Too Many Volume Controls

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Bassman121

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I have a Roland Keyboard connected to a mixer. Both the keyboard and the mixer have volume controls. The mixer is attached to an Fast Track USB audio interface that has its on set of volume controls. That is connected via USB to my computer running Sonar. Yep, more volume controls. I have similar problems when I wish to add acoustic guitar parts via a pickup, or a line in direct box connection, or microphone

Where do you start when trying to set your record volume? Should you just set them all at mid-point and control the final volume with the last link of the chain?
 
I would say however you set them, make sure that the signal that is going into your computer is at the level you want it, say -6db, then you should only have to make minor adjustments to your recording in your daw. Of course also make sure all the other levels in the sequence aren't clipping and you should be good.
 
Hey dude...not sure if I'm doin it right either :D but...

when I've got multiple volumes to deal with, I'll run em at a level somewhere around the middle. Like for my keys, I'll set them at about 45 or 50% to get a decent output but not pushed. Then I'll use my input gain to set my levels where I want em.

BTW...since we're on the subject of volumes...is there some sort of volume/MUTE for wives? :confused:

:D
 
Bassman121 said:
Where do you start when trying to set your record volume? Should you just set them all at mid-point and control the final volume with the last link of the chain?
Click to expand...

I usually start at about 3/4 volume on keyboards and guitars with pickups/preamps. Then I set the mixer/interface hardware input gain for a recording level peaking not more than -12dBFS. If there's a software gain control for the interface I set it to default/0dB. When mixing I shoot for a master bus peak level of about -12dBFS. When the mix is about done I add a "mastering" limiter to the master bus and bring the whole thing up to about -16dB RMS and fine tune things.
 
Everything possible at unity - Adjust the level at the first stage possible.
 
Dogbreath said:
BTW...since we're on the subject of volumes...is there some sort of volume/MUTE for wives? :confused:

:D
Click to expand...
Yeah, but I'm afraid to repeat it in the presence of civilized people for fear of arrest.
 
I'm no expert either (especially about the wife volume knob) but it seems to me like you should go stage by stage. The foot bone connects to the legbone... etc... get the footbone right first then set the legbone, then as you go down your chain of what volume goes into what set them each as you go. This isn't so easy with stuff that just has a 'volume' 1-10 (or maybe 11 if you're lucky) instead of an actual signal level but you just have to trust your ears in those cases, and assume that the final destination of your signal has true levels you can set when it actually gets there.

I used to run some pretty crazy effect chains, and I found that if you start nice and solid but not so loud as to distort, its easy enough to coax the same signal level through. If you start too soft you'll have to turn up later, which means noise. If you start too loud you'll be distorting in the first place. What I'm saying is take it easy at the source, but not too easy... now back to that wife volume thing...
 
I run my MIDI tracks at a default volume of 100 (out of 127). So my keyboard always starts out at a volume of 100. In the end a MIDI track could be whatever it needs to be volume wise. The MIDI volume (I'm talking about CC 007 volume) of my MIDI drum tracks hardly ever varies from zero. My MIDI bass track ends up 89-111 and the rest are wherever, typically 40 to 110. Those are all MIDI (CC 007) volumes,

My output tracks on Cubase always start out at 0 db.

My MIDI master volume (CC 136) is always set to 127.

Then I mix the individual audio tracks, which usually end up being about 1/2 way up or a little more. They almost never go above, or even at zero. I aim to record all audio tracks at the volume, or a tad louder than they will be played back. If I'm recording a cymbal alone, for instance, I won't record it loud and then turn it down, I'll record it where I want it, or slightly louder so I can turn it down later, than it wll eventually be. This is important because it affects the tone a lot, even on digital.

Then, and this is the big one, I made a passive volume fader (from a real nice Noble detented fader with a huge knob) that controls the whole volume of everything, so I can control the volume without screwing up everything. That volume goes before my amp and it's numbered so I can always return to the exact volume quickly.

That passive volume control is what cleared up the whole volume mess I was in from about 1983 to 2003. Many of the things that have had the biggest impact on my studio have been ultra cheap homemade problem solvers like my passive control center that houses the volume knob.

For live gigs, too many volume controls can be a real problem. I have cut short lenths of chop sticks and glued them in faders (like on a drum machine) to keep the volume at the full volume. On some dvices, like a SoundCanvas, I have used heat glue to keep the volume knobs at the right place (usually full), and on some gear you can just take the volume knob off and if it's recessed then that takes away one more possible problem.

The whole volume thing took a long time to get even as good as I have it now... it's never really over because the technology keeps changing.
 
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Dogbreath said:
BTW...since we're on the subject of volumes...is there some sort of volume/MUTE for wives? :confused::D
Click to expand...

Yes DB but it's illegal in most countries.:laughings:
So you'll have to settle for the old hand over the wallet trick.




:cool:
 
Thanks

Great input. Thanks to all. The best volume control for a wife usually contains diamonds.
 
No............... that's how you get a wife in the first place.



:cool:
 
Tee Hee, Tee Hee....yes it's one louder than 10.


guitaristic...You have to watch the movie *this is spinal tap* if you haven't all ready and if you have ... watch it again.



:cool:
 
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