hdrive25
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Where is my input level signal light?
Where is my input level??
I'm using a GT-10 direct. I setup a new track. I plug in. I hear my guitar. I tell the track that the input is the GT-10 stereo but the level does not light up. Sonar will record the track just fine. Aren't we supposed to see the input level bounce around before we begin playing? I'd like to see where my level is before I start playing? Is this possible? Am I missing the obvious again? JP
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chuckebaby
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Re:Where is my input level signal light?
2011/03/28 22:10:35
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im not sure what you mean?
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hdrive25
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Re:Where is my input level signal light?
2011/03/28 22:27:07
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While I am plugged in and not recording I should see a level meter light bounce up and down as I play something. Correct?
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MaestroGeek
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Re:Where is my input level signal light?
2011/03/28 22:27:26
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Are you talking about VU meter on the track? Is input monitoring enabled on the track?
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bmdaustin
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Re:Where is my input level signal light?
2011/03/28 22:35:18
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The track has to be armed for recording.
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bvideo
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Re:Where is my input level signal light?
2011/03/28 22:36:33
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There is no input level meter. The per-track meter is for output. In order to have output, you must either have an audio clip playing back on the track or you must enable input monitoring (the [)))] button) so your live playing is sent to output.
BTW we aren't generally hard of reading. (Font size hint)
Bill B.
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Kalle Rantaaho
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Re:Where is my input level signal light?
2011/03/29 03:14:05
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The way I read the question:
The OP says the recording comes out OK, so it's not a question of arming the track.
He'd like to see moving meters during recording, but he can't see any. So most likely
the track header is minimized so that the meters are not visible (???) Dragging the track higher should help (?).
And as Bill B. points out there are no input level meters in SONAR (and actually any DAW, AFAIK). The level of the recording is defined by the soundcards input level. Whatever you tweak in SONAR, the recorded waveform does not change. You can change it inside SONAR later, by bouncing, for example.
To follow it, you can watch the output meters of the track, and adjust the balance between output and input.
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Chappel
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Re:Where is my input level signal light?
2011/03/29 05:15:38
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hdrive25
Where is my input level??
I'm using a GT-10 direct. I setup a new track. I plug in. I hear my guitar. I tell the track that the input is the GT-10 stereo but the level does not light up. Sonar will record the track just fine. Aren't we supposed to see the input level bounce around before we begin playing? I'd like to see where my level is before I start playing? Is this possible? Am I missing the obvious again? JP
If you are able to record audio on the track but can't see the input level while the track is armed, maybe the record meter is hidden. Can you see the volume fader in your track? If so, right click to the right of the fader and you will get a menu. Make sure Track Record Meters has a check mark in front of it.  The above diagram shows the input level of a signal going into the computer while the track is armed. The fader is all the way down to show that its position does not affect the input signal. It will, however, affect the volume of the track during recording while Input Echo is enabled. You should be able to see the signal strength in the Record Meter whether input echo is enabled or not.
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Kalle Rantaaho
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Re:Where is my input level signal light?
2011/03/29 06:07:37
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What does that "Track record meter" actually mean? (I've never reacted to this menu or is this a 8.x version feature)? Does it work only when bouncing to track? We've been taught that there is no such thing in SONAR as input level meter when recording, that it's the soundcard only that defines the input level. Oops! I didn't read the chapter below the picture. Do I understand correctly, that if Input Echo is off, the record meter shows the level of incoming signal even though SONAR can't adjust it's level? This "You should be able to see the signal strength in the Record Meter whether input echo is enabled or not. " makes me wonder how can I know whether the meter is showing input level or output level?
post edited by Kalle Rantaaho - 2011/03/29 06:15:00
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re:Where is my input level signal light?
2011/03/29 07:41:29
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No, there's a difference. There is no input level control to determine the LEVEL of recorded/incoming audio, but there is an input meter to tell you what level you're recording at, otherwise we'd all be shooting in the dark and repeatability/consistency would be totally off the menu. It has nothing to do with input echo. When you're recording the meter shows input/recording level When you're playing back it'll show exactly the same (provided you've not touched the channel fader), but of course this is now being routed through your buss structure and out to your soundcard/monitors.
post edited by Bristol_Jonesey - 2011/03/29 07:42:37
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Chappel
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Re:Where is my input level signal light?
2011/03/29 11:03:21
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Kalle Rantaaho
What does that "Track record meter" actually mean? (I've never reacted to this menu or is this a 8.x version feature)? Does it work only when bouncing to track?
We've been taught that there is no such thing in SONAR as input level meter when recording, that it's the soundcard only that defines the input level.
