Recording Problem

[booker]

Im having a problem when recording to my pc.

Im running a Pioneer DJM300 mixer into my Amp then to my PC or direct to to PC's (SBlive 5.1) line in (either way has same effect). The trim on my mixer rarely goes over 0db, and the master volume is maybe just below 0db.

I can get the recording right with no distortion but my problem is after I have recorded something, when i play it through any kind of audio player (eg winamp) the equalizer does not behave like it does with most mixes recorded from the net.

It barely ever peaks. And the frequency its displaying is not what it should look like.

Am I doing something wrong, or is there an application to correct this?

[hpstekno]

does it play normally from a wave editor?????
and playing back from winamp as a wave????? or have you converted it to mp3?

if you've converted it to mp3 somethings gone horribly wrong in the conversion process

otherwise there could be some system issue with playing back wave files through those players i'm not really sure without having it in front of me...

anyone else????

[phunkdust]

ok well note that stuff off the 'net has been normalised and compressed and adjusted...

once you record your track into your wave editor, have a look

* Is it too loud (is it clipping?)
- re record with a lower input volume or use compression
* Is it too soft?
- re record at higher levels or use Normalisation (Normalise peak to 0db)
* Is the EQ ****ed on input (ie is your mixer pumping in a lot of bass?
* Is the output filetype right? (If you've compressed to MP3, is the rate high enough? Ie, better than 128kbit 44100hz 16 Bit Stereo)

the equalizer does not behave like it does with most mixes recorded from the net.

Perhaps you could describe it a little better...?

[mungo]

the creative card inputs are around -4db +8db 40hz-16khz which is pretty useless for recording in the first place (i wouldnt buy speakers that bad). But also why are you using the eq on winamp it stinks. If the file really needs eq (which it shouldnt) use goldwave or something. At worst you could use the inbuilt eq on the SB live.

also the eq in audio players work differently on wav's and mp3's that could be the differenc you are hearing.

[TECHiONE]

What program are you using to record with?

If you are not recording the audio into the computer loud enough, and then boosting the volume with some wave/sound editor, you'll get a lot of noise/hiss, and not much frequency range.

Make sure to check out the 'recording properties' under the preferences of your windows/sb-live volume control panel too

With the sb-live you can also select 'what-u-hear' then use the 'playback properties' volume levels to set your input levels, make sure to mute MIDI, Mic, and any other sources when recording in via the Line-In as well.

[booker]

Im recording with creative sound recorder, cool edit, it really doesnt matter. The recordings are straight to 44khz 16bit stereo WAV.

When I say the equalizer doesnt behave properly I didnt really use the correct terms :) I meant the standard visualization, oscilliscope, spectrum analyzer etc. When im playing something ive recorded, it never peaks, it only uses half of the range, and seems a little laggy.

Like, overall it sounds ok....I was just curious why it was doing that, and if there was a way to fix it. I spose it could be my soundcard....I had a similar problem when recording from radio.

Cheers,

[booker]

If you still dont know what i mean....

Have a look at these:

http://www.zip.com.au/~paul_a/winamp1.JPG
http://www.zip.com.au/~paul_a/winamp2.JPG

[phunkdust]

doesnt seem anything wrong with that... its just how the sound is...

seems you're very heavy in the bass, perhaps tone back the bass on your WAV file and then normalise peaks to 0db

it looks pretty normal, thats what you get from unmastered sound, i get that frequently when i export from my sequencer, etc

[infinity]

If it is just the volume of the recording you are having problems with, try adjusting the recording levels in the Volume Controls (icon in your taskbar):
Options > Properties > Recording > OK > adjust the level of the recording device

If the problem you're having is to do with that you are not getting enough mid to high tones out on your frequency analyser; this could be the common problem of noise/interference/filtering, hence loss of quality (loss of high frequencies). Suggest, using shorter cables (if possible), investing in higher-quality cables, and positioning the cables away from or not running parallel to other electromagnetic fields. Checking your connectors too... old rusty plugs don't help much.

BTW, the winamp visual eq out seems to be slightly biased anyway.

[djbc]

Originally posted by phunkdust
doesnt seem anything wrong with that...

