levels

[ron82]

after getting the hang of most of the basics, i decided to post a question here, that i wonder about every time i record..

how do you handle the individual output levels in your signal chain? like, where should i bring up my signal up to the needed level, and where should i not? i know.. this probably depends on the equipment u use.. in my case its an ub1204 mixer and WT2496 soundcard.

you should get your signal as hot as you can get, without causing clipping, right?

so on my mixer (mentioned above) the level meter lets me go above 10db before its about to clip - does that mean i should go aim going all the way up, so the output of the mixer is very hot, and then lower the input of the soundcard (here its a WT2496) - cause there it will be WAAAY too hot then in my case!

OR should i set the soundcards input level to 0db, and match the volume at the mixer? (like i do it now and think its the right way.. but yet i'm not sure, because why can u go like over 10db on your mixer if u shouldnt )

oh well u cant laugh at me, i posted this in the newbie section

 

[Stealthtech]

When I use a mixer I set the software mixer at 0. I then adjust the output level of the hardware mixer and watch the software mixer meter and bring it up to the yellow zone. Its a delicate situation when using the 2 together because you have trim and level control and main output level on the hardware mixer. Depending on your mixer Id say the best thing to do is experiment. Record mutltiple takes of a short simple guitar track and setup the mixer different ways and on playback listen for noise, distortion and so forth til you find a setting that sounds good.