Technique Questions

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lowlow42

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Hi guys, I have a couple of quick questions, and I hope maybe you have the answers.

First, let me tell you my setup: MXL v57, M-Audio 24/96, UB802, Autocom 1600.

When I record into Audition, am I always going to go back to the individual vocal track and "Normalize" the volume to 99%, or should I go and throw the output of my mixer higher? You know what I mean?

And also, I noticed that when I'm about to "Mixdown", and I'm playing it back (all 3 tracks at a time {Instrumental, Vocals, Doubles}), theres clipping, now should I put the Master Volume down until its not clipping, because if so, then the volume seems to sound too low. Now what can I do in this situation?

Thanks
 
RULE.....
ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR METERS.
before recording monitor the input signal and try and aim between -6 and - 3db in level on input monitoring of the track. then record the track.
when playing back tracks while recording the "mix volume" should be at -3db.
not slap on 0 db. this allows a bit of margin which i'll get to.
as you add more tracks , remember everything is ADDITIVE.
so you will probably have to pull some faders down on the tracks already recorded to keep the mix volume master fader at -3db.
NOW when you come to FINAL MIXDOWN once again set your master fader volume at -3db. NOT 0db. this will allow any mastering engineer producing a cd of your music a "margin to play with".
REMEMBER - 0db is DIGITAL BRICK WALL. dont go over it.
now - if using this approach you find things are "low in volume" there
is probably a calibration problem in your monitoring chain after sound card line out.
hope all this helps. you shouldnt need to use normalise with this approach.
 
manning1 said:
RULE.....
ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR METERS.
before recording monitor the input signal and try and aim between -6 and - 3db in level on input monitoring of the track. then record the track.
Click to expand...
So on the output on my mixer, I should set it so that when monitoring, it is around -3? Plus, the compressor should keep the dynamic range around that too, right?

now - if using this approach you find things are "low in volume" there
is probably a calibration problem in your monitoring chain after sound card line out.
Click to expand...

What exactly do you mean by this?
 
point one. use the input signal monitoring in your multitrack software. if you dont have this option set up , yes - use your mixer sending to sound card.
point two. tell me your sig chain after sending from sound card line out for me to comment further.
 
Ok, I think when you say signal chain, you mean how everything is hooked up right? (Sorry, I'm still sort of a newb)

Well it's like this, and maybe I have it set up wrong, but check it out:

--Input--
From my mic to the mixer (thats where its powered), from the mixer to the compressor, from the compressor to my computer.

--Output--
I just have sound outputted to my subwoofer, and then to my speakers.

Hopefully I answered your question.
 
are you using a garbage on board or consumer sound card in the pc?
if so get a decent sound card.
what is your sound card - ???
because this could explain A LOT.
in windows volume control (playback properties) push up the wave out slider for more volume going to (i assume) your computer speakers (i assume your using computer speakers ?).
it would really help if you posted all your daw confign.
then i can help you.
peace.
 
lowlow42 said:
Hi guys, I have a couple of quick questions, and I hope maybe you have the answers.

First, let me tell you my setup: MXL v57, M-Audio 24/96, UB802, Autocom 1600.
Click to expand...

Ummm... Well I bought an M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 soundcard. I have a Behringer UB802 mixer, a Marshall v57M Condenser Mic, and an Autocom 1600 PRO-XL compressor.

The soundcard uses its own little application that runs in the system tray to control volume. But I have that configured correctly....

Let me know what you think
 
ok. audiophile is good. no problem there.
what about your speakers ? what are they ? manufacturer.
talk to you tomorrow.....going into a session ....then sleep....bye !
 
Ok, as far as my speakers. I bought some Labtec speakers, (It included 2 speakers {RCA Left and Right}, and a subwoofer). But I then I wanted something a little bigger and better, so I bought 2 Pioneer CS-R590 speakers, that plug right into the subwoofer.

Now when I say too low, I dont mean drastically lower volume, I just mean, It sounds as if the volume could be slightly higher.

Now I have a question, should the vocals be louder than the instrumental, or vice versa, or should they sound even.

I guess when I'm about to mixdown a file, if it sounds a little low when I play in WMP, then I should burn it to a CD and see how it sounds in another source.

So what do you say?
 
lowlow.
RULE......
when you have finished a mixdown to stereo of a song.
start a new cool project. import the mixdown. and play it.
WATCH COOLS METERS. the peaks of the song should top
out around -3db. as i said leaving room for the mastering engr to do his thing. NOW. if you have followed this method AND you find on playback of the mix through another piece of software you PERCEIVE the volume is too low. burn a CD(note; AUDIO CD) and listen to it on a proper hi fi of a friend.
if you STILL PERCEIVE there is not enough balls in the song.
it is probably due to the fact of the way it was mixed.
try using cools comp/lim features to increase the perceived loudness,
but still keeping the -3db level rule.
also click on my reputation scales will you ?
folks always thank me but forget !!
also hers a TIP. and i think possibly the source of your problem
with levels, try this.
output the audiophile into a cassette deck. then line out of cassette deck
to your subwoofer/spkr combo line input L and R.
you can plug phones into the cassette deck for monitoring while recording,
and the cass dek level meters will be highly usefull as a secondary meter check.
one of your probs i think is your speaker arrangement.
you need a proper monitoring environment.
eg..cheap !!...audiophile out into a home hi receiver driving an unpowered set of speakers.
 
Ok, I see... I should probably invest in some monitor speakers. Whats the difference between the ones I got now, and monitor speakers... I mean they look the same.

Also, when you say the comp/limiter in Cool (Same as Audition), which settings should I choose?

So the final mix should peak at -3dB?
 
yes the final mix should peak at -3db , EVEN WITH A COMP/LIM ACROSS IT.
what you feel your missing is perceived loudness. read cools help on usage of comp lim. EXPERIMENT. the limiter should be set to LIMIT as the term implies the upper end of the level ie; -3db.
dont spend a lot on monitors. read the wharfedale thread on this bbs. youll find it interesting.
peace.
 
A couple of last questions here... Will the comp/limiter compress all the tracks or just 1? Because I want it to do all the tracks at the same time, is this possible, if so, how would I do it?

And last...
...should the vocals be louder than the instrumental, or vice versa, or should they sound even.
Click to expand...
 
you can apply comp/lim to individual tracks or a mixdown.
you should only use it on a track where there are wild level swings
sometimes to bring the soft parts up a bit. or hilite the soft part and raise the vol instead. editing tracks is quite an art to do properly.
depending on the song. some songs demand the vocals stand out more - other dont.
 
It still sounds like you need to go to options when you start to record a track and enable monitor record so you can see what is going in.
 
Alright then, well I think I'm all set. Thanks for all your help!
 
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