When tracking DI guitars for reamping...

[Eschatologist]

...how hot should they be and where should they be peaking? Is it all fine just as long as they're not clipping going to disc, or should I be leaving more headroom? Currently using EMGs straight in to my Fireface 400, DI tracks are peaking around -2.0, but never clipping. Am I driving 'em too hard?

 

[colonel kurtz]

i personally prefer to leave a little more headroom than that, but you should be fine

 

[Metaltastic]

I can't see why you wouldn't want them as hot as possible - especially because it'll be a more natural transfer back out to the amp when reamping. Just beat the fucking shit out of your strings when setting levels, set it as hot as possible without clipping on those hits, and voila! Just like setting the levels for anything else.

 

[Eschatologist]

I can't see why you wouldn't want them as hot as possible - especially because it'll be a more natural transfer back out to the amp when reamping. Just beat the fucking shit out of your strings when setting levels, set it as hot as possible without clipping on those hits, and voila! Just like setting the levels for anything else.

Yeah, done that and definitely no clipping. I figured it would be better to keep levels as high as possible without overs to the amp, just so no gain is lost...but I thought I would check anyways. Seems to work ok so far.

 

[006]

I try to get them to peak around at least -3dB. If I can I try to get it closer to 0. You want it to be as hot as possible coming in without any clipping, there isn't a real reason to have a good amount of headroom on them. This will give you the most accurate level going back out to the amp.

~006

 

[devouredremains]

I try to get them to peak around at least -3dB. If I can I try to get it closer to 0. You want it to be as hot as possible coming in without any clipping, there isn't a real reason to have a good amount of headroom on them. This will give you the most accurate level going back out to the amp.

~006

+1

Not to mention the lowest possible S/N ratio possible with your setup.

 

[006]

Exactly.

~006

 

[pifos_2]

From http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/production-tips/290714-preparing-your-tracks-reamping-guide.html

"""""""""""""""""""
Try setting your preamp's gain so that the absolute loudest part of the guitar's signal is peaking at about -3 to -4dB below the zero mark on your record meter. You're recording at 24 bit, so you have plenty of room before noise sets in. Don't try to get the level to zero, it'll cause you grief with overs. A dry guitar is very,very dynamic & unpredictable. -3 to -4 will work great.
"""""""""""""""""""

 

[Soundlurker]

IMO, a few dbs more headroom isn't as important as making sure the di isn't clipping. Setting pre levels for di is very tricky as different notes have different volume even if you play them the same way. The soft limiter on my Emu 1616m is very cool, though and many times it has saved me from clipping without affecting the sound too much.