Setting levels between mixer and soundcard

  • Thread starter Thread starter RideTheCrash
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RideTheCrash

RideTheCrash

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Okay, I have read up on these and am still a little confused. Basically I'm using an analog board where out 8 outputs run into my soundcard (Delta 1010lt). So I've read about how you should send a test tone through and set the levels. So I'd send a 1kHz tone through and have it go up to 0dB, but on my soundcard software meter it would show a bit below, say -14dB or whatever, so that I have headroom for peaks and such.

Now my mixer has a knob built it for sine testing, so I'd turn the knob and I can go over a range of tones. I don't think I can send this to my soundcard though...but I did run the tone through a direct box and I have a recording a the tone, but I don't know if it should be a certain volume or what.

But I'm confused because if I'm sending the signal from my computer to my board, then wouldn't that be adjusting the output levels? I'm probably not making myself clear, but can someone help me out here?
 
I'm not sure about all the test tones, but here is what I would suggest:

The channel levels and master volume on your mixer should be at unity gain (no boost, no cut). The soundcard inputs are line-in, so there should be nothing to adjust there (have them all the way up, and ajust your monitor mix for the correct output gain). The exception would be the XLR inputs, which should be treated as preamps.

Adjust your preamp gain on each channel such that the clip light just flashes during the loudest section, and then back off a few dB. The master meters should go into the yellow on loud parts, but not red. In your recording software, make sure your are not clipping either.

That should be a pretty safe way to get the gain staging. Track some and listen back. If you don't hear and/or see clipping anywhere on playback, you're good.
 
Yeah I see what you're saying, but there was this whole thing about making my soundcard peak at say -14dB while my mixer peaked at 0dB, for headroom.

And I don't know what is up with this, but I can seem to adjust the levels in the software. If I'm playing a track out I can play with the output faders (two different ones) and the master fader, and hit mute, and it doesn't affect the track whatsoever.
 
The test tone is meaningless, unless you are planning on recording test tones. Set your recording level so that what you are recording is hovering around -12 to -15 and doesn't go over 0db. That is it.

The test tones just proved that line level for the delta card is -15dbfs in your software.


What software are you using?
 
Well I was using the -14dB thing as an example.

The mixer: an old 1983 Audiopro 16 track
Software: Cool Edit Pro 2.0
Soundcard: Delta 1010lt
 
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