tracks are either too quiet or distorted.... help

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timandjes

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I'm trying to record a drum track and it's coming out either too quiet or distorted. Actually, the bass, snare, & brass all sound good but when I play the toms, I'm getting distortion.

Here's my setup, I've got a kick drum mic and one overhead condenser mic running into a two channel art tube pre. Then, from the art tube, I'm running the out's into two channels of my 4 channel mixer. Also, into the other channels of the mixer I've got another overhead condenser and the snare mic.

From the mixer, I'm running to an Audiophile 2496. I'm sure I've just got something set wrong somewhere, maybe the gains and outputs of the art tube, maybe the Audiophile soundcard, or maybe both...

The drum tracks are coming out way too quiet when played along with my keyboard track and the toms just sound awefully distorted....

Anyone got any suggestions?
 
You could be doing multiple things wrong.....

I would suggest You start by learning your gear and all about gain staging. After that make sure you check your signals and set them properly before recording.

If everything is ok from that stage come back to rehash the problem with me.

Why are you using a ART for one OH, but a different pre (your mixer ) for the second one?!? Use the same type mic (if you own a pair) and use the same set of pre's ( you own 2 ARTS).
 
Thanks for the reply. I used to mic my drums with only one overhead condenser. I have a single phantom power unit that powers it. When I added a 2nd overhead condenser, instead of buying just a phantom power unit for about $50, I decided to spend a little more to get a little more. I bought an ART TPS Tube Preamp System. It has two phantom powers, two inputs, two gains, two phase inverters, & two channel pre-sets for various input sources, (ie, percussion, guitar, voice, etc...)

I though this ART pre would help to limit distortion so I use one of it's channels for my bass drum. When doing so, that takes up one of the ART pre's phantom power inputs, (I just don't turn on the phantom power for bass, of course). So, I use the other channel for one condenser, and my single phantom power unit & mixer for my other condenser.

Then, I'm running everything from my Art pre into my mixer, (with no additional mixer gain), and everything from my mixer into my analog inputs of my sound card. The card also has digital inputs & midi inputs but I'm not sure when/how to use them.
 
Lets back up here and give me a list of your gear and we'll see if we can set you up better.

Also - are you recording the whole band together or are you tracking them one by one.
 
I really appreciate your help. (I thought God & I were the only two up this early... :) What time is it where you are?

I've got to drive to work but once I get there, I'll log on and list the gear I'm using... I REALLY appreciate your help!

Thanks!
 
timandjes said:
I really appreciate your help. (I thought God & I were the only two up this early... :) What time is it where you are?

I've got to drive to work but once I get there, I'll log on and list the gear I'm using... I REALLY appreciate your help!

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Its middle of the day here.....I'm on my coffe break.
Awaiting your list.
 
If you're lost we will show you the way...












We go this way:D
 
Ok, here's my setup.
1st I record my keyboardist via instrument cable from the keyboard into a direct box, then into my mixer, then into my soundcard, then into N-Track. They keyboard has a left & right 1/4" out. I just use the left to record in mono. That's track one. It sounds good.

2nd, I record my drums using a Nady bass mic, a Nady snare/tom mic, & two OH Beringher ECM8000's. I've got the kick & one OH running into my ART TPS Tube Preamp System, then the outs of the tube pre into two channels of my mixer. The other OH & the snare are running directly into the other 2 channels of my mixer, which is a Tascam 414MKII. (I used to do analog recordings. Now I've moved into pc recording but I still use the Tascam as my mixer.

My soundcard, the Audiophile 2496, is set to "monitor mixer" on the patchbay and I've got the levels set in the yellow on the in's & out's.

When I listen to the drum track to set my levels prior to recording, it sounds good (except for the distorting toms). The VuMeters aren't peaking out but they're in the upper green to mid yellow. The hi-hat sounds are really crisp and nice. The bass is good. The snare is a bit quiet, even though I've got it gained up a good bit, but it's not distorting. When I listen to the track along with the keyboard track, it's WAY to quiet. I have to turn the drum track up a lot higher than the keyboard track to be able to hear it.

I'm thinking maybe I'm getting phase cancelation on the tom sounds,.... but if so, I assume phase cancelation only "picks on" certain tones because everything until I play the toms are fine...

Just when I was getting pretty good at analog recordings, I moved into this PC recording and I know I'm in a whole new world with a lot to learn... I appreciate your input....
 
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