Mixer To Soundcard Question

[BRIEFCASEMANX]

Someone told me that you should always have the line volume on your soundcard up as loud as possible when recording. Why is this? Doesn't your soundcard have the same noise floor whether or not the volume is up or not? If so then wouldn't you want to have the gain up on everything else, in order to have the signal/noise ratio as high as possible on those things, then turn the line input up if it needs it since the soundcard is going to introduce the same amount of noise either way.

 

[kilowatt]

If the line input level is completely all the way up, you will have the most potential input dynamic range, and the highest noise level. This is why its called a ratio (signal to noise ratio) because as you turn the input level down, the noise drops, and the potential input dynamic range drops too.

You'll have to play with this to match it well with your mixer. My advice to you, is to turn up the line input level as high as you can, and back it off until the noise drops off. If you don't hear much noise, just leave it up all the way. If the impedance match from your mixer to your sound card is good, you can leave the level up all the way, and adjust all levels from your mixer. But, that likely isn't a perfect match, so some tweaking may be required.

Bottom line though, if it sounds good, it is good.

 

[Imaduck]

I'll try not to repeat Kilowatt, but yes, technically you'll get the most range with the input all the way up. However, if this causes you to push your mixer volume way down then you could easily lose range there, so really, your best going with the highest input volume that still allows you to have some control on your mixer and allows you to have your mixer at a normal level.

 

[BRIEFCASEMANX]

I don't understand range.

 

[notbradsohner]

from very bassy sounds all the way to your higher frequencies is the "range" It is kind of like the highest note, and the lowest note. and everything inbetween

 

[VooDu Valve]

Isn't your line level actually directly related to the output level of whatever it is you are recording? I mean... the level adjustment is just to control the signal coming in... the louder the signal source the less you will be able to adjust that level befroe it clips......... and the softer the signal the more you can adjust. Thats how I look at ......... Like with a pre-amp and a power amp... do you turn the pre-amp all the way and adjust the volume of the power amp? Or do you turn the power amp up all the way and adjust the output of the pre-amp? No matter how you get there the idea is to get a signal that gives you some room the adjust it up druing the final mix, so that you can stay below the clip ceiling...
Chris