Sep 01, 2008 01:38 pm Midi is the Debil !
level question
Posted on Sep 01, 2008 10:44 am
Dematrix
http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member Since: Nov 27, 2007
Im using EZDrummer and i have the overall "midi" track level, and the level of the individual drums eg" kick, snare etc.
what im wondering is, where should the overall level of the midi track be? at 0.00? or -3 or -4db?
thing is, i still have the seperate drum tracks(kick, snare) so i can drop the levels.
so i guess, the overall midi level needs to be set right for an optimal sound.
hope i explained all that properly.
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Sep 01, 2008 01:49 pm The midi levels shouldn't really matter, there is no audio in the midi data only volume/velocity levels to be sent to EZ etc. What does matter is that the audio output of EZ is below 0dB, and the prefered level should be about -12dB to -6dB for the individual tracks.
Dan
Sep 01, 2008 07:37 pm Deon, I generally set the midi track level itself to approx 0:00 and leave it at that. I will sometimes use that for automation but most times I get the sound I want and then archive the midi track and send the synthes output to an audio track were levels can be adjusted if needed.
Sep 01, 2008 08:59 pm ok cool.
Hey olddog. this bit still kinda confuses me. i have done a bit of reading on it but anyway maybe you or someone can set me straightish.
my recording levels(mono in) for say guitars were at -12.5db. at 24bit.
are you saying that my actual levels, now in the software(mixer) should stay as close to that as possible whilst mixing? Or do i keep them under -4db and then compress and limit them to -0.00 before mixdown?
or is it the other way round... i keep them as you say, and then get the level to say -4db. before mixdown, and then to maybe -3db in harbal?
Or am i going for a bigger level as a final result??
i read some stuff here on it, but still a widdle hazy on this bit.
Me being compulsive/obsessive, i gotta know how, why, when, so i know im doing it right etc.
i tell ya something though, once i know this bit for sure, this song is gonna sound sweet when done. already sounds good with just a bit of eq.
cheers Deon.
Sep 02, 2008 12:28 am Odds are as you begin mixing you'll be lowering the level of most of the tracks further, but if you need to boost the level there's nothing wrong with that. I usually mix shooting for a master buss level of -6dB. Some shoot for -12dB or even lower, others try to peak just under 0dB and just pull the master buss slider down if needed. It just gives you some extra headroom and I think it gives you a cleaner mix when you begin the "mastering" phase, which is where you'll bring it up close to 0dB. I generally have my maximizer set to -.03dB and bring the threshold down just enough that I still have some meter movement going on, but it's still plenty loud. :)
I'm certainly no expert, that's just the way I do it, others have different methods.
Dan
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