optimal master volume levels when recording into devices....

iam just wondering... if iam recording a track into cooledit... or lets say cubase.... whats the most optimal position for the master volume on the mpc... and also adjusting the line in volume on my mpc... better yet... let me keep it general how would you know when to adjust....cuz usually the kick is the loudest part of the track... and i can easily change it from hitting at -6 to hitting at -3 decibals on my pc by adjusting the master volume on the mpc or adjusting the line in volume on my pc....
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iam just wondering cuz iam lost as to whats correct to get the cleanest sound with very little to no hiss/noise/distortion...

I use my small behringer mixer to adjust each level when Im running it through. For the kick and snare I record it just below clipping, for everything else I listen and boost it until it starts to sound a bit crap, then quiet it down some. I try to record everything a few db over what I'm going to be mixing it down to.

if your doing all this boosting up to or near 0db.... where do you have room for vocals...??
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do you normalize them back down or do you compress them with compression... cuz if your using compression to bring them back down... then you definitely are get some crazy clips and distortion...right?

audio engineering 101

setting your levels.... set to around -3db

this gives a good signal to noise ratio while allowing headroom for transients to peak


easy. peace.

D_Samp wrote:audio engineering 101

setting your levels.... set to around -3db

this gives a good signal to noise ratio while allowing headroom for transients to peak


easy. peace.

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what about if the kick doesn't really hit no where near -3... lets say you had a soft kick and it really hits hat -12db... as far as playing on your mpc .... so your saying that... when you record.... its necessary to boost the master volume... that that everything peaks at -3 ????

No this is just when I'm recording, it gets mixed down later to proper levels.

so is your reference for proper levels based the original levels that the beat was playing on your mpc....
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or is the proper level based on how you feel the beat should be...?
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i don't... i think iam making it harder than it should be...

go to http://google.com

type "signal to noise ratio"

type "unity gain"

you need to learn what those two terms refer to. your music will love you for it now, and it will make it easier for you when you begin to play decent gigs



short answer: record everything as loud as you can, so you dont have to boost it later... if you record quietly, and play it louder later, the noise floor will rise with it.