Quiet recordings

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nilbog
  • Start date Start date
Nilbog

Nilbog

hello
Hey, I've got a problem. My recordings are always a bit quieter than they should be, or as my other CD's are. When I record onto my computer, I get the input level right where it's not clipping on the loudest parts. Do I need to boost it after I get it on my hard drive? I'm using soundforge. What should the level of my songs be? How do I solve this problem?
-nilbog
thanks
 
Normalizing will help some, but you really need to use a limiter (Waves Ultramaximizer for example). Normalizing just raises the overall level of the file, so if you have peaks at say -1db, the file can only be increased by a db at most. Limiting brings down the levels of the peaks and then raises the entire level of the file.
 
So what's the difference between limiting and compression? I thought compression just brought down the peaks. Does soundforge have a limiter?
 
Compressiors and limiters, although performing essentially the same task, are quite different. Limiters are meant to reduce peaks. They will abruptly cut off the gain as soon as it exceeds a specified threshold. Compressors do this same thing a little differently. Compressors "approach" the threshold more gently and the gain is reduced in proportion to how much it exceeds the threshold. To make this a little easier to understand, the threshold for limiters is set high in order to cut off the peaks at the desired level. The threshold on compressors is set low to begin compression before it reaches the desired level.
 
ahhh..now I get it...thanks for your help! too bad I'll never be able to afford anything that does any of that! :)
-nilbog
 
The prices on compressors/limiters actually aren't too bad anymore. If you are looking for an outboard processor (not software), you can find a decent compressor/limiter for around $200.
 
Yep, the behringer composer has both a compressor and a limiter and is in fact around $200-$250. It certainly isn't the greatest thing in the world but it will work. I would think you'd be able to find software limiters for about this much too, and this might be more what yr looking for cuz then you could avoid the dreaded D/A conversions.
 
behringer composer pro 150.00 at guitar center is much nicer than alesis nano or 3630
 
RNC by FMR for $180. Although sonusman really likes those Behringers.
 
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