watching/setting levels on mixer or computer for peaking

  • Thread starter Thread starter paligap1983
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paligap1983

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Just wondering if I should be watching my mackie board lights for peaks or if I should just be looking at the input level coming in on my computer screen when using logic. There seems to be some difference between the two. Mackie will hit red but my track will still be under 0Db and not have peaked yet on logic. I've been trying to get the science of setting levels so I don't have to stare at the mixer while playing but it has been quite the battle for some time.. either way too soft or I push it and then one louder strum out of 50 will be what peaks the track and it's no good.. Help me recording wizards! Also, is raising the gain on a compressor one way to raise the volume of a already recorded quiet track up to 0Db? thanks!
 
You are comparing two different schemes for measuring level, dBu in the analog world and dBFS in the digital world. Most important is to understand that you want the digital signal to never reach 0dBFS. A peak level not higher than -12dBFS to -6dBFS is plenty high enough. A bit lower is fine.

Depending on your A/D converters the analog level that gives the above digital level can vary. Refer to the Mackie's manual for its level setting procedure. That may put you right where you need to be in the digital domain or you may need to make a small adjustment.
 
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