greg54
rbecker
I never go above 12:00 for the 2i4 Gain using my AT3035. Also, I am not using any of the pads, either on the interface nor the mic. Nor the low cut on the mic.
And the mic level is good at 12:00? I record at 12:00 and I can't hear the vocals in the mix. Even at 2 o'clock I have the volume on the track at 1.0 or 0.0. I definitely have to use the low cut on the mic. Otherwise, it's way too muddy. And the pad on my mic is at 0db.
So it seems it's definitely my interface.
Thanks for the input!
Greg
When you record, does the AI clip light "halo" that circles the gain knob go to red, or stay green? If red, then no matter what you hear you are getting way too much signal in.
Also make sure you are using the Direct Monitor knob correctly. If this is too far one way or another (I can't remember which way is what), the DAW, mic mix will be incorrect. Also check the gain/volume setting for the mic audio track in X3: Gain, volume and pan should all be zero. Are you using a single mono input in X3? If you are using the left-most mic input on the AI, then the X3 audio track input should be set to "Focusrite USB 2.0 Audio Driver->Left Focusrite USB 2.0 audio driver input 1....".
I think I am going to copy my little cheat-sheet here. The only two things I would say are : Be careful with volumes while testing so you don't blow your eardrums out, and that I make use of a bus called "mute all" that has all sliders set to minus infinity. I also have a Berringer splitter for the headphones. Please pardon any poor English or other problems with the below. I never thought that I would be sharing it with anybody:
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How to set up SONAR and the Audio Interface for a audio recording session.
SONAR:
Set edit...preferences...project...record:
Recording Mode: comping
allow Arm Change..not checked
auto punch...not checked
Loop Recording:Single track
Lanes..create new lanes on overlap: checked
Multi-track: Do not group tracks
Set edit...pref...File...Audio Date:
Record bit depth : 24
Render bit depth : 32
Import bit depth : original
Create a new audio track in SONAR. Name it something like "voice_lead_draft".
Set this track input to "Focusrite USB 2 Audio Driver"...Left Focusrite USB etc.
Set output to "mute all". This is so the only sound (voice) going to headphones is coming directly from audio interface, not Sonar. This is to prevent latency echo.
Turn off input echo
Zero out all sliders (volume, pan, gain).
Set options... record meter options to hold and lock peaks.
Right click on meters to start at 42 dB range. This will change as you set levels.
Arm track by pressing red-dot record button for setting levels and recording. This needs to be armed even while not actually recording so levels can be set.
To actually start to record, use "R" in transport or "r" on keyboard.
Audio Interface: Turn off speakers.
Make sure headphones are set low, or keep off head until volume is set.
Jack1->Audio-tech monitoring headset
Jack2->Sennheiser singers headset
Turn on phantom power to mic. This is the little white "48v" button high in the middle of the AI. It will glow red when on.
Flip silver "Stereo/Mono" toggle switch to the right(mono). This switch is just below the direct monitor knob.
Make sure "Headphone Source" toggle is flipped to left.This is the silver switch just to the left of the headphone jack.
The headphone volume knob (silver on far right above headphone jack) should be centered.
To set mic level, turn AI "Direct Monitor" mix knob all the way left to "Input". This is the black knob just to the left and above big silver "Monitor" knob (which is not used to record, BTW). As voice is being set, this knob can be turned clockwise to mix in DAW backing music to desired level in headphones.
All you will hear now for the voice is the mic. Playback from the DAW can also be heard, but not the voice from the DAW because it was muted (as per above).
The mix between the vocalist's level and daw is governed by both the headphone level, which is best set by the individual headset knob on the Berringer splitter (little silver box) and the AI direct monitor knob. The Berringer sets the total level, while the dmk sets the mix. It is best to start with the dmk all the way left, have the singer sing acapella until her level is where she wants it (using Berringer), and then mix in the DAW with the dmk and adjust from there. The headphone volume knob can also be used to adjust the level going to all headphones plugged into the Berringer.
Have vocalist sing to set level using the black knob to the right of the mic input (GAIN 01). With no compressor on input chain, it is safest to max at -9db using 24 bit depth. Watch the "halo" around the gain knob. Red=clipping. Green=Okay. Yellow=so-so.