Hi,

I'd like to welcome me to the forum and hopefully get some help with an issue that's just popped up out of nowhere.

Im not a total noob when it comes to sonar or mixing(eli kratzburg is my best virtual friend) but I reckon this could be just a common problem with a stupidly simple solution.  
Anyway, basically when I record on an audio track (I use a Rode NT2A mic and a focusrite saffire 6 pre) the audio meter seems at a sound level while im recording (pushing -6db) but when I playback the clip the Track's meter bottoms out and doesnt go above -60 to -50db.  What has me baffled though is that the meter levels on the Master Track is fine.  I've tried everything I can think of and I've trolled through google for hours with no luck. Any help with this would be much appreciated


Bj

I'm not sure this will help....I'm using Sonar X1 but I think this applies to most (all) of the Cakewalk products.

When recording, the level is set from the source (like your pre-amp output volume control).  The level slider for the track does not modify the incoming signal.  During recording the meters for the track show the levels coming into the track.  During playback the track slider controls the output level of that track.  As far as I can see the track meters do not show anything during playback.  You monitor the output level of the track by moving the track slider and seeing what you get on the bus or master output the track output goes to.

At least I think that's how it works.

--Larry

Here's a bit more -- 

During playback if the track is still armed for recording, the meters do not show the playback level but they will show anything coming into the track.  So, if the track is still armed and your mic is on, the meters will show whatever may be coming from your mic/pre-amp.
During playback if the track is not armed, the meters show the output level from the track.  You can see this by unarming the track and playing back what you previously recorded.  The meters should show the output level and moving the track level slider will be reflected in the meters.


Gee, I learned something new!  I hadn't seen that behavior before because I always have the track unarmed unless I am actually recording.

--Larry

Thanks for the reply larry.  I may not have described the issue im having correctly.  When I play back a clip the track meter should show the level in db's of any audio track as it is a standard method of monitoring your track levels.  In the console view if all your track levels were hitting -60db or less you have no visual representation of individual track levels.   Ive been recording for over a year now and I'm using the same pre-amp settings I've always used so as far as I can tell there is no issue there.  

Another thing I noticed was that when I open a project from before this problem arose the track meters display the levels without a problem but I recorded a test audio on an old project with the same result, the meter wasn't hitting any higher than -60db.  The most likely answer is that I might have changed some setting in the Preferences window.....but which one.  Any more help would be great.

I see the same thing as you see in Sonar X1 and SHS 7.  The key for me is that if the audio track is armed for recording during playback, the track meters (and the track meter in the console view) do not show the output level of the track.  They do, however, show any signal coming into the track.  Stuff rumbling around at -60dB might very well be your noise level or actual mic input if it is on.

Make sure the audio track is not armed for recording during playback and then you should see the levels in the meters.

--Larry

PS:  I should have asked first thing: What Cakewalk product are you using?

 


Your dead right Larry, I had it armed for recording!!  What an absolute wally!   I thought the answer might be a simple one but maybe not that simple.  I think I need a holiday.


Thanks again, Brian

Brian - Don't feel bad.  We all do something like that sooner or later.... and in my case more than once.

Nice troubleshooting Larry!