newbie needs some advice!

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namtrab101

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Hi all! First, thanx to all that have gotten me to the point of getting music recorded onto pc. Now, the next step....making it sound better! Anyway, I'm using CEP, and here's the dilema...after setting the input levels (using the meters in CEP)of all instruments properly, the playback clips. So, on each track, I use CEP to turn the volume down a little at a time until each track doesn't clip (again, using the meters in CEP). But, when the tracks are played back together, there is heavy clipping. So, I go back in on each track, and adjust the volume on each track again using CEP, until there is no more clipping. And yes, I did use the pan control for the stereo field!! Is this the proper way of doing this, or is this where I should have used some compression or something? All instruments were recorded dry....no dynamic processors, no effects, nothing. I know VERY little about production....I'm only used to pick up, plug in, play loud! Are there any good books that anyone would recommend me getting to help me with the production end of recording? Any books that would help with any and all aspects of how to set up, record, and produce properly....like my next question....how to make a home recording not sound so much like a 'home' recording (garage demo), and maybe something that sounds just a little more like a studio recording? Or is that just an impossibility without spending LARGE amounts of money on processors? BTW....here's my current set up(which is initially getting the job done)......

pc with a soundblaster card recording at 16 bit
6 channel behringer mixer
bass is ran direct to mixer
guitar is miced to mixer with shure sm58
pc drum software

I'm sure I'll have some other questions in the coming days. Since I can't play live anymore (damn job!), I'm at least having fun learning some beginning aspects to recording! Thanx to all for the help!!
 
You know, there's a "master volume" up in the top left hand corner. Probably make your life a WHOLE lot easier.

:D
 
Keep in mind also that the CEP work fine for setting the levels of the individual tracks, but on playback on the tracks you recorded are summed, which often produces clipping.

Kelly, Camn - one question. Are you talking about cutting the master level after setting the level on the individual tracks and before recording? Or after recording and before playback? (The second way would add one more processing of the original signal, right?)
 
Im talking about recording the indivdual tracks as hot as possible, and pushing them hotter and hotter with every opportunity.. and when I clip out cuz of CEP summing the tracks (not on an individual track).. I attenuate with the "master Volume" instead of trying to attenuate each track individually. After recording.

And yeah, it adds more processing.. but so does attenuating on individual tracks.. and in 32-bit mode, it shouldn't color my sound TOO much, right? AND im under the impression that a hotter signal is less affected by rounding error than a quieter one.. so I wanna pump the gain early on, not later on. Also, I set playback mixing to 32-bit mode... it takes more horses... but Im probly gonna mixdown to 32, so I should monitor at 32...

xoxo
 
So, is this how it's done (somewhat generically......
record instruments (hot, of course!)
use each track's volume to mix the instruments with one another
use the master volume to adjust for clipping

For the instrument mixing part mostly, is that how it is done in CEP? With each track's volume control? Remember, I'm still very new to this....don't curse me QUITE yet!! LOL
 
Well, run your signal into your soundcard and watch your meters at the bottom of the screen. In fact, you don't even need to watch them, but if you ever see the far right blocks become red (and they stay that color until you press stop, i think), then you're too hot. You'll probably want to start over at this point, but if you're recording LIVE, maybe keep it going (expecially if it's just one spike and you're recording drums or such), see if it's alright afterward. But if it's too hot, just turn down whatever you've got running into your soundcard.

BTW, I'm assuming that you have your soundcard levels pretty much pre-set, and that if you do, then they are set all the way up. Unless you have a multi-input card, this is probably the best way to go.

Now Insert To Multitrack (again, I'm assuming you're recording two tracks at a time in stereo, then dumping them into the multitrack, because recording them straight into multitrack mode will use your resources faster than into the editing mode (2-track), and, well, if you're asking a question like this, you probably don't have a multi-input). Get all your tracks sync'ed and give it a test play in the busiest section of the song. If you're hot, you'll see it down towards the bottom, so go up to the Master volume up top and drop it until you aren't "hot" anymore.

Mixdown, master, call CAMN in the morning.
 
Cool! Thanx Kelly......and I need CAMN's number, so I can call in the morning!! LOL!!

One more question from namtrab, the wonder-idiot!! LOL!

Should I be recording in stereo? My drum software exports as a stereo track, but should I be recording guitar/bass/vocals in stereo as well?? Thanx for the taking the time to deal with my lack of brilliance!!
 
Bass, no.

Drums YES.

vocals, no. Unless you run them thru stereo processors or something.. which is a lot of fun.

Guitar... yes, mm no, mm It depends. Go to "recording techniques" for stuff like that. I do on leads, but not on rhythm.. unless Im using a stereo rig...

skin flute. absolutely.

xoxo
 
master volume

Where is this master volume in CEP? I have this and can't find it anywhere (which means not in the top left hand corner) Please Help!
 
It's right below the mutitrack/wave editor toggle which is right under the "file" tab on the task bar in the top left corner.
 
Cool Edit VU Meters

I hear all this talk of the VU meters in Cool Edit Multi-Track Mode turning red when the signal gets to "hot" during recording however, my Meters are completely red! How do I tell when clipping will occur?

Another question.. Something that I still have yet to figure out. IN Wav edit mode the verticle units are incomprehensible to me.. Usually they read 5000, 10000, 20000 etc. above the red bar, and -5000, -10000 below. I wish it would read in dB but I've tried to change this system and found dB is not an option. I know the numbers have to do mathematically with each individual sample of a waveform, but I find it difficult to communicate with fellow mixiteers the specifics of certain wave files etc.. Can anyone explain this phenomenon to me?

Confused Charon
 
Charon, hi. When I'm not tracking anything, the meters in CEP jitter at about -33 dB on my system. When I start playing, increasing the level brings them up to the little box on the right, and when the level's too hot, the red bar moves into the box, which then stays red. This means the sound's distorting, or is dangerously close to doing so. To clear the box, right click on it, and then left click the appropriate option, and it'll clear the box for the next reading. If everything's red all the time, then reduce your levels, cuz everything's running way too hot! :)

As for wave edit view, so far, I've ignored those numbers, assuming that the top of the graph is the top level before clipping. Worry less about what you see on the screen than what you actually hear. Is the waveform at the top of the graph? Well, that's cool, but is it distorting? Well, that isn't...
 
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