Subject:recording levels

Posted by: kevinsm

Date:9/8/2004 8:33:54 AM

I'm using SF 6.0 w/ a Creative Sound Blaster MP3+ 5.1 for recording mixes in a dj setup. I've got my turntables (2x Technics SL1200 MK2) going to my mixer (Rane MP22) which is in turn hooked up to the line in of my sound card. When trying to record though, the output level of my mixer is set to around 4-5 (almost half-way) and the input level (record level of audio settings) is set to around 3/4 of the way up the slider, yet the level in Sound Forge shows in the red and almost full clipping. Any ideas as to why this might be happening? I used to use an old Onkyo tuner before as an interface between my mixer and computer...could that be the problem with the levels now that I'm not using the tuner anymore? Adjusting the output level on the mixer doesn't do anything and the record settings don't really help either. Any help//ideas would be great. Thanks

Subject:RE: recording levels

Reply by: rraud

Date:9/8/2004 10:37:30 AM

Are you sure your going to LINE input and NOT MIC lnput?

Check your sound card settings: double click Speaker icon>Options>Properties> Recording

Subject:RE: recording levels

Reply by: kevinsm

Date:9/9/2004 7:01:08 AM

Yup, positive I'm going into the Line input...I've even got the Mic input muted in the sound recording properties.

Subject:RE: recording levels

Reply by: rraud

Date:9/9/2004 10:47:23 AM

Sound Forge shows in the red and almost full clipping
Can you clairify this better for us. @ what dB? Crewcut type waveform? What does it sound like: distortion or just extranious noise?
Do you have multible sound cards or just the one?

There may be a feedback loop happening somewhere, re-check all your soundcards' properties and cable in/out connections. Including Sound Forge's device record/playback.settings. (Options>Preferences>Wave)

Subject:RE: recording levels

Reply by: keether

Date:9/9/2004 4:26:17 PM

For years I've had to record at an extremely low level in order to avoid this clipping when transforming analog tapes into digital files in my computer using SF. Tapes whose volumes are at a normal level are impossible to use. I have to make them with the volume so low that one might think some of the music is missing. But SF picks it all up fine, and then there's no clipping. On rare occasions, I normalize.

I've always assumed it was just the greater sensitivity of a digital program.

Subject:RE: recording levels

Reply by: kevinsm

Date:9/10/2004 8:49:25 AM

Well, I think it may have been a bad cable..not sure though. I switched cables and made sure the connections are correct to the sound card, now I've got the opposite situation. ;) When checking the record options in Windows (speaker -> options -> properties -> record) the Record Master and Line In are both at about 3/4 w/ Mic muted. I've got my SB card selected as the record device in SF, but when I click the record button, the levels are low (~60 on the meter) and I have to turn the output level on my mixer all the way up to get it to ~20 or so on the level meter. I suppose it could be time to try hooking up the tuner again to boost the level, eh? Any other thoughts?

Thanks

Subject:RE: recording levels

Reply by: rraud

Date:9/10/2004 9:53:18 AM

I'm sure it's a sound card issue. I'm not familiar with SB products. .
Maybe it's the stereo to 5:1 card input. Is your tuner 5:1? if so, then that's the more than likely the problem.
Download and install the latest driver from SB.
Try another sound card if you can.
Good luck.

Subject:RE: recording levels

Reply by: kbruff

Date:9/10/2004 4:32:32 PM

I have a stereo compressor right after the tape deck, mixer and other analog sources that can easily deliver signals that are "too hot ". It is a worthy investment, because it allows me to walk away from the setup and now that I didnt have to worry about any clipping, also some "volume uniformity" is attractive, but not all the time.

Subject:RE: recording levels

Reply by: kevinsm

Date:9/13/2004 7:12:24 AM

Well, yesterday I was messing around with the tuner (not a 5.1..just an old AM/FM tuner) and cables, etc. I was able to get the levels worked out some. I did update the drivers :) and muted the line in (even though I'm plugged into the line in of the sound card, and was able to record straight from the mixer w/o the tuner. I think there's a setting mixed up because I can control the record level some with the mic level in the record settings...go figure. Anyway, I need to play with the levels to get it right now, but at least it works (knock on wood). Thanks for the help/ideas.