Aug 17, 2005 12:14 pm The low cut rolls off the frequencies below a certain threshold (usually 100hz), it helps reduce rumble and unwanted bottom end that might clash with the bass, kick drum or low end of cello or what have you. I pretty much always record anything that doesn't have a necessary low bass content with the low cut on, either on the mic or the mixer, largely as the EQ on my mixer is better than in my computer imo. You can also get a better signal, a clearer definition of what it is that you want to keep because the low end will be part of the percieved volume as it hits the recorder, reduce that and you have more 'space' so to speak. With tape you might have some slightly different issues (it's been to long since i recorded to tape and i knew a lot less then), so my advice is to play with it and decide what you like, that's usually the best method with most sound things, a lot of it's down to taste.
The gain on the mixer and recorder question you also need to play with, the balance between the two (and with your mics if they have a -10dB pad, which reduces the volume by 10dB - useful when you're recording very loud sources) is called gain staging. Essentially you need to find the optimum performance from each piece of gear, for example: some pres work much better when they're driven a little, meaning that you may have to have your mixer gain fairly loud with the recorder less so (otherwise you'd be too much in the red on the meters and be causing distortion) ..it's really a case of getting to know your gear, this can take a while, but it's totally worth it, you'll get far better results than just plugging in and playing..and it's fun and you get a real sense of achievement from the learning.
As for recording your own voice, it's more playing around, seeing what you like and what you don't, recording yourself menas a fair amount of running around: recording a small example for yourself for level and sound, then heading back and trying again until you're happy with the volume to tape and the sound that you have (and what else the mic is picking up that you don't want on the recording).
I'd basically start flat if i were you and work from there, but take reglar breaks so your perception doesn't fly out the window, the human ear gets tired of high frequency stuff in particular after a time and without knowing that you can end up compensating, putting up the treble and regretting it later after you've rested your ears. Have fun!