...thats what you get from unmastered sound, i get that frequently when i export from my sequencer, etc

yeah, i reckon so...
alot of commercially released stuff has been what they call 'brickwall mastered'... which pretty much means cranked to the max and heavily limited or compressed(as in audio compression, not data compression)

try some software that'll let you put a compressor over your mix & output a new file. (if you try this, watch out for "breathey"ness in the sound- it could mean you're over compressing your audio, it's a fine balance;) ...)

apart from that, if the level sounds equal to you compared to other stuff, that EQ display is really a minor thing.
cheers
bc

[driload]

moral? dont sweat it : )

if you need to normalise or even compress your mix the standard effects/filters in soundforge are very good, but lately ive been having some excellent results in my latest purchase... the WAVES plugins range


dear lord ULTRAMIXIMIZER and C1 compressor are worth the price alone!


im having to re-learn good compression practice all over again. but that might be a new questions thread in itself....

good compression = gold

bad... well bad compression = any current rnb female track... urgh

normalised to within an inch of its life.....

RIP dynamics

[djbc]

Originally posted by driload

... the WAVES plugins range

dear lord ULTRAMIXIMIZER and C1 compressor are worth the price alone!



oooh...aren't WAVESplugins the greatEST!!!

& yeah, heavy comp kills dynamics...like I said...a fine balance;) between getting ya levels up & killing the feel :meh:

there's bound to be some guideline/tips thingy we can point peeps to who want some general "rules" around compression...I'll do a little research & see what I can find. (I've learnt from prducer/engineers I work with & thru trial&error... not so many erros these days:p :lol: )

[hpstekno]

wait tillya try the waves master bundle :) verry nice
the c4 compressor in the waves gold pack is an ideal mastering compressor c1 is very nice though
theres also a plugin version of bbe's sonic maximiser which does wonders for dull mixes but it can be easily overdone but used sparingly gets nice results

[Hydra]

Check out this article Future Music magazine ran a few months back. (on compression)

http://www.futuremusic.co.uk/fm_mmusic.asp?ID=5179

I like the way it's written and FM are heavily geared towards Dance Music so should be more than relevant, otherwise go to www.sospubs.co.uk and search there.

Who's tried T-Rex compressor/limiter/EQ? it rocks. I also insert TLAudio EQ1 as a master effect from Fruity or Cubase....WARM

[infinity]

hpstekno: do u know what the company web address is of that "waves master bundle"? Thnx.

[driload]

t-rex

somethng about it irks me

i just dont have the time to sit and "learn" a real-time GUI and mess around with knobs and the like


im sure my dislike of it is primarily based on eye-candy, but it has never really interested me. i like my parameters mapped out mathematically or at least numerically/sequentially so i can punch it up confidently with the familiarity i have with digital gear, being a child of the digital age so to speak, and with primarily digital studio experience

(oh but please give me a NEVE any day.... drool)

something about twiddling pretty knobs of a tube emulating bit of software doesnt sit right to me....



then again... im wack... i like the maths of discrete systems... this whole theoretical limit analog stuff is too.... furry



heh heh

furry



(ummm... go easy on me... i just came back from the Valley Fiesta.... im going to go curl up, kiss my tinnitus goodnight, and ZZZzzzzzz :P )

[phunkdust]

so you're saying you like your values laid out for you to tweak, rather than hearing guesswork based on a graphical mapping?

[djbc]

Originally posted by infinity
hpstekno: do u know what the company web address is of that "waves master bundle"? Thnx.

www.waves.com

go get to it!!! :D :lol: :tripping:

hope you don't mind hps...but I was here... with the answer ;)
bc

[polarbear]

for a different take on mastering, rather than the intelligent limiter (L1 etc) or multiband compressor approach (finaliser, dynasone, quantum, C4) try this instead.

split the signal into 'middle' (mono) and 'stereo' information

M = L + R
S = L - R

you can then process these signals differently; take some bass out of the sides (using a HPF) to reduce phase problems below 100Hz - good for big PA's, vinyl mastering etc.

compress the middle differently to the sides - and turn it down a bit. you can firm up the kick drum and bass without causing shitloads of breathing. you can pull a vocal out of the middle and give it emphasis without masking stereo effects and percussion.

when you've mucked about with them, stick them back together using the following formula.

R = (M - S)/2
L = (S + M)/2

for my ready to go MS mastering processor built in R3.07.008 for macintosh, download

http://www.xs.com.au/msprocv5.ens

[infinity]

Thnx djbc!