new bie need help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[metalman69]

hey newbie to recording i have been playing for a long time,just looking for some tips.i got a boss digital 8 track,and just bought a apex 415 condenser mic,but on the mic there is various selectors which i do not understand.i am looking for a really heavy smooth sound.and how lound should i be recording at?any help would be app.

 

[Rokket]

I am not a mic guy, so I won't touch that...

As far as recording levels, there are many schools of thought on that: I've had the best results recording as close to 0dB as possible. I found that it is easier to adjust the levels and get decent sound if the original track is as loud as I can get it going in.

 

[PhilGood]

The 415 has three selectors. One is for the mic's pickup pattern, the second is the 10db pad, the last is the low frequency roll-off.

The mic has dual diaphrams, meaning it can pick up...

A. Only what's in front of it (cardiod - the heart shaped pattern).

B. Omnidirectional (the round pattern), which will pick up evenly 360 degrees around the mic. This has no proximity effect. (more bass the closer you are to the mic)

C. Figure 8 (the 8 symbol) which will pick up front and back WITH the proximity effect (more bass the closer you are to the mic). There is some off axis rejection at the sides of the mic, but not too noticable.

The 10db pad is for recording LOUD sources. When you switch it on, it reduces the input level by 10 decibels. This prevents overload of the mic's preamp.

The low frequency roll-off, or "high-pass filter" allows only the higher frequencies above 80-100hz to pass through. This reduces the lowest frequencies substantialy and eliminates "boomy-ness" and low frequency rumble.

 

[tubesrawsom]

i second tht with 2 thumbs up

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

As far as recording levels, there are many schools of thought on that: I've had the best results recording as close to 0dB as possible. I found that it is easier to adjust the levels and get decent sound if the original track is as loud as I can get it going in.

I think you're right in that there are different schools of thought on this but i have to say mine is pretty much the opposite of yours.

Can you expand on your last sentence? In what way is it easier to 'adjust the levels' and get 'decent sound' by tracking as hot as possible?

I track so the average is around -12dbs going in to the DAW and I don't think I lose out on any sound quality at all. It does mean I have plenty of headroom if I need to push a fader up on any track and I never have to retrack because of a wayward peak clipping an otherwise perfectly good take.

I guess it might be different for different set ups?