distortion problems..help!

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Member Since: Oct 04, 2011

Hello. I'm having a major problem with distortion while recording layers of vocals. When I'm recording a singer it sounds great when it's just one channel but when I start to add layer of vocal recording on top of the lead vocals I start to hear distortion. the more layers I put on the more distortion I hear. Im using a blue spark mic and a $100 mic preamp. can someone help me?

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 05, 2011 07:50 pm

So, you hear this distortion on playback? Are you summing the mix right...analog and digital sums kind of differently (OK, you technical geeks don't jump on me yet) for every new track on digital the overall level seems to add on, whereas with old school analog recording it seems to just jump into the party and not clip...

With that said, can you pull back the levels (of all of them) and get rid of the distortion? Maybe you simply need to do that as you add tracks.

OK, technical geeks jump in at will now.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 05, 2011 07:52 pm

Oh, and by the way, welcome to HRC, enjoy the party. :-)

Uh, at least one more time . . .
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2007


Oct 05, 2011 11:36 pm

What levels are you recording the individual takes at? I've layered vocals and never had a problem--it sounds like you're recording way too hot. It would be nice to be using a $500.00 (or more, way more) pre, but you still should be able to pile on the vocals without experiencing distortion. It's all about the levels, and gain matching.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Oct 08, 2011 01:26 am

keep in mind when you stack tracks, you have to lower ALL of them to create more "headroom".....try reducing all vocals a bit when playing them back...if you add sound on sound on sound on sound, you'll overdrive the master bus. aka what Db said...

Member
Since: Oct 18, 2011


Oct 18, 2011 11:24 am

Have you tried listening to 1 recorded vocal at the same level as a number of vocals added together?
If you don't hear distortion in the 1 vocal but you do in the multiple vocals then it could be the summing.

G

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