tracking levels ?

[::XeS::]

I've just done a test... I recorded 2 bass tracks, one at -17dB and one at -5dB. The first one seems more clean and defined, but that level is so looow.
There is lot of headroom, but actually it's very uncomfortable to work this way...but probably if you have all the instruments recorded at these levels, it doesn't change at all the way you work.
One problem could be the DAW's meter, because the movements at low levels are less noticeable

 

[exoslime]

THANK you, that was very interesting to read, and made sense to me, so i have re-set my preamp gains now.

previously, i was tracking as hot as possible without clipping,
on my mackie onyx...
i set the gain to about +7db
that results that the tracks in the DAW are about -3db - -5db

for double tracking,i needed to turn the group fader very much downwards to recieved the desired volume.

now, after resetting the preamp, the gain on my channels is set to 0db - max +2db (peaks)

that results that the audio-wavs in the daw are now about -15db - -20db

at the end, the group fader is in a more usual position, still at -5db setting, but fine.
and i think the sound is now more open...

but i have one question, i have recorded some guitar parts with the guitar volume knob turned down to 3 (it was necessary to achieve a certain sound) now on the tracked di, the waveform is hardly visible.
what to do now when reamping??.. could this be an issue, or is it better to have the di´s tracked much hotter (daw level -3db - -6db)

cheers
chris

PS: after reading the manual of the onyx again, they also suggest to set the gain on the mixer to 0db max...

 

[::XeS::]

No...if a part in a song need the volume knob turned to 3, because you need that sound, it's a part of the guitar's performance so it's good.

 

[exoslime]

No...if a part in a song need the volume knob turned to 3, because you need that sound, it's a part of the guitar's performance so it's good.

ok, thanks

yeah, but for later reamping wouldnt it be better to have a higher level?? because of the noise/hum stuff?

i have to check the di recording tonight at home, but i think the level in the daw is about -40db..

 

[AudioGeekZine]

I haven't tried this, what are your thoughts on what would sound better?
voice recorded to peak @ -1 dBfs
voice recorded to peak @ -18 dBfs normalized to -1 dBfs


I think I'm gonna have to do some tests. I'll definitely be talking about this in a future podcast.

 

[AudioGeekZine]

I posted this last night on another forum.

[rant on tracking levels]
Most people track way too hot in digital. 0dBFS (digital peaklevel) = +18dBu (analog peak). If you recorded that hot to tape you'd burn a hole through it!
Something that a lot of people do not understand that most gear is designed to operate optimally just around 0dBVU = +4dBu = -14dB (digital peak level, provided that the converter is calibrated to -18) Most people track just before 0, overdriving the mic pre and converter the whole time, at least it's not clipping right? Hello! don't forget about headroom!
Yeah there's tons of headroom ITB, as long as you don't use it up in the recording! Plugins clip easy.

Next time you hear someone say you need to use all the bits, slap them in the face and kick them in the nads.
[/rant]

 

[James Murphy]

pffff

 

[viggen666]

I posted this last night on another forum.

[rant on tracking levels]
Most people track way too hot in digital. 0dBFS (digital peaklevel) = +18dBu (analog peak). If you recorded that hot to tape you'd burn a hole through it!
Something that a lot of people do not understand that most gear is designed to operate optimally just around 0dBVU = +4dBu = -14dB (digital peak level, provided that the converter is calibrated to -18) Most people track just before 0, overdriving the mic pre and converter the whole time, at least it's not clipping right? Hello! don't forget about headroom!
Yeah there's tons of headroom ITB, as long as you don't use it up in the recording! Plugins clip easy.

Next time you hear someone say you need to use all the bits, slap them in the face and kick them in the nads.
[/rant]

What headroom exactly ? if there isn't any signal above a certain level you won't need extra headroom, after all there is nothing there.

don't see a good explanation here why the plugins would distort either, they should be working at 32bit floating like the DAW program, so unlimited distortion.

the preamp and convertor getting strained too much sounds valable, but can we measure how a convertor reacts differently to a hot signal ? it should stay sparkling clean thru it's entire dynamic range if it's designed well.

 

[Via Noctis]

Weird. I just checked my manual for my presonus firestudio for the calibration this is what it said.

Red / Clip (􀵇0.5 dBu) ........................................................................... +10 dBu (0 dBFS)
Yellow (􀵇0.5 dBu) ................................................................................. +4 dBu (-6 dBFS)
Green (􀵇0.5 dBu) ................................................................................. -8 dBu (-18 dBFS)
Green (􀵇0.5 dBu) ............................................................................... -30 dBu (-40 dBFS)