line in. As a budget level entry that could probably meet a lot of your needs right now, you might try the lexicon Alpha:
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Lexicon-Alpha-USB-Audio-Interface?sku=245507

It's what I started into the wonderful world of computer recording with, and sounds about perfect for your needs right now. Of course, there's probably an equivalently priced unit that works better out there somewhere, so do some research on it.
Other things to read up on (ie, do a google search or search of this sight) would be:
signal to noise ratio, noise floor, loudness wars
I think there's probably useful information for your original question in discussions of all those.
Have fun!

 

[gcapel]

So what would be the best way to recording with a mic straight in without it getting the clipping? Maybe a new sound card? A USB soundcard?

Please if there is anything you can suggest, I would appreciate it, thanks!

Lower your gain on the mic preamp so your digital level is around -18 to -12 during the recording phase. This will give you head room, so when you bring the overall mix volume up all the tracks have some room to go up. If something is big to begin with its hard to tame in the mix.

I don't think there is a sound card that will correct this.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

the problem is that if I put the volume up, too much digital clipping comes out. I want to boost the sound of the overall wav. but the clipping starts to come up more and more.

I think maybe this thread is getting lost. If I read the above correct, nocturnalblood (which apparently is different from daytimeblood (j/k )) is asking the usual question of how to compete in volume with the over-squashed, over-loud crap put out these days. Hes' trying to do it simply by boosting track or mix gain, which is of course clipping off the peaks like a marine flattop haircut.

Blood, though I am loath to send you down this path, what you are looking for is compression and potentially limiting, that'll allow you to squeeze the dynamic range of the song (i.e. narrow the distance from the average signal volume level and the peaks.) Once you have squeezed the dynamic range, you can boost the make-up gain - and therefore the overall volume - further before clipping the peaks.

*BUT* be forewarned, that such squeezing or flattening of the dynamic range does also change the character of the sound, there's only so far you'll be able to push it before it starts to sound worse and not just louder. This may very well happen before you reach the levels of your favorite commercial CD; they simply have more practice and skill and better gear than you or I do, and can push things harder than we can before they break.

But, with a little research and practice (and a decent quality compression/limiting plug), you should be able to at least get things louder than you can now.

Or, you can simply choose the better option; screw what they're doing on commercial CDs these days; it's as dumb an idea for the recording industry as toxic mortgage assets were for the financial industry. Instead use this tool to adjust the volume for you automatically on playback, if you feel you must be as loud as the rest of that crap out there.

G.