Using a VST before the recording chain -ACID Product Family

Subject:Using a VST before the recording chain Posted by: b4dawn Date:4/22/2006 11:33:35 AM I've read everything but I can't find a way to put a vst before the recording of a vocal. I need a compressor, my favorite happens to be a Sony VST at this time. My vocal chain before the computer does not include a compressor, I need the compressor to even things out before being recorded. I feel the fool! Any suggestions? Thank you.
Subject:RE: Using a VST before the recording chain Reply by: billybk Date:4/22/2006 11:59:31 AM You can only monitor with plugin FX, on input. You'll need an external hardware box to compress on input. I would suggest recording @ 24bit, which will give you better headroom. Then there is no need to record so hot. Get a consistant -12db to -14db level on your record track and then compress, with your fav plugin, to your hearts content, during the mix. Good vocal technique goes a long way. Your overall mix should stay, in the -12db to -14db range. This will leave you plenty of headroom to compress it to death (which seems to be the trend these day's), during the mastering phase, if that's the sound you are aiming for. Cheers, Billy Buck
Subject:RE: Using a VST before the recording chain Reply by: b4dawn Date:4/22/2006 1:27:27 PM Billy Ok, thanks Billy, I've now got a weird arrangement of semipro and pro gear before it hit's Acid. I've got a great hardware stereo compressor which I had been using for years but I really wanted to keep the compression in the digital domain. Vocal technique, fortunately I've got many years of that but I try to refine it. I believe I set Acid to record @ 24 bit, I'll have to check that. Any reason to go to 192, my firewire Edirol will do 24/192? Thanks Billy
Subject:RE: Using a VST before the recording chain Reply by: billybk Date:4/22/2006 2:00:03 PM Any reason to go to 192, my firewire Edirol will do 24/192? Unless you are recording classic orchestral music with extreme dynamic range or doing music straight to DVD(96k). For recording contemporary music like rock, pop, rap, hip hop, country etc., 24/44 works just fine. The additional resources required (higher CPU usage, more HD space) for 96k or 192k are not worth the diminishing return, in higher fidelity, IMO. Especially, if the final end result ends up, as a redbook CD or MP3. Most contemporary music ends up being squashed to hell anyway. There is no reason to slam the meters when recording @ 24bit. Set your levels so they are bouncing around the -12db to -14db range. This will allow you enough headroom when you mix and master later. When recording @ 16bit you really need to push the levels into the -6db range and higher to sonically achieve what you get when recording @ 24bit @ a lesser db range. This does not leave you a lot of room for pushing the tracks later on, during the mixing & mastering process, if that is what you choose to do. Cheers, Billy Buck

Subject:Using a VST before the recording chain

Posted by: b4dawn

Date:4/22/2006 11:33:35 AM

I've read everything but I can't find a way to put a vst before the recording of a vocal.

I need a compressor, my favorite happens to be a Sony VST at this time.

My vocal chain before the computer does not include a compressor, I need the compressor to even things out before being recorded.

I feel the fool!

Any suggestions?

Thank you.

Subject:RE: Using a VST before the recording chain

Reply by: billybk

Date:4/22/2006 11:59:31 AM

You can only monitor with plugin FX, on input. You'll need an external hardware box to compress on input. I would suggest recording @ 24bit, which will give you better headroom. Then there is no need to record so hot. Get a consistant -12db to -14db level on your record track and then compress, with your fav plugin, to your hearts content, during the mix. Good vocal technique goes a long way. Your overall mix should stay, in the -12db to -14db range. This will leave you plenty of headroom to compress it to death (which seems to be the trend these day's), during the mastering phase, if that's the sound you are aiming for.

Cheers,

Billy Buck

Subject:RE: Using a VST before the recording chain

Reply by: b4dawn

Date:4/22/2006 1:27:27 PM

Billy

Ok, thanks Billy, I've now got a weird arrangement of semipro and pro gear before it hit's Acid. I've got a great hardware stereo compressor which I had been using for years but I really wanted to keep the compression in the digital domain.

Vocal technique, fortunately I've got many years of that but I try to refine it. I believe I set Acid to record @ 24 bit, I'll have to check that. Any reason to go to 192, my firewire Edirol will do 24/192?

Thanks Billy

Subject:RE: Using a VST before the recording chain

Reply by: billybk

Date:4/22/2006 2:00:03 PM

Any reason to go to 192, my firewire Edirol will do 24/192?

Unless you are recording classic orchestral music with extreme dynamic range or doing music straight to DVD(96k). For recording contemporary music like rock, pop, rap, hip hop, country etc., 24/44 works just fine. The additional resources required (higher CPU usage, more HD space) for 96k or 192k are not worth the diminishing return, in higher fidelity, IMO. Especially, if the final end result ends up, as a redbook CD or MP3. Most contemporary music ends up being squashed to hell anyway.

There is no reason to slam the meters when recording @ 24bit. Set your levels so they are bouncing around the -12db to -14db range. This will allow you enough headroom when you mix and master later. When recording @ 16bit you really need to push the levels into the -6db range and higher to sonically achieve what you get when recording @ 24bit @ a lesser db range. This does not leave you a lot of room for pushing the tracks later on, during the mixing & mastering process, if that is what you choose to do.

Cheers,

Billy Buck