Problem with input levels - recording

[abbazabba]

I just got a Soundcraft M8 mixer which goes into a Digi 001, recording into Samplitude. The problem I'm having a hard time understanding is the huge discrepancy between the input levels that the mixer is showing and what the software shows. For instance, as I was recording drums I had a condenser overhead and the gain on the track was all the way down. And while the master meter on the mixer only registered the bottom two lights at -15 and -30, the meter for that track in the software running way hot and occasionally clipping. If the mic was any closer to the kit, it would've definitely clipped. I didn't have this problem I don't think when I was recording straight into the Digi -- usually the -26 gain reduction would cool it off enough. Is there a way to control input level (not just the monitoring volume level) in the software or the mixer?

 

[abbazabba]

I just tested again with the same OH condenser but just singing at my console this time. Gain on the channel is all the way down. I sang loud into it...the meter in the software stayed in the red and the wave form itself hit the ceiling and leveled off at the top. But on the mixing board not until I got really close to the mic did the master meter start to climb up towards the yellow and on the channel itself it only peaked once for a brief second...???

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Which inputs are you using on the digi 001 and which inputs are you using on the mixer?

How are your inputs set up in the digi 001 control panel?

 

[abbazabba]

All the tracks are going from the direct outs on the mixer to the 8 inputs of the Digi. The track in question happens to be on track 3 going to input 3.

I'm just confused because I would think turning the gain all the way down would significantly reduce my levels -- instead the only way I have to control the level in this circumstance (he's a fairly loud drummer) is to move the mic further away (it's already 6 or 7 feet high and about 4 feet away from the kit).

Or does this sound like a normal result for what I'm doing?

 

[tourettes5139]

Check the input levels on the 002. Thats the only thing I can think of. I was going to say turn your master out down, but then I saw you were using direct outs. Good luck!!

 

[abbazabba]

No, the levels on the Digi are all the way down, but I think those only control the level on the Inputs 1 & 2 anyway...

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

No, the levels on the Digi are all the way down, but I think those only control the level on the Inputs 1 & 2 anyway...

That's the input gain knobs for the preamps on ins 1 & 2 right?

Is there not some sort of software control panel where you can control the levels of all the ins/outs? These might need to be lowered.

 

[abbazabba]

<That's the input gain knobs for the preamps on ins 1 & 2 right?>

Yes, that's correct.

<Is there not some sort of software control panel where you can control the levels of all the ins/outs? These might need to be lowered.>

If there is, I can't find it...By the way, I get the same results in ProTools as Samplitude. The only thing I've been able to change is monitoring levels, how much of the signal I'm hearing, but nothing to modify how much of the signal is actually going in.

 

[giraffe]

don't go into 1 or 2
use 3-8

you're having gain stageing problems
here's kinda directions, sorry if thier wrong it's been a while

menu,
hardware

button(bottom right of window)-other options

set the input gain of 3-8 properly

i'm a f'n retard and don't know whare it should be for the digi001
the choices should range from -12 to +8 i think.

turn it down, and you should have to use more pre, and not clip as much.
(i think)

thoes directions are for when you're in protools

 

[bennychico11]

what are your preamp settings at on the mixer?
it looks like your direct outs on the M8 have the ability to be set either pre or post fader. make sure they are not set prefader and your preamps are all the way up.

 

[abbazabba]

don't go into 1 or 2
use 3-8

thanks..I think I do remember seeing that menu in protools before but never had a reason to use it before. just hope I can do the same thing in Samplitude -- it's my preference. I'll try it tonight and let you know if that works.

but when you say don't go into 1 or 2...why? (FYI, I was having this problem into input 3 to begin with anyway.)

 

[abbazabba]

what are your preamp settings at on the mixer?
it looks like your direct outs on the M8 have the ability to be set either pre or post fader. make sure they are not set prefader and your preamps are all the way up.

Will try this as well. I don't know about post or pre fader functions yet. I must have it on pre because the faders don't control any actual levels, just monitoring output?

 

[abbazabba]

this may explain a lot, I'm hoping...before when I didn't have the Pre-Fade Listen pressed I couldn't get any output, but I may have had my cables in the wrong place at the time...Thanks, guys. Let you know the results.

 

[bennychico11]

Will try this as well. I don't know about post or pre fader functions yet. I must have it on pre because the faders don't control any actual levels, just monitoring output?

sounds like to me that would be your problem.
if the faders aren't controling any level going to the 001 then it's gonna be on pre fader. And in that case, only the preamp control on the Soundcraft is controling the signal.

 

[abbazabba]

Yes, that was it...I misunderstood what the Direct Pre buttons were...got it confused with the Pre Fade Listen and didn't understand why I wasn't getting output. Bad troubleshooting on my part...This is a big relief, thanks everybody.

 

[giraffe]

re-why not 1 or 2

they have (even when going into the 1/4" input) more gain than 3-8

 

[giraffe]

what are your preamp settings at on the mixer?
it looks like your direct outs on the M8 have the ability to be set either pre or post fader. make sure they are not set prefader and your preamps are all the way up.

why would you want the pre's all the way up??????

and a pre fader out seems like a good idea to me, less circurity to go thrugh, and thus less crap making noise (although you gain a small amount of controol over the level to tape if you go post)

 

[bennychico11]

why would you want the pre's all the way up??????

and a pre fader out seems like a good idea to me, less circurity to go thrugh, and thus less crap making noise (although you gain a small amount of controol over the level to tape if you go post)

no, you don't want them all the way up...i guess i worded it a little weird. i meant check to see if it was the prefader button and that if maybe the levels were really hot because the preamps were all the way up. that's all.

A prefader out IS a good idea to do with direc outs. 'cause then your mixer just acts like a preamp and like you said, less circuitry. I guess it may seem like a waste of a mixer though at times. But I guess this is one of the reasons why split/in-line consoles were created.