The DijonStock Digital Home Recording Support Forum

Hello everyone!

My first time recording. I have been trying to figure out my AW16G for about a week now. I have been able to do the mixdown and record on a cd but....I am having touble with the imput levels. I have to put the gain buttons to the max and only get to -18. I feel I have done everything right. It sounds good with the head phones on but as soon as I put it on a cd and try to listen to it on my boss system I have to raise the volume to a ridiculous level. Can anybody help me? Thank you

This is the start of your learning curve. The pre amps on these units are not really able to juice up an input signal, so many users run into an external pre and then send that signal to the G's pre and add a bit more there as needed. What you will need for signal depends on the mic you are using and the signal you are trying to record. A good strong vocalist might be captured well with the G's pre, while the same rig might not capture a fingerpicked guitar well at all.

when you are multi tracking several signals, with the intention of mixing them, the signal need not be approaching peak, -6 dB is good. when tracks are combined in the mix to the stereo bus the overall level is graeter than any one individual track.

It is common to have the stereo mix sound too quiet. You will have to learn about the stereo bus, where you can provide up to a 12 dB boost at the head of the chain, (view screen). You will begin to learn about the Dyn capabilities available on each track, and on the stereo bus. You may want to extend your learning to moving the stereo mix out of the G and into a computer based platform, so that you can boost your mix using limiters and other plugins.

There is lots of info buried in the threads here, so use the search, but don't be afraid to ask questions as there are many experienced users here and about, who learned techniques to deal with what you ask. The pre amp/ levels issue is where i began too.

Don't be afraid to crank those pres up to the last section of the dial. You may feel there is noise up there, and it should be avoided, but experience does not back that up. What hissing you hear in the headphones does not seem to get printed with any severity to a level you'd suspect. On these pres, all the action is in that top section. a bit disconcerting i'd agree. but go for it and then decide what to do. as said, most users end up utilizing another pre in the signal chain for some tracking. You can buy some useful pre amps for reasonable $$, or use the direct outs from a mioxer, shoud you have one. Lots of options there too.

Welcome. ask away. no questions too simple. there are no scoffers here. Lots of friendly sorts may jump in to help you out.

_________________
Byron

Welcome. It's all about experimenting with levels. As Byron said, the pre amps aren't the best. Many of us here use an external preamp to help boost signals. You can get a preamp from a low of $40 and up.

When in record mode make sure you are getting levels of -6. The louder the pre and higher the fader the better chance for background noise. So adjust with caution.

Hope to hear something soon.

_________________
GSMUSIC: Hey RZ, Im not no upper class american, the gear I own is what I have special to me. My car sucks, my house sucks, my nieghborhood sucks. Does yours RZ? Does it?

rz-land

Hi Eileen and welcome to the forum.

All good advice here. The very first step is making sure your recordings are on a decent level. If you can make the signal peak at around -12 to -6 dB, you can do anything with it.

I don't use an external preamp, the signal of the Behringer B2 (is that what I have? I should look it up... ) is strong enough. However an external preamp would give you lots of more options, and besides, with many mics you will need a preamp.

I would label the preamps as "good". Not as "great" or as "bad".

Experimenting is the way to go, you'll have to figure out how to get each individual track recorded at -12 to -6 dB peak.

Besides music, we talk about lots of other stuff, too. Like cheese . But the "core business" is helping each other and enjoying each others creations. I hope to hear some of yours in the near future.

Enjoy!

_________________

---

Don't judge the coffee by its cup.
The proof of the cheese is in the eating

Sometimes, you also have to initialize the inputs. On the input menu, it's possible to trim the gain down...

Try to do an initialize on the channel.

The next question is what are you recording? I usually record direct, and turn the volume ALL the way up on the device. My goal is to trim the inputs as close to 0 as possible, but with most items I have them turned to somewhere between 8 and 9 o'clock.

