Often wondered.........

Hi Ace,

Long time no hear.

About the volume thing. I take it this is on input for recording? On input I adjust the signal so that it only occasionally goes into the "yellow" zone of the peak meter. This allows for more head room as the software program gain stages the signal as it goes to the stem and then to the output stage just like a real board would. Something of note is that this can to some extent raise the noise floor for certain types of instruments.

If the volume thing you're asking about is during mix down I'll adjust the volume levels using the trim to get the right balance for an instrument group and then vary the group levels in the stem for automation.

Hope that helps!

Yes I do remember the old portastudio 1 days. Sitting in the rehearsal room with the band mates bouncing the tracks back and forth as we laid down the next set of tracks.

Running the final stereo pair through an Aphex Aural Exciter and the Digitech DSP 128 from my guitar rack rig for effects and to give the tracks a bit more flavor. and then dumping that to an external tape deck with Dolby noise reduction......

And then there was the ever preasent tape hiss. But you know something. It got us gigs. So I can't complain. That little porta studio paid for itself several times over. "Oh the pain, the pain! The things I had to go through when I was young, Will Robinson."

Doc_Hollingsworth


Yes I do remember the old portastudio 1 days. Sitting in the rehearsal room with the band mates bouncing the tracks back and forth as we laid down the next set of tracks.

Running the final stereo pair through an Aphex Aural Exciter and the Digitech DSP 128 from my guitar rack rig for effects and to give the tracks a bit more flavor. and then dumping that to an external tape deck with Dolby noise reduction......

And then there was the ever preasent tape hiss. But you know something. It got us gigs. So I can't complain. That little porta studio paid for itself several times over. "Oh the pain, the pain! The things I had to go through when I was young, Will Robinson."

Amen Doc!! I never got to do the whole band with my deck. I had a pawn shop prize Fostex X-15 (with the pitch knob!)-People would ask-"How do you dive bomb-there's no whammy bar on your Les Paul-the pitch dial kiddies-the pitch knob!! When that dies the Porta took over-my set up was SO basic- My 20th anniversary Gibson Les Paul into a Pro Co Rat Track 1 drums Track 2 bass Track 3 Guitars Track 4 vocals & lead-VERY basic. That was about 20 years ago!! LOL My Porta finally died putting it on ebay soon to see if it will sell for parts!!

ACE STOKES 2.0

SteveStrummerUK



Hi there Ace, good to see you around.

Are you recording at 16bit or 24bit?

If it's 24bit, you've so much 'headroom' compared to 16bit you can safely set your input meters to peak at just -3dB, even -6dB will give you a good enough signal to mix with.

If 16bit, although you never want to hit 0dB, it is better to get closer than in 24bit; maybe an outboard compressor might help to level out your input.


Steve

Hey Steve-Nice to be seen!!
The song I'm working on (and have been off and on for five years!!) is 24 bit! Thanks!! Hope things are more than OK in the UK!!

Yes and Strummy still owes me 4 Kegs and 6 pints of Guinness. I'll be coming over to collect mate. Soon!