which volume level in my signal chain can i cut to stamp out distortion?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jugalo180
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jugalo180

jugalo180

www.moneyistherecipe.com
i have to admit that i was testing the mxl v67 out pretty close. the meter is peaked out on the mixer, which brings me to this question. at which part in the chain should i adjust the recording volume? example,
- mixer-
1.level knob
2.low, mid, high eq knobs
3.gain knob
4.main mix knob
5.phones(my output to the soundcard via 1/4inch adapter)knob
- computer-

6.soundcard's(analog in from the mixer)virtual slider


that is the order of the signal flow. i once read that you want to keep as much of the signal information as possible, but due to the distortion which knob in the signal flow would i have to cut back on, yet, retaining optimum quality?
 
Once the preamp level is set for the mic, everything past that point is unity gain, that is maintaining line level all the way to the recorder. In the example you laid out, the mic to mixer, the gain (or trim) nob is your first adjustment to set preamp gain. You would set the channel fader to 0 which on most mixers is in the center of its travel. This is unity and there's neither cut or gain. With the channel and mains faders at unity, adjust the trim on the mic pre till the loudest peaks reach 0. You should hear no distortion if you can monitor from the board at this point. Then if you're driving the soundcard (as it sounds like you are) from the main outs of the mixer, make sure you're matched there. Mixers and soundcards can operate on two different level standards, -10 which is prosumer and +4 which is the level that pro gear runs at. If the output of the mixer is -10, look at your soundcard specs/options and make sure it's set to operate at the same level. Example would be, I have a Mackie 1202 and the outputs on the mains can be changed with a switch from -10 to +4 and my MOTU 2408mkII's analog ins and outs can be configured for either as well so to use them together, I have to match.
Now looking at the levels in your software mixer, 0dBFS (OdB Full Scale) means 0dBFS and should never be exceeded or it sounds like ass.
 
If the output of the mixer is -10, look at your soundcard specs/options and make sure

i have a soundblaster audigy, i don't think i have those configurations. i'll have a better card shortly, i'm about to get the lynx one. is there a way to work around the sound blaster's handicap? i have a low cut button on every channel of my mixer. the channel that my mic is on, should i use it? what is it's purpose?
 
when adjusting levels, i find the various level settings to be somewhat of a double-edged sword. boosting earlier in the chain (closer to source) adds more detail, but creates more distortion. boosting later seems to add less distortion (per volume), but not do much for the actual quality of the sound i'm getting. i usually end up setting everything at 50%, listening to what i'm getting, and very conservatively cutting/boosting until i get what i want, or at least, the best it looks like i'm going to get. i test at roughly the peaks in the song to be recorded to make sure that they're not clipping at the soundcard, then i lay it all down. mind you, i'm using relatively cheap equipment (audix om3 mics, behringer mixer, SB live soundcard), and i suspect i could get a lot more of what i want by getting condensor mics or a mixer with cleaner pres, but that's what i'm stuck with for now.
 
What you are talking about here is gain staging - which simply refers to the setting of appropriate levels for each stage in the signal chain....


For mic'd sources, place the mic in the appropriate position for the instrument/vocal you're trying to track.

Adjust your preamp output (if any) to 0 Db.

Adjust the input level until the meters read an average of 0 Db on the meters -- this means that your preamp is now putting out a signal level at its rated nominal value....

You send this to your recorder and that's it.... your recording meters will likely register somewhere around -15 Db or so (depending on the meter calibration) - leaving you plenty of headroom for dynamics.

If you hear distortion even though the preamp is set properly, then very likely your sound source is overloading your mic electronics and you can engage the mic pad that most condensers have (it's very unlikely that you'll overload a dynamic mic!)



For direct sources, it's the same as above except that you should be setting the output level of your instrument (presumably keyboards or a sampler of some sort) to somewhere between 3/4 quarters and full output (depending on where you hear less noise) and then adjust the preamp settings as indicated above.


The whole idea behind gain staging is that you set the gain evenly throughout the chain so that no one input or output is being underused or overloaded (which will really fuck-up your headroom - not to mention add noise and distortion - if you get it wrong...!)
 
cool blue bear

that is some food for thought. thanx again as usual.
 
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