[RWP] at the risk of incriminating myself

[colin McDonald]

ok, how are you monitoring the source signal?
Through the computer, or directly from the mixer?
Also, are you turning the record line in level on the sound card up to hear 
the source, if you are using the computer to listen, or are you using the 
playback line level setting, which doesn't effect the input level of the 
recording?
I suspect that by the time you hear your source, it is already well into the 
clipping stage.  So, you have to find another means to monitor the source so 
that you can independantly adjust the record level to get rid of the 
clipping.
My set up is as follows:
Source, behringer 602 mixer, computer, speakers.
So I run the source into the mixer, then from the mixer to the line in jack 
on the computer soundcard, then my speakers are connected to the speaker 
output on the soundcard.
I run the mixer master level at half, then the channel level between a 
quarter and half, and the trim/gain/preamp level at half.
This means I'll get no clipping out of the mixer, unless I have a very loud 
or preamplified source, in which case I'll turn the preamp gain on the strip 
down to a quarter.
Then, I set my soundcard line in record level at perhaps 20 percent.  To 
monitor my source, I use the "what you hear" or in my case, the line level 
setting in play back.  This setting allows me to independantly increase the 
volume or source heard from the line in jack without adjusting the line in 
record level.
I think I run the playback line in at about 70 percent to hear the source at 
volume.
Of course, you want the main volume, wav volume and so on set at 100 percent 
to maximize headroom.
Don't use the microphone in jack, unless your soundcard only has one jack 
for both line in and microphone.
If so, insure that it is set to line in, and not microphone...the microphone 
setting adds a great deal of preamplification to the signal...

If you are monitoring your source from the mixer, via headphones, and you 
are turning everything up to hear it, then you will be introducing too much 
volume from the source to the computer and will get clipping.
Most mixers have an independant headphone volume so that you avoid this.
If you have speakers hooked up to the mixer to monitor, then use the 
amplifier in the speakers to raise your volume while keeping everything on 
the mixer at unity, or generally, half way up on the controls.
With computer recording, you really do have to separate your monitor mix, 
from the record mix, otherwise you run into problems like the one your 
having.
A typical mixer, and windows bassed soundcard allow you to separate the two 
and achieve a good clean recording mix, and a satisfactory listening mix.

Regards
Colin
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rainee" <sayhello at raineemusic.com>
To: "Reapers Without Peepers" <rwp at reaaccess.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2011 6:37 AM
Subject: Re: [RWP] at the risk of incriminating myself


> The problem is, I have both the mixer's master volume  and the board down 
> as far as I can get it and still hear. Thanks for any help you can offer. 
> I feel like I'm still such a baby at this.
>
> On 11/26/2011 3:47 AM, colin McDonald wrote:
>> your input to the soundcard is way way too high if you have to bring 
>> reaper down by 30DB and still get clipping.
>> the clipping is likely happening before the soundcard, so no matter how 
>> much you bring the volume down in reaper, the source is clipping so you 
>> can't get rid of it unless you turn the source input down IE the 
>> keyboard, or trim/attenuator on the mixer.
>> The great thing about reaper, is it has massive head room to turn things 
>> up, so record your source at a lower volume, then bring it up...far 
>> better than trying to get rid of unwanted distortion or clipping from the 
>> source.
>> It's always easier to increase volume, than try to fix a clipping issue 
>> once it's recorded.
>>
>> regards
>> Colin
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rainee" <sayhello at raineemusic.com>
>> To: "Reapers Without Peepers" <rwp at reaaccess.com>
>> Sent: Friday, November 25, 2011 5:37 PM
>> Subject: [RWP] at the risk of incriminating myself
>>
>>
>>> OK, this might be a totally elementary question here, but what is the 
>>> average default volume level you usually use to avoid clipping? I'm 
>>> using a mixer and a keyboard right now, and I have things at minus 30 
>>> DB, and it's still clipping a bit.
>>>
>>> -- 
>>>
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>>
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>
> -- 
>
> Add some melody to your life. Checkout
> http://www.raineemusic.com
>
>
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