how do adjust Output and gain
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Posted on Jun 16, 2006 01:25 pm
jbyn
Member Since: Jun 12, 2006
I understand that Adjusting the volume of the output and gain and recording levels is something that is unique to everyone but.... I have no clue where to start. I have cool edit. a preamp with Output and gain adjusters, +20db button, and aphase reverse button. Could someone please give me like instuctions on how i can go about making my vocals at just the right volume. IN like simple to follow step by step instructions???
Thank you
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TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Jun 16, 2006 02:04 pm Basically, go through your entire signal chain from microphone to preamp to sound card to recording software back to sound card to monitors...now, everywhere that there's a gain adjustment, adjust it so that you get a strong signal but don't clip.
The goal is to get a strong signal at each step of the way. Too strong and it will distort so you need to find that threshold for each gain stage in your setup.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Jun 16, 2006 02:07 pm * edit * Tad's way is much quicker. Lenthy explain follows * pjk
welcome aboard, there jbyn.
You're looking for gain staging, and without a good grasp of what it is, and what it's for, will leave anyone baffled.
Step 1. The mic. This is pretty easy to understand, and I'm sure you are already familiar with it's use. I will say, though that a mic puts out mic level signal: very small. This needs to be bumped up to line level, so other stuff can use it.
Step 2. The preamp. This step is the first level of gain staging. The small mic level signal needs to be bumped up to line level, but the preamp can do this in a variable amount. kind of like a volume, but different. The gain (or trim) knob on a preamp (or on a mixer channel) sets this amount of increase.
Normally, the higher the input gain, the better. This will give you more 'signal to noise' (also known as SNR) ratio. This means there's more signal, than there is noise (like hiss, or hum in the background). If you set the gain low, then you'll have more noise in the signal, which will be amplified later in the signal chain. This is not good.
If you have a very clean environment, and very quiet mic and preamp, then you can set the gain lower, to avoid clipping. But this is always a 'figure it out' step of every session. You may get quicker as time goes by, but it must always be checked before recording.
To set preamp gain: plug your mic into the preamp, and ensure you can receive signal. Have someone (usually the singer) sing into the mic at the loudest level they plan to record at. When they are making the signal, watch the clip indicator light. If there is no clip light, turn up the gain until there is. If there is clip light, then turn down the gain until it just barely comes on at all. Usually, this clip light is to indicate that you're still under clipping, maybe 10 or 5 db short. Something like that.
Using 24bit recording on your soundcard can give you more headroom later with your track, so I turn down the gain a little more. You can make it back up again in the PC, as there's more bits to work with. If you're using an external hardware compressor, then you have a little more protection before your analog to digital conversion (ADC), because compressors clamp down a little on the incoming signal, if it's hotter than the rest of the signal.
Once this gain is set, leave it alone. You will not be changing any volume with this setting.
Step 3. EQ (if equiped) you can set EQ on your preamp, or mixer channel to boost signal, but I don't. I wouldn't recommend it unless you have a good need, like for live work, or you can't use an EQ later. PCs have much better EQs than most mixers or low-cost preamps, so leave the EQ flat.
Step 4. The Fader. This part controls how much cut or boost is added to the track in question. This is a good idea to leave at 0db (called unity gain) unless you've other tracks to compare it to. You would then adjust the faders so all tracks are happy with each other. When they're all happy, then we can move along to the next steps.
Steps 5, 6, 7, etc. Aux1, Aux 2, Inserts (before the fader), subs, mains, etc. These are all pretty similar to the fader. Set the output of 1 stage so that it's fairly hot, but not clipping the input of the next stage. After it gets sent through the stage, set it's output hot enough, but not clipping the next stage. This follows along all the way through, until you get to the last stage, which is usually your headphones, your monitors, or some sort of speaker system, like a PA or whatever. These last ones get turned up as a volume to suit it's application.
HTH.
( no spell checking involved, as it's kinda long )
btw: i'm no expert, i've just done this a few times. certainly there are probably better explainations to this.
Jun 17, 2006 03:26 am wow, awsome answer there! i would add to setp 4 is also where you make sure your master buss (stereo main out) isn't maxing out...these are harder to hear than the 'dry track clipping'.....when you add a bunch of tracks to become just two, it's called "summing"....so it's quite literal what's gooin' on. if you have all your tracks pretty loud, you'll run outta headroom (the area between your noizefloor and clipping) pretty quick.
when tracking, i always leave all faders at unity except the earliest gain stage (usually preamp aka trim aka gain)....i try to keep the peaks at around -12db this is usually where the green will become yellow on most ummmm i'm havin' a brain fart...meters, yes.
also, i mix to -6db for my master meter...this will leave the computer room to make it's proper calculations, and besides, you'll raise the overall level later in mastering.
GeoffSM7b the Chuck Noris of Mic'sContributor
Since: Jun 20, 2002
Jun 17, 2006 03:27 am wyd check the chat room
jbynMember
Since: Jun 12, 2006
Jun 17, 2006 12:30 pm Thank you very much for your help. You guys are awsome, and seem to know what your talking about. I dont know how you learn all this stuff..... But thanks im going to go practice that.
Jun 18, 2006 04:27 am "seem" beein' the key word here! hehe j/k
yeah gain staging is HANDS down in my not so humble opinion the best 'quality booster' to your recordings...the trick to remember is there are no right or wrong settings...you just gotta be able to step back and say to yourself 'what does this song really need?' it's really really really really really really really really really really really hard to keep that kind of perspective if you write, record, mix, and master a project. when you catch yourself bobbin' your head because the song is rockin', THAT is exactly the point when you need to realize you're loosing perspective and gettin' too into it. maintaining objectivity is a *****.
cheers
wyd
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jun 18, 2006 02:41 pm Just remember when dong gain staging. The loudest or highest gain setting needs to be the one at the beggining of the sginal chain. Then each stage should by theory be reducing slightly as you go. The exception may be in the software you record with, there may be times you will need the digital gain to make up for weak signals.
