Where have my db's gone?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Paul881
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Paul881

Paul881

Look Mom, I can play!
I have a problem when recording audio with HS20002. S/c is s/blaster Live!5.1 platignum. O/s is win 98.

I set up record control so that the meters are all nice and peaky at about -3 to 0 db. The sliders are @ 0db as well. I record okay. But on playback, volumes are way down, peaking at around -20. Its only since I have installed the new soundblaster card in that I've noticed the problem. Help!
 
I'm right here! number 51 reporting! ha ha sorry I couldn't resist...:D

What sources are you recording? Are you using a preamp?
Also have you checked the level of the playback (not recording) volume in the soundblaster mixer?
 
Sorry, I'm only looking for another 20, not 51!

The slider on the right of the mixer? Year, it's full on, as all the others are too.

No, I don't have a preamp directly in line, it goes from my guitar>zoom processor>peavey amp, microphone 10cm (4 ins) from the cone centre, line in on Live! front panel. But my record levels are spot on, why does the play back lose so many db's?

Please help!
 
I have Sonar now, used to use ProAudio9. In PA 9, I noticed that the playback meters were extremely inaccurate. Not much I could do.
Are the volumes noticably different audio-wise, or just visually?
 
Nah, I'm afraid the levels are way down, I have to "normalise" the track to bring them back up to something like 0 db. And thats no good, it changes the audio, amplifies the noise as well.

I'm at a loss to understand why the levels on playback are so low.
 
You plug your mic straight into the" line in" on the sb?? That a big no-no :D

Have you tried pluging the mic into the "mic in" instead??

I really think your problem could come from not having a preamp to turn the weak mic signal into a stronger line level signal.

Try the mic in: it has a built-in preamp of poor quality, but it should at least get you louder than the "line in"
 
Are you possibly re-recording what's playing back onto the new track along with the new stuff? This could cause destrutcive interference between the two waveforms and lead to an apparent volume drop; it would also sound kind of thin and lifeless.
 
AlChuck, It certainly sounds "thin and lifeless" but its hard to tell because the levels are so low. I am recording in overwrite mode, surely that should sort it? Or is there anything else you can suggest?

Db51, the mic is plugged into the Live! front panel and is Mic in 2 pre-amp selected/enabled. Thats not the problem, otherwise the recording levels would be affected. As it is, the recording levels are perfection, its just on playback that I am losing sooooooo much signal.:confused:
 
Overwrite mode wouldn't matter if the pre-recorded tracks were bleeding back into the new one...

Check and see if the "What U Hear" recording source is enabled in the Windows mixer... if so everything that you are hearing (new sources and playback of exisitng tracks) is routed to the new track.

If you're not sure how to use the Windows mixer, check this out:

http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Lessons/WindowsMixer.htm
 
Bloody hell, It is my week for having weird problems in cw. Check out my other thread:
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=41505

Anyway, I have fallen foul of the dreaded windows mixer so many times now, I always look there first, second and third time! Must be the cause of most postings by newbies (and not so newbies) in this forum.

Anyway, I also checked out the s/blaster mixer and that was fine, did some recordings last night and everything was fine. All levels were up though, incl Midi. I'll put it down to the dreaded recording gremlins.;)

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
 
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