Peak Levels

  • Thread starter Thread starter TelePaul
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TelePaul

TelePaul

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Hi. Is the only way to monitor the input signal in SE 3 via the peak level indicator below each mixer channel?
 
Yup. That's it. Usually, you would monitor the signal using the meters on your preamps or mixer.
 
Farview said:
Yup. That's it. Usually, you would monitor the signal using the meters on your preamps or mixer.
Click to expand...


Thank you Farview. As it happens, the meters on my soundcard are a simple LED affair; if the signal is being picked up, a light goes green. If a signal is overloading, a light goes red. I should be aiming for -18 to -12 right?
 
TelePaul said:
Thank you Farview. As it happens, the meters on my soundcard are a simple LED affair; if the signal is being picked up, a light goes green. If a signal is overloading, a light goes red. I should be aiming for -18 to -12 right?
Click to expand...
-18 to -12 average level. Hold a power chord and set the level to -18. Have the singer hold a loud note and set the level for -18. With drums and other percussion, just get the peaks somewhere around -6 tops.
 
I think I've still got this peak / rms stuff ass backwards too. I don't get any tracks that clip so I guess I'm doing ok. :p
 
I'd say that you don't want anything to even approach clipping - Or even -6 for that matter. Ever. Clipping (digitally) is a *major* mess-up. But there's a lot of room to mess up along the way by overdriving the input chain...
 
Thanks all. Yeah Travis, I kinda go by extinct too. I've realised how an instrument ''sounds'' tracked is a factor of the levels...I've been tracking classical guitars and you can get it very right or very wrong.
 
With a distorted guitar, hold a power chord. Set the level for -18dbfs
With a Vocalist, have them hold a note. Set the level for -18dbfs
With instruments that have long sustained sounds, sustain it and set it for -18dbfs (or just use the VU meter on the preamp or mixer if it has one)


With drums, set the peak to -6dbfs

With instruments with a lot of attack and little sustain, set the peak level to -6dbFS.
 
Farview said:
With a distorted guitar, hold a power chord. Set the level for -18dbfs
With a Vocalist, have them hold a note. Set the level for -18dbfs
With instruments that have long sustained sounds, sustain it and set it for -18dbfs (or just use the VU meter on the preamp or mixer if it has one)


With drums, set the peak to -6dbfs

With instruments with a lot of attack and little sustain, set the peak level to -6dbFS.
Click to expand...

That is a very well explained and straight forward guide to go by... I'm gonna have to try that since lately I have been recording almost everything way louder than that with not-so-satisfactory results...

Thanks :D
 
sirslurpee said:
That is a very well explained and straight forward guide to go by... I'm gonna have to try that since lately I have been recording almost everything way louder than that with not-so-satisfactory results...

Thanks :D
Click to expand...

yeah same...Farview, can you give some examples of instruments other than drums that have lots of attack but little decay?
 
TelePaul said:
yeah same...Farview, can you give some examples of instruments other than drums that have lots of attack but little decay?
Click to expand...
Most rappers, xylophone....anything you hit with a stick or hammer.

Depending on how it's being played, and acoustic guitar can have a huge pick attack with a very quiet note.
 
I noticed that my acoustic recordings sound much less "harsh" when keeping the average level around -18 to -12.

I'd use the VU meters on my DMP3 but they don't seem to move. :confused:
 
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