Acoustic

_________________
Could you show that to me again... slower?

Thank you so much for your help guys! I will reread everything slowly..and let you know the outcome. I was recording voice and accoutic guitar on input 1, track 1 and 2. My voice is not that powerfull so the pre amp sounds like the solution. I really appreciate the time you took to help me out! Fromage..

Hi, Eileen. welcome.

I use a small phonic mixer as a cheap solution for preamp. The added advantage is that you can dial down the bass in the voice before it hits the input. Off course that may be more of a male problem. In most cases i now have to beware for clipping because the signals are too strong.

glad to have you onboard.

_________________
In a minute it might be gone. Life is a bear in a bubble.

http://www.soundclick.com/bearinabubble

Very glad to have you aboard!

_________________

---

Don't judge the coffee by its cup.
The proof of the cheese is in the eating

Good morning guys!

After experimenting all weekend I do think I need a preamp. My question is..I'm looking at the Art tube MP on Sweetwater.com site, would this be a descent choise?

Hi Eileen and welcome to the forum.
I`m sure there are a couple here that use the Art Tube, and have said they like it so I would go for it.
Just out of interest at what level are you peaking at? because some on the forum like to get there level at -6db, whereas I try not to record anything above -12db. so there is a slight difference in opinion, but I`m sure the Art Tube will be ideal.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

T.

_________________
https://tmacmusic12.wixsite.com/tmac1

https://tmacmusic12.wixsite.com/tmac

http://www.soundcloud.com/t-mac-12

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmCjAzN ... ture=watch

https://www.reverbnation.com/tmac

The more tracks you use, the more headroom (= lower peaks) you can afford.

If you're doing a single stereo track recording, I'd have it peak around -6 dB or somewhat higher if possible. Make sure there's no clipping!

Doubling the number of tracks allows you to have 6 dB more headroom, so:

4 tracks -> -12 dB
8 tracks -> -18 dB

I wouldn't get any lower than -18 dB, even with more tracks.

Don't count tracks that are way lower in the mix than the rest, volume-wise.

_________________

---

Don't judge the coffee by its cup.
The proof of the cheese is in the eating

You people are wonderful! I feel so well taken care of

Eileen - just wait until you start receiving those cheese parcels...

_________________
All progress is made by unreasonable men.

http://www.howardgardener.co.uk/

The Art tube is a fine preamp for the money. If you're on a tight budget (and who isn't these days), here's the one I recommend: ART

Just be aware, as others have said, not to go for the hottest signal when recording. I like to stay around -6 or a bit lower to gain headroom. then when you do your mixdown, if you need to drag the fader slightly above 0 to hit your level, that should be fine.

_________________
GSMUSIC: Hey RZ, Im not no upper class american, the gear I own is what I have special to me. My car sucks, my house sucks, my nieghborhood sucks. Does yours RZ? Does it?

rz-land

I have an earlier version of that ART TubeMP, and it provides plenty of gain. It should solve your problems inexpensively.

_________________
My music: https://www.soundclick.com/bands3/default.cfm?bandID=1215402&content=songs

Maybe Eileen doesn't like cheese.

_________________

---

Don't judge the coffee by its cup.
The proof of the cheese is in the eating

You're funny Mr Fromage!

He's the big Fromage here in Dijonstockland... Another relatively good preamp and value for your money is this one below:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/m-audio-audio-buddy-2-channel-preamp

Its not much more money and offers two inputs so you could use one for voice and one for acoustic guitar simultaneously...

I used one of these for years, and still use it as a direct box for bass.


P.S. What type of mics are you using? If they are condensers, don't forget to purchase a preamp with phantom power...the aforementioned preamps have phantom...

_________________
it's funny, the older you get, the older you wanna be

Happy Birthday, Eileen!

_________________

---

Don't judge the coffee by its cup.
The proof of the cheese is in the eating

Have a nice birthday Eileen, enjoy your day.

T.

_________________
https://tmacmusic12.wixsite.com/tmac1

https://tmacmusic12.wixsite.com/tmac

http://www.soundcloud.com/t-mac-12

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmCjAzN ... ture=watch

https://www.reverbnation.com/tmac