How HOT you track your guitar DIs?

[texisthebest]

How HOT you track your guitar DIs?

I have noticed that the hotter I record (without digital clip) the less noise I get.

¿Is there any problem if I track something like -1.0db absolute peak playing open chords really hard (without digital clip)?

I just want to know your opinions

 

[botus99]

If you have a preamp that colors/saturates the signal, tracking your DI hot will make it less realistic (adding harmonics, squashing transients, etc). Actually, if it's colored at all, consider using a more transparent preamp. You want to track it in the most transparent way possible, and chances are that the "as hot as it will go" method will yield subpar results. Track where your HIGHEST peaks hit -6dbfs, you'll probably be averaging between -18db and -12db if you look on a VU meter. That's how I do things.

Actually, long story short, get a VU meter plugin and use that to calibrate your DI level. My DI tracks have sounded much more natural since I started that practice

 

[The-Zeronaut]

0 on a VU meter (-18dbfs) average

 

[mharwood]

Actually, long story short, get a VU meter plugin and use that to calibrate your DI level. My DI tracks have sounded much more natural since I started that practice

This is what I do for anything I track. I slap some sort of metering plugin on Reaper's input FX and aim for an RMS level of -16dBfs (chosen because the outputs of my Focusrite Saffire Pro40 run @ -16dBfs = 0dBu). Occasionally I'll even back off of that a little (usually to -18dBfs) if I'm recording something really dynamic and I'm getting uncomfortably close to clipping on the transients.

 

[texisthebest]

Thank you for your fast answer bonus99!
You're right, here I put more information.

I´m using a StudioProyects VTB1 preamp in the solid state option (no colour)
only to put the output down because my guitar active pickups have a lot of gain (Seymour Duncan Blackout Metal) and I need to down the output of the preamp to prevent clips in my daw.

-6db peak sounds good, maybe I try like this.
But I have found some DIs here (in this forum, from Ola, Jaymz, etc..) are near to clipping when not already clipping and sound great so that's why I make this question.

 

[texisthebest]

Track where your HIGHEST peaks hit -6dbfs, you'll probably be averaging between -18db and -12db if you look on a VU meter.

Actually, long story short, get a VU meter plugin and use that to calibrate your DI level. My DI tracks have sounded much more natural since I started that practice

I'm already using Satson channel and VUMTDuo for this.
I was tracking at -18db without passing over the 0 "analog" (-18dbS).
Maybe I can push it a little more like you say but with no peaks over -6dbs.

 

[botus99]

Thank you for your fast answer bonus99!
You're right, here I put more information.

I´m using a StudioProyects VTB1 preamp in the solid state option (no colour)
only to put the output down because my guitar active pickups have a lot of gain (Seymour Duncan Blackout Metal) and I need to down the output of the preamp to prevent clips in my daw.

-6db peak sounds good, maybe I try like this.
But I have found some DIs here (in this forum, from Ola, Jaymz, etc..) are near to clipping when not already clipping and sound great so that's why I make this question.

You're welcome brother Concerning DI's from others that are closer to 0dbfs, keep in mind the more you track DI's of yourself, the more you can cater to your own tastes and playing style. They probably CHOSE to make their DI's that hot for a specific reason. Maybe they normalized the DI's after recording, who knows haha. Just like anything else in audio, there are no rules, if it sounds good then it is good, etc...

BUT the 0VU/-18dbfs thing is a GREAT starting point for getting transparent DI's. If you want to dirty up or muffle the sound creatively with some preamp saturation, nothing is stopping you Trust your ears and have fun

 

[LBTM]

When I'm tracking with active pickups and they seem to distort I engage the pad on my interface and slightly turn up the preamp. Active pickups are stupid.

 

[Genius Gone Insane]

Sort of OT: I remember the first time I compared a Redeye DI to a Digidesign DI through the same setup. I nearly spit out my coffee. My reamps were forever improved. Use a good DI.

 

[texisthebest]

Thank you guys for your opinions.

0 on a VU meter (-18dbfs) average

Average is the key word, I was using -18dBS as the highest peak.

Maybe they normalized the DI's after recording, who knows haha. (...) Trust your ears and have fun

Yes, maybe is this but whatever, you're right, I´ll work more on it.

Active pickups are stupid.

I try not to think this because it was expensive haha

Use a good DI.

Totaly agree but no money for nothing better by now

 

[LBTM]

I try not to think this because it was expensive haha

well, actually what i don't like about them is that they usually have a high output that becomes a problem because it distorts and that they use batteries. otherwise they're great, but i find it more versatile to use medium output passives. you can also build a small pedal with a resistor in it to lower the output before hitting the interface, which is kinda easy.

 

[Fredrik-Ablaze]

Engl Invader direct out into an avalon DI feeding my Motu converters, i turn it up so that the meter turns yellow when digging in really hard, then it won't clip during tracking.

80% of the time I dont end up bothering with reamping though.

I guess I will start going down a similar route with my Kemper now, but using the spdif instead

 

[texisthebest]

I have found this interesting article.
http://dbzeebee.blogspot.ca/2009/10/digital-recording-levels-rule-of-thumb.html

"Recording levels on a track averaging about -18dBFS.
It doesn't really matter if this average floats down as low as, for example -21dBFS or up to -15dBFS.
Avoid any peaks going higher than -6dBFS."

Maybe you agree with it.

 

[abt]

I always track way hotter than most because I think most converters sound better when used that way. This can also help if you have a noise floor that you're trying to get away from. I then use a trim plug on the track to bring it back down to the -18dbfs range.

 

[Sethis]

As long as it doesn't clip I'm fine with it. But I usually don't let it rise above -8db, I think it's better to have some headroom just to be sure nothing goes wrong. Even more if you track some kind of instrument with crazy/unpredictable peaks like slap bass.

 

[ATLA]

stupid short question.. say you track your d.i.s at -18dbfs average and then add your amp sim.. are you trimming the outputs of the amp/cab sim to keep it at an average of -18dbfs?

 

[indecizo]

stupid short question.. say you track your d.i.s at -18dbfs average and then add your amp sim.. are you trimming the outputs of the amp/cab sim to keep it at an average of -18dbfs?

Yes, the final tone is peaking arround that.

 

[ATLA]

thanks!

 

[Klosure]

Ive had a look at professinally tracked dis used for reamping and they are clipping and everything occasionally and you can hear it. Seems to help attack. I realise we worry about stuff like that when really just being concerned with a good balance is far more important.

 

[Fbarre]

I don't get why the level matters at all as long as it's not clipping. What's the difference between having peaks at -18dbfs and -6dbfs? Not only for DIs but for recording in general.