Mix Volume?

Hi. My audio interface doesn't have a mix volume, so I'm having a bit of a struggle balancing the volumes of the existing tracks and my input. I want to get as strong a signal as I can (without clipping) when recording, but then the existing tracks have a heck of a time competing, even when I turn them up to full blast in the CV (which you, ideally, don't want to do in the first place).

Is there anywhere within the software to control my mix volume and get a proper balance between recorded tracks and current input?

Thanks!

Ok, here's the specific scenario:

I have a synth drum track all set up, sounding great and all.

I'm now trying to record guitar. But when I get my guitar level to a good recording spot, you can hardly hear the drums over it. Even when I crank the drum bus to clipping, it's not quite loud enough.

And I don't want to turn down the guitars as I'm recording, because I want a strong signal, of course.

So I'm looking for a way to perhaps turn down the guitar input playing through the speakers without turning down the RECORD volume, or the volume of the drums.

Suggestions?

Yeah, I tried turning down the fader on the track in question, but no change was evident. I took the fader to be only for playback volume at that point. Hmmm.

What Interface are you using?

With that interface you might have to use the cans.. or get a volume knob like This

You cant lower the guitar then raise the overall volume?

You can also run your outputs to a small mixer and adjust the listening volume there.

Heh, this made me chuckle a bit. It appears that Sonar doesn't support ASIO Direct Monitoring (ADM) http://forum.cakewalk.com...;m=1617645&mpage=1 despite shipping their software with an interface (with their name on it) that is kinda designed to use it:

Dimlives, my original answer still stands but you'll have to adjust the latency of the interface down and possibly bypass any large latency plugs you already have in your project while you're tracking your guitar.

Child

What do you folks think is the ideal recording level in dBs?

I've always been under the impression you should get as loud a signal as you can without clipping, but if I can healthily record at a slightly lower signal and come out just fine in the end, I think I can balance things here better.

Just surprised there isn't a straightforward, as Bub said, STANDARD function to control the "playthrough" volume and record volumes separately within SONAR. I know you can do it within the Windows volume mixer when you're running, say, line or microphone in, but I don't seem to have that option here with the UA-1G.

Yeah I tried going through the input monitoring in X1, but I couldn't get the straight line in to mute at all (without silencing the recording signal), so all that did was give me two audio signals, the direct and the input monitor.

Thanks for that article on the recording levels though.

Your mixes will sound fuller, fatter, more dynamic, and punchier than if you follow the "as loud as possible without clipping" rule.

dimelives1


I've always been under the impression you should get as loud a signal as you can without clipping

Doh! xD lol. That may help me out for getting a good balance for recording, though. Let's hope!

dimelives1


Ok, here's the specific scenario:

I have a synth drum track all set up, sounding great and all.

I'm now trying to record guitar. But when I get my guitar level to a good recording spot, you can hardly hear the drums over it. Even when I crank the drum bus to clipping, it's not quite loud enough.

And I don't want to turn down the guitars as I'm recording, because I want a strong signal, of course.

So I'm looking for a way to perhaps turn down the guitar input playing through the speakers without turning down the RECORD volume, or the volume of the drums.

Suggestions?

Record softer. Seriously, if you are recording at 24 bit, you don't need to record very loud. Having your signal peak at -12 dB FS or so should be plenty.

UnderTow

Yeah I tried going through the input monitoring in X1, but I couldn't get the straight line in to mute at all (without silencing the recording signal), so all that did was give me two audio signals, the direct and the input monitor.

Hmm the manual suggests otherwise:

Input Monitor Switch Off/Auto

Use this setting if you don’t want the audio input signal to be output directly from the PHONES/DIGITAL OUT jack and the OUTPUT jacks. If you’re using ASIO 2.0 compatible software, you’ll be able to switch the setting on/off from your software.


Edit: Also re levels, if you've already tracked a bunch of stuff hot you can use the gain control on each channel to bring it all back down to a more sensible level. I find myself doing this a lot with stuff people send me. I'll go through each track individually and gain them down so they're bouncing around -18dbfs before I start putting the mix together. The other advantage is that it means you're using your faders at the point where they have the greatest resolution (around 0).

Child