lets talk gain stages

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versuviusx
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lets talk gain stages

Post by versuviusx » Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:53 pm

So sometimes when i record i have problems with noise or distortion.
when i solo a track that i suspect to be the culprit there is no distortion.
so this makes believe this is a summing problem when you have like 32 tracks going on at the same time all the noise is building up. what can i do to prevent this and what are some good remedies to look into?

MoreSpaceEcho
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Post by MoreSpaceEcho » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:13 pm

record at lower levels. there's threads here and elsewhere, i can point you to a couple if you want. but basically try tracking stuff so it's peaking in say the -16dbfs area....mix so that you're peaking around -6...keep the master fader at zero and turn down the track faders....doing this means

1. you're not distorting your pres (or converters) trying to push stuff all the way up to 0dbfs
2. you're not overloading plug ins when you mix
3. you're not overloading the mix bus

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Post by drumsound » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:40 pm

Turn shit down.

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fossiltooth
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Post by fossiltooth » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:47 pm

drumsound wrote:Turn shit down.
:rofl:

Way to 'moderate' Tony!

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Post by rwc » Tue Jan 08, 2008 7:28 pm

fossiltooth wrote:
drumsound wrote:Turn shit down.
:rofl:

Way to 'moderate' Tony!
Simple answers to obtuse questions. :)
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Post by cgarges » Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:45 pm

drumsound wrote:Turn shit down.
Best reply ever!

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JGriffin
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Post by JGriffin » Tue Jan 08, 2008 10:19 pm

MoreSpaceEcho wrote:record at lower levels. there's threads here and elsewhere, i can point you to a couple if you want.s
How long, O Lord, until one of these is made into a sticky?!? :?
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hughindigo
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Post by hughindigo » Wed Jan 09, 2008 4:52 am

Ladies and Gentlemen, The new Tape Op T-shirt Slogan:
drumsound wrote:Turn shit down.

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JohnDavisNYC
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Post by JohnDavisNYC » Wed Jan 09, 2008 6:05 am

fuck yeah.

i would wear a 'turn shit down' tshirt...

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Studiodawg
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Post by Studiodawg » Wed Jan 09, 2008 6:29 am

drumsound wrote:Turn shit down.
The only known defense for hearing loss, too.

MoreSpaceEcho
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Post by MoreSpaceEcho » Wed Jan 09, 2008 6:57 am

*turns shit down*

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Post by percussion boy » Wed Jan 09, 2008 7:28 am

MoreSpaceEcho wrote:record at lower levels. there's threads here and elsewhere, i can point you to a couple if you want. but basically try tracking stuff so it's peaking in say the -16dbfs area....mix so that you're peaking around -6...keep the master fader at zero and turn down the track faders....doing this means

1. you're not distorting your pres (or converters) trying to push stuff all the way up to 0dbfs
2. you're not overloading plug ins when you mix
3. you're not overloading the mix bus
Definitely the best "tattoo it on your arm"-sized summary so far.
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Post by qball » Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:31 am

MoreSpaceEcho wrote:record at lower levels. there's threads here and elsewhere, i can point you to a couple if you want. but basically try tracking stuff so it's peaking in say the -16dbfs area....
I thought it was -16dbfs average... :?
I think women should leave the toilet seat UP!!!

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Post by drumsound » Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:11 am

RWC wrote:
fossiltooth wrote:
drumsound wrote:Turn shit down.
:rofl:

Way to 'moderate' Tony!
Simple answers to obtuse questions. :)
To quote Alber Einstein:
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
and
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction."

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Post by MoreSpaceEcho » Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:42 am

qball wrote:
MoreSpaceEcho wrote:record at lower levels. there's threads here and elsewhere, i can point you to a couple if you want. but basically try tracking stuff so it's peaking in say the -16dbfs area....
I thought it was -16dbfs average... :?
well, opinions vary, but for me....-16dbfs average on say, kick drum, would likely be peaking right up to zero. even if it were only peaking at say -6, which would be plenty of headroom, in the mix you'd likely end up having to turn it down, so why not just track it at lower levels to begin with and keep your faders up around zero?

try this: go through a mix you've already done (one that hopefully peaks a ways below 0dbfs) and solo individual tracks. watch the meters and see where the ave/peak levels are at...then keep these levels in mind next time you track.

i find that when tracking most stuff peaking between -20 and -16, with kick and snare a little hotter, you end up with a pretty reasonable mix with the faders at zero. which is nice when the band comes in for playback cause you can just hit the spacebar and then actually listen to the performance without fussing over basic levels. and if you track stuff lower like this it makes it easier to build a mix up without worrying about overloading the mix buss as you add more and more crap in there....

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