Recording volume and distortion? questions.....
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Posted on Mar 29, 2005 10:03 pm
RollnROCK89i
Member Since: Mar 06, 2005
Hey, I have been recording as follows:
Behringer xm8500 mic -> Behringer UB1202 mixer -> M-Audio 2496 soundcard -> audacity recording program.
The problem i've been having is that I can't get a loud enough volume, or even a medium volume without the sound getting distorted. Today I was trying to record my bands bass player and it was ethier the recorded track was very quiet, or if we turned up his playing volume, the recorded track would get distorted.
How can I get a loud track recorded that is not distorted? Could it possibly be my mic? It was only $20... Would getting something like a sm57 be able to record at a louder volume without distorting? Any other possible ideas? Thanks.
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Mar 30, 2005 02:18 am I record at quite quiet levels since i dont have an 8 track outboard compressor. I just increase the volume in cubase.
Adding a compressor plug in could help by evening out the sound so little peaks wont clip, also try rolling of the low end on the bass track with an eq, most norm. speakers cant handle a whole lotta bass.
It could also be clipping in the program, try turning your master fader down, and instead turn up the speakers. works for me.
Mar 30, 2005 12:22 pm yupyup!!!
after tracking, all your tracks might be peakin' nice and hot, but even everything playin' as loud as it can, it's not accually 'loud' (think RMS)
this is where mixing comes in...you can compress the tracks and make everything sit tighter and more up front.
then you can even compress the whole song so the soft parts are still 'loud' and the loud parts are LOUD...
ya gotta practice this, my recomendation would to be crank it up on your're monitors while mixing, then after eq and effects are pretty close, start compressing to bring things up.
peace
wyd
Mar 30, 2005 01:45 pm Ah, i think I understand, although I don't know how to do all of that. Is there a program I can buy and do all of that in? Any good articles on doing of that too? Thanks.
Mar 30, 2005 02:46 pm search compression here, and i'm sure there's articles here on it....as for programs there's a few really nice priced recording apps out there, but i can't think of any names (i'm sure someone will chime in)...also if you're recording app supports VST or DX plugins, there's TONS of free stuff out there to download.
peace
wyd
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Mar 30, 2005 07:21 pm go to Google.com and type in something like "VST plugin compressor" and you'll come across literally hundreds of plugins that you can use with Audacity. Most of them come with installation instructions. There's really nothing to installing a VST plugin.
There's an article here at HRC that will explain what compression does and how to use it. Here ya go:
www.homerecordingconnecti...story&id=84
There's another link within that article that'll explain the controls on a compressor and what they do.
Mar 30, 2005 07:24 pm Thanks alot, I'll check those out.
Mar 31, 2005 01:18 am I found one I would like to try: www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-compressor.php
but i can't get it to work. I take the .dll file and put it in the Plug-Ins file under audacity, but it won't show up under the effects tab. Same thing with another one that I tried, how do I get audacity to be able to use it? Thanks.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 31, 2005 09:08 pm I think with Audacity you need to register the .dll file. There should be an option in their tools menu to let you do that.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Mar 31, 2005 09:26 pm Hey! that's the same compressor that I've been using lately. I really like that one, its very warm and kinda vintage sounding in a way. Maybe its just the name and the brown skin...
I like that Classic Series a lot.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Mar 31, 2005 09:32 pm Oh, I'm downloading Audacity now and it says that the VST enabler is a seperate download.
audacity.sourceforge.net/download/windows
Their server seems to be slow as molasses for me tho
Apr 01, 2005 02:06 am Thanks alot, it works now. Definetly like this compressor, think i'll try some of their other products. Thanks again.
