DI-gain & Re-amping question

[noarin]

Hey guys,
When tracking DI tracks, do you add input gain on your interface to make it a stronger signal?
or do you keep the gain on your interface at 0?
It does make a difference of course, but what is your preference?
especially with regards to re-amping.

so basicly: first wave form or second wave form as a DI track for re-amping??

 

[Fox Mulder]

The second one, enough said.

 

[::XeS::]

What is 0 on your interface? If I set my preamp at 0 I have no signal.
I set my preamp to have a decent signal in my daw (-5dB/-3dB) and no clipping.

 

[Mutant]

The purpose of a DI box is to get a proper impedance signal from your guitar to your microphone preAMPLIFIER.

So yes you have to amplify it for it to sound good when reamped.

 

[noarin]

cool,


@xes
if I put my knob on the firepod all the way to the left (is what I call 0) then I get the 1st waveform. It's actually -10 all the way to the left and +30 all the way to the right.. If I turn up the knob a bit to about +5 you get the second waveform.

so I'd best keep it around -5/-3 as long as it's not clipping?

My firepod's instr input (when at -10) has a higher output than my countryman DI at -10. is that a problem or bad thing?

 

[Tachy]

Yes, set up you preamp gain until you have -5, -3 peak level like Xes said

 

[noarin]

so the second waveform is basically alright then?
thanks mate!

 

[Sinister Mephisto]

First waveform will sound like shiiiiiiiit.

 

[noarin]

glad to hear. Thanks for your replies guys, as I have been using the first waveform for a while. Never will again

2nd waveform = also better with amp sims then? fatter? fuller?

 

[Mutant]

2nd waveform = also better with amp sims then? fatter? fuller?

Yes

 

[noarin]

excellent, thanks

one more thing I'd like to known: you guys talk about recording the DIs at the level that the peak is at -3. Where can you see that -3? I'm using cubase SX2.

So basically it's recommended to record at peak -3 and NOT record the signal at the level that is closest to clipping, but not clipping? Is this the same for Amp Sims?

 

[Metaltastic]

Well ideally you want the signal to be as close to clipping without clipping, it's just that DI's are so ridiculously dynamic it's good to play it safe and go for -3 (and if you really need more level, you can just raise the output fader of the DI signal slightly when sending it out to the re-amp box). And in Cubase, there should be a way to monitor the input, I assume it shows up on the standard meter of the track, but if not, try F3 for the mixer maybe?

 

[noarin]

ahh awesome. Thanks for the info and I found it in the mixer (f3)!
wow- it's ridiculous how much better my tone is through amp sims with the added gain this way :| ! thanks a lot guys

quick try through 8505:
http://stud.hro.nl/0762457/8505.mp3

I used to dislike the 8505, but this clip is with all the knobs in the middle, haha, this is great! I guess the 8505 is very dependent on proper input gain!

edit: this is with the countryman 85! I love it!