Tascam 1800 recording

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Zach Frazier

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Hey I would like a step by step setup when it comes to hooking up my Tascam USB 1800 unit in pro tools 10, and Cubase Le5 if someone is willing. I am trying to record my drums live and I am getting a very quiet sounding recording when I playback my tracks through my laptop. My microphones are Pyle Pro PDKM7s. There not the best but I feel I should be having better playback volume then what I have. Any setting or effects or inputs that may help please let me know. I am very new to this live recording. Also I have been looking at compressors Vs. the compression on my DAW and wasn't sure if buying an actual compressor device would help increase my recorded volume. Anything that you can think of will help. At the moment I am saving up to buy some Shure SM57s microphones to help my recordings. Thanks to all who reply.
 
I can't talk you through that interface or your software but I can give a general comment.

If your playback volume sounds low compared to commercial recordings, that's completely normal. At the end of the mixing process tracks get mastered which generally includes things like compression and hard limiting which brings levels up to the maximum a digital system can handle.

During the recording process, it's a good idea--even necessary--to work at much lower levels than the finished product will be. This gives you headroom to mix multiple tracks together, add effects, and so on.

How things sound is really not the way to judge your tracks...you need to look at the meters or the waveform display and, if your original tracks are averaging somewhere in the -18dB(FS) to -12dB(FS) range with no peaks getting anywhere near 0dB. (FS stands for "Full Scale" and is the measurement scale used on digital recording systems.) Not being a user, I can't tell you how to check this on PT or Cubase if it's not clear but I'm sure somebody helpful will be along soon.
 
The US1800 interface is known for very low headphone output levels. I have one myself, and it was a problem, especially while monitoring and playing drums. I got the same thing most others on here have gotten: a headphone amplifier. Problem solved.
 
I understand the headphone amp but I am confused when it comes to mastering and bringing the volume up to its full potential.
 
Well, the most important thing to do right now is to look at your original tracks in ProTools or Cuebase and tell us what the levels actually are rather than simply that they sound quiet. You may or may not have a problem that needs working on.

Both those DAWs have meters that will tell you what level you have on the individual tracks. If they're peaking (i.e the loudest bits) at around -6dB(FS) or so on the meters with the "average" a bit lower, then all is good. Be aware the drum tracks mainly look like a series of peaks though so those are the important bits. If you're lower than that then you need to bring up your levels. On any combination of drums and mics I know, the US 1800 should be capable of plenty of level even without the gain controls on the interface turned all the way up. The knobs on the front of the US 1800 are your first port of call for this though--if they're all the way up and levels are still too low then we'll have to look a bit deeper.

Re-reading your posts, are you listening to individual tracks or a final mix combining all your tracks? Individual tracks done properly will always be a lot quieter than a mix--and a mix will be quieter than a commercial track until you use the various mastering tricks to finish off the levels.

So, more info please...what are you listening to and what are the levels, both on your individual tracks and your mix?
 
Okay I think I understand what you are saying. Also when I am recording would it be better to have my gain knobs at the point of getting decent levels, and then use compression and other plugins to raise the volume? Also when putting all the individual tracks into one master track, would that also help raise the volume? I am just so lost when it comes to the mastering phase, and that is my main issue. I am trying to do drum covers and this has been holding me back for like over a year. I wish there was a youtube video or a step by step manual. But I'll manage. Thanks for all the help man.
 
Decent levels mean around -18dBFS in Cubase. Depending on the mic this should be way way before a channel on the 1800 goes red.

There is a bunch to be done after recording drums.

I have done quite a bit of mixing of drum covers for a member I met here. I will attach a link to one.

Obviously in the video you can see that the room was not so ideal. He also used a US 1800 and Cubase. He would just send the individual drum tracks to me for mixing/enhancing with samples. After creating a template for him, it only took about 20 to 30 minutes per track to get the same results. I charged him $10 per song. He has moved on and learned from me and others and does the mixing himself now which I think is really friggen cool. :)

There are a few levels of compression, some triggered enhancements for things that lacked with the mics and room involved, but for the most part it was his drums. The overheads capture the whole kit so...

I would be willing to take the tracks of one of your drum covers and work them up into a mix and give you details as to exactly what I did to get there if that would help you.

Here is the LINK
 
Get your head around recording first, and don't worry about mastering yet. It's a different world and if you don't learn to record well, you're not going to be able to master effectively - and either will anyone else be able to master your tracks effectively.

What you've already been told is all good...

And take Jimmy up on his offer. He's a champ.
 
Damn hairist comments.

God only made a few perfect heads. He had to cover up the rest with hair. It's kinda like adding extra reverb to a vocal to cover up bad singing.
 
Couple of teensy points?

Cubase, at least none of the versions I have, does not show dB levels by default and I am blowed if I can find them IF they are there! (I have up to Cubase LE6) .
Another problem I have is that I have never been able to get a meter to show the INPUT signal when recording apart from that silly thing dinking about in the transport box. But the OP can see the relationship twixt track levels and final mix if he puts up the "Live Forever" demo song and selects the mixer (still no decibabbles!).

Bobbsy I believe is an AA man? I have AA 1.5, excellent meters. Not sure if you can get a download trial of AA anymore? You can get Samplitude Pro X and that too is blessed with good metering and is decibalized. Oh! I guess Reaper as well, will check.

PT? Don't know, don't care.

You might all not be surprised to learn that I rarely fire up Cubase! Son liked it for MIDI.


Dave.
 
Really?

Sheesh. A DAW without metres (or at least a dB scale on the waveform display) would be a deal breaker for me. As many good things as I've heard about it, I couldn't live without knowing my levels. Maybe that's down to 40 years in broadcasting where everything was calibrated and specified.

Yes, AA still does the 28 day free trial and I still like it a lot for the stuff I do. However, I always have to point out that it doesn't do MIDI which would be another deal breaker for a lot of musicians out there.

FYI, PT also has good meters but that doesn't make up for what a crap DAW it is. Hmmm...maybe I could say it's the Apple/Dre Beatz of the DAW world--trading on its name only! :)
 
No, there are dBFS meters on all tracks and in mixer in all versions of Cubase. dB meters? Not sure why that would matter in a DAW. No input channels on LE versions of Cubase. Only the full version. Full Cubase 7 also has RMS and whatever that other thing is called that I could care less about. lol. Not sure what Dave is talking about here...
 
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I'm assuming Dave meant dB(FS) meters in his post. If not, them I'm confused to.

Just having "dB" without SOMETHING following it is actually meaningless, though all to often some of us (and I'm as guilty as anyone) leave it to context to guess whether we mean dB(FS) or dB(SPL) or even dB(W) if you're transmitting to a satellite!
 
Oh! It is ENTIRELY possible that this V old, med ridden brain has Cubase all way wrong till Christmas but this is how I find it?

The screen grabs show the Cubase demo song. No dBFS markings and I know of no way to get them to show.

By contrast see the grab of the "free" Samplitude SE8 included in Computer Music magazine (other Samps' have meters but none as good as SE8 IMHO) See that not only are the meters dB scaled but you get a rolling numerical output value of both the peak and rms value.

Note too that the SE8 grab shows the INPUT signal to the DAW. As I said, I have never been able to do that in any Cubase I have had. IF input meters are only available on the full fat version that is pretty shitty of Steinberg in my view. Fork! Even the totally free Audacity has in and out meters!

Dave.
 

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