Oops! I didn't read the chapter below the picture. Do I understand correctly, that if Input Echo is off, the record meter shows the level of incoming signal even though SONAR can't adjust it's level?
This
"You should be able to see the signal strength in the Record Meter whether input echo is enabled or not. "
makes me wonder how can I know whether the meter is showing input level or output level?
If the track is NOT armed, and the Track Playback Meter is enabled, the meter will be for playback. If the track IS armed, and the Track Record Meter is enabled, the meter will be for recording. To get a good visual for this, disable the Track Playback Meter. If the track is armed, you will see a meter. If the track is not armed the meter will disappear. If both meters are enabled you will always see both meters and won't notice any visual change, but the meter's function will change according to the track's armed/not armed status. Not sure about how the meter acts during sound on sound/layer recording.
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bvideo
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Re:Where is my input level signal light?
2011/03/29 13:10:58
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Chappel
If the track is NOT armed, and the Track Playback Meter is enabled, the meter will be for playback. If the track IS armed, and the Track Record Meter is enabled, the meter will be for recording. To get a good visual for this, disable the Track Playback Meter. If the track is armed, you will see a meter. If the track is not armed the meter will disappear. If both meters are enabled you will always see both meters and won't notice any visual change, but the meter's function will change according to the track's armed/not armed status. Not sure about how the meter acts during sound on sound/layer recording.
This was new to me. To take this one step further, watch as a signal is being sent to input (transport stopped). With input monitoring on, the meter level changes as the track volume control is changed. With record enabled, the meter level does not change with the track volume control. So it is really becomes an input meter, active only when record is enabled.
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Cactus Music
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Re:Where is my input level signal light?
2011/03/29 15:54:54
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Now I'm going to have to look at this!!. I have never had to do anything. Just select the track input, bang on the guitar and adjust the level using either the control on the interface or outboard mixer. I'm using a default template like " 4 Track"
I did notice a long time ago how Sonar has no real control over input, That's done with hardware.
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mixsit
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Re:Where is my input level signal light?
2011/03/30 00:09:31
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I've spouted this before, well again 'cause heck it's such a natural.. I guess some use your interface meters, maybe the interface's mix/monitor screen? Anyway, an alt to toss out here. You know how they say run you record levels in that 'nominal range (-18 to twenty or so for the body' / average'), peaks come in nice and safe above that. I set the meters (horizontal) for 'Peak + RMS, and -24db scale. When the body of the tracks just start to poke out' on the left, you're good to go.  Setting levels, tracking, keeping an eye on it doing phones mixes, you can manage the whole recording status from several feet away.
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hdrive25
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Re:Where is my input level signal light?
2011/03/30 20:53:27
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Thanks a ton everybody for the contributions!
I still have a problem however.
I have recorded two audio drum tracks and 5 guitar tracks.
I now want to add a bass track. When I arm the track I see the meter moving! This is good however I can't hardly hear the bass. I crank the bass channel and trim all the way up. I also turn the volume up on the GT-10. But in order to hear the bass I need to lower all the other track levels. How should I approach this? Thanks JP
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Chappel
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Re:Where is my input level signal light?
2011/03/30 22:26:27
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hdrive25
Thanks a ton everybody for the contributions!
I still have a problem however.
I have recorded two audio drum tracks and 5 guitar tracks.
I now want to add a bass track. When I arm the track I see the meter moving! This is good however I can't hardly hear the bass. I crank the bass channel and trim all the way up. I also turn the volume up on the GT-10. But in order to hear the bass I need to lower all the other track levels. How should I approach this? Thanks JP
You are recording a live bass through the GT-10? Does the GT-10 have bass presets? Are you monitoring the track during recording with Input Echo enabled? You turn the GT-10 all the way up but this doesn't send too hot a signal to the track? Can you give us an idea how high the level goes on the recording level (using the DB scale) when you are recording the bass? One easy way to do this is to right click the meter and select Hold Peaks and Lock Peaks in the record Meter options. What are you listening to the audio with? Headphones? Speaker system? The trim control will have no affect on recording. It increases the gain of previously recorded audio.
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chuckebaby
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Re:Where is my input level signal light?
2011/03/31 00:54:56
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hdrive25
Thanks a ton everybody for the contributions!
I still have a problem however.
I have recorded two audio drum tracks and 5 guitar tracks.
I now want to add a bass track. When I arm the track I see the meter moving! This is good however I can't hardly hear the bass. I crank the bass channel and trim all the way up. I also turn the volume up on the GT-10. But in order to hear the bass I need to lower all the other track levels. How should I approach this? Thanks JP
throw in e.q. in the track as a plug in,bang up the lows and when your done recording delete the e.q...its elementary watson.
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