Recording Voiceover in 9 Pro - increasing gain...

pwagner3 wrote on 5/17/2010, 8:08 PM
I am trying for the first time to record voiceover in Vegas. I have a new little USB studio mic, SAMSON C01U, and the original recordings have such a very small signal that I am sure I must be missing something.

Of course I can increase the track vol and even add the volume plug-in, but I want to increase the level of that original track, as I am recording it?

Any suggestions?

Comments

farss wrote on 5/17/2010, 8:13 PM
"Of course I can increase the track vol and even add the volume plug-in, but I want to increase the level of that original track, as I am recording it?"

Unfortunately the mic itself does the analog to digital conversion. All Vegas does is put the data stream from the mic into a file. In that scenario it's irrelevant if gain is added by some means to the incoming data or after it is recorded. Neither are good options, much better to get the levels rough;y correct before the analog to digital conversion.

Your best option would seem to be to get the mic closer to the sound source.

Bob.

pmooney wrote on 5/17/2010, 8:20 PM
Check your computer's mixer settings, and the hardware settings on your sound card (Control Panel). I've used a USB mike before and I got pretty decent levels out of it (they can clip, too). Simply plugging it in might not be enough to optimize it.
John Gordon wrote on 5/18/2010, 11:20 AM
agreed. there should be a checkbox or setting in the soundcard panel or mixer to boost the mic input., make sure the record slider is up as well in sound properties.
richard-amirault wrote on 5/18/2010, 1:49 PM
make sure the record slider is up as well in sound properties.

That would be the first thing I would check. Also, for some reason, Windows sometimes re-sets the settings on the (normal) mic input. It may be doing the same with your USB mic.

I noticed that after I went into the audio properties for recording and selected my computer mic .. even went into "advanced" and raised the level to maximum. When I closed out the box, then re-opened it (even right away) the slder was re-set to it's previous setting.

There was a procedure that I found on the web to fix this .. but, sorry, I don't remember what it was, or where I found it.