Helpful Replyinput echo volume

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tabbyfl55
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2013/03/28 20:46:53 (permalink)

input echo volume

I haven't found any other threads about what seems like it should be an easy problem... at least not that are applicable to my set-up.

I have producer 8.5 and a MOTU 828 firewire interface.

My problem is that when I'm recording vocals I can't get my live input monitoring hot enough in my headphones.   I don't just mean in relation to the other audio tracks, I mean just the level of my voice in the mic.   If I use both input echo AND track monitoring, I can hear it, but then the echo-effect is too distracting.   So I turn on input echo and mute the track, but I can barely hear myself in the headphones, which is also no bueno.  

I'm getting plenty of signal on the track.   If I boost the signal any more at the pre-amp, I oversaturate the track.

I've got the headphone volume turned all the way up on the MOTU, and I've got the cue-mix fader for my mic input channel turned all the way up.   Is there anything else in Sonar that I can do to increase the level of the input echo?


post edited by tabbyfl55 - 2013/03/28 21:00:24
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    Cactus Music
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    Re:input echo volume 2013/03/29 11:50:50 (permalink) ☄ Helpful
    This can be a common problem on interfaces that do not have a blend control. That is a mix that will adjust between the computer and the input level. I don't see one in the picture. Sometimes this can be via a software mixer GUI. 

    So solutions are, try a different set of "louder" headphones. 
    Purchase a headphone amp. 
    Purchase a small mixer to use for monitoring 

    I've even used an old integrated stereo amp for this. They are cheap at thrift stores or yard sales and come in handy for this purpose. 

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    bitflipper
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    Re:input echo volume 2013/03/29 12:00:26 (permalink) ☄ Helpful
    8.5 + 828MkII here, too. Yes, it's difficult to get enough mic volume in the headphones straight out of the interface without turning the mix way down and the volume way up. (I don't use Input Echo because of the latency, and it's not necessary because the MOTU supports direct monitoring.)

    My solution, and it's worked out wonderfully for ~6 years now, was to employ a hardware device designed specifically to solve this problem. It's made by Samson and it's called the S-Monitor. It's basically a two-input powered mixer. Very cheap. You plug your mic into one channel and your cue mix into the other.

    I have mine mounted on a short boom attached to the mic stand, so I can easily tweak the levels without moving from the singing position.


    This solution only works for a single microphone, though. However, fancier devices will let you plug in multiple sources. Check out the Jam Hub products - I've not used them but they look like a great invention.
    post edited by bitflipper - 2013/03/29 12:02:45


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    tabbyfl55
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    Re:input echo volume 2013/03/31 10:14:03 (permalink)
    Yeah the cue-mix is my software mixer GUI, so like I said, I've got it maxed out.   

    Looks like I'll have to go with a hardware solution.   I've heard of the S-Monitor before, so I'll look into either that or a headphone amp.   Most of my SONAR recording is one mic, one headphone, so I'm sure I'll have a lot of options.

    Thanks for the input!
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    lawajava
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    Re:input echo volume 2013/04/02 22:55:16 (permalink)
    Tabbyfl55 - here's my solution for microphone and instrument (guitar) audio tracks - and I do this on every song:

    Add an extra Bus. I actually add two. One is called Live Monitor.  The second is called Live MonVerb. I add a full wet reverb effect to the Verb bus.

    On any microphone or guitar audio track that I'm recording I add a send to the Live Monitor bus. If I want to make the input sound awesome I also add a send to the Live Mon Verb bus and can set levels to taste. You can allow the input monitor volume to dwarf the rest of the song volume if you want by this method.

    For soft synths of course you can just crank up the volume on those tracks as you need for input volume.



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