Struggle with mic volume

[Shanktastic]

Hi all,

First post but seems the perfect forum. I have been recording my solo stuff (tends to be a 4-5 guitar tracks, bass track, drums using ezdrummer and vocals) in Ntrack studio. The problem is, I can tend to get a decentish recording of all the instruments and then add vocals last but then I always stuggle to get the vocals loud enough over the rest of the song.

The instruments are recorded at a volume that seems in sync with most commercial or amateur recordings I listen to but I have to do constant retakes on the vocals because they end up sounding distorted when I get the volume up to an audible level.

My hardware is a Shure 58A > Behringger MX602A Mixer > Soundblaster Live (spit! cuss! ect - soon to be replaced with a 1010 I just ordered ) - Ntrack.

I don't use phantom power on the mixer, have played with the setting but can't detect a difference in volume on this? Anyone got any suggestions? Would getting a condenser mic help? I've read bits around the differences and the suggestions seem to be that running a condenser through a preamp allows a stronger signal?

Sorry for the noobness of this but i've decided to start taking this a bit more seriously and have been a bit stuck in my ways for the past couple of years.

 

[danny.guitar]

The signal coming into your software should average/hover around -18db on the meters. It should peak no higher than -6db.

I think the 58A is a dynamic mic and shouldn't require phantom power.

You should open up your recording software, and hold a note and watch the meters. Turn the gain up/down on your mixer until the signal is hovering around -18db.

If the volume seems too low while mixing, turn up your monitors first. If that is not enough, then you can turn up the track's fader. The point is to get a good signal recorded first, though. And a good signal averages around -18 to -12dbFS.

It's possible that the mixer you're using doesn't have enough gain for the mic. A lot of dynamic mics need a bunch of gain to get a decent signal.

Condenser mics are usually more sensitive and have a higher output, but they also require phantom power.

So, what do you have your gain knob set at on your mixer?

 

[Shanktastic]

Hey, thanks for the response, I tend to have the gain on the Mic channel set to about 1/2 - if I play too much with that it tends to distort when listening back - would it be better to up the gain on the channel the mic is on and then lower the volume of the Line In on the recording options of the pc? not sure if that would make a difference?

I'll certainly have a play with that and let you know.

Btw - does the -18db rule apply to vocals and all instruments etc? Tia

 

[danny.guitar]

Hey, thanks for the response, I tend to have the gain on the Mic channel set to about 1/2 - if I play too much with that it tends to distort when listening back - would it be better to up the gain on the channel the mic is on and then lower the volume of the Line In on the recording options of the pc? not sure if that would make a difference?

I'll certainly have a play with that and let you know.

Btw - does the -18db rule apply to vocals and all instruments etc? Tia

Yeah, it applies to pretty much everything. I've heard some people tracking heavy guitars or drums louder, but I'm not sure. You're always safe recording at -18 to -12 though.

If you're hearing distortion, then it could be your playback volume is too loud or your signal is too hot. Just make sure your software meters aren't clipping when recording (the faders should be at unity/centered on +0).

Changing volume on Line In or in your software will just change the playback volume. The incoming signal is still the same.

That's why it's important to get the gain right on the mixer first. Then adjust the playback volume once that's done.

 

[Shanktastic]

I think you may have hit the nail on the head there then as i'm constantly fiddling with all the volumes at pretty much every point of the recording process. How do people normally manage these sorts of things? dedicate each channel on the mixer to an instrument, set them in the range you have advised and stick with that - I guess that makes sense - anyway, thanks for your help with this, it certainly seems I need to play with the gain on the mixer - I will update later on to let you know how I get on.

Thanks again