I've got a song that I'm starting to like, but my levels are at -22 db. Is setting up a new stereo bus the best or most transparrent way to raise the levels? It seems that doing this alone raises the volume quite a bit. Another way is to turn up the gain on every track...guess I'm just wondering what you guys do. I realize I have several options, I'm just trying to learn some good habits for the future. One of course would be, to record with a higher level.

Low record level? All tracks are that low? Anyway... can't turn up your Master? Are you going to add any mastering effects? You could get some more oomph there. Someone also mentioned to me at one point inserting blank PC modules and using the input/output knobs to adjust gain. A bus would work too. IDK... more details perhaps?

Also.. hiya, Clint. ;-)

clintmartin


I've got a song that I'm starting to like, but my levels are at -22 db. Is setting up a new stereo bus the best or most transparrent way to raise the levels? It seems that doing this alone raises the volume quite a bit. Another way is to turn up the gain on every track...guess I'm just wondering what you guys do. I realize I have several options, I'm just trying to learn some good habits for the future. One of course would be, to record with a higher level.

Actually, ~20db is a good place to be, RMS-wise. This gives you plenty of headroom in case you need it. Normally, you don't need buses unless you're grouping instruments, but it is always a good idea to have at least a master bus. The master bus is where you will want to adjust the mix loudness. Individual tracks need only be relatively the same loudness (so that fader adjusts start from unity and aren't drastic) and not quite that near clipping.


I pretty much use the K-system suggestions for final volume targets, although I always mix tracks at roughly -20db RMS, with an occasional check to ensure I'm not clipping. This keeps the buses from requiring drastic trim too.

And yeah... group select, raise the gain. Is there low rumble/hiss on the tracks? If so R-Mix might be a good option.

Hi to you Beepster! (I've been liking your tunes on soundcloud by the way) I usually aim for -12 db peak on the master bus so for me I would like to get this song up there with as little color as possible. I'm not quite to the point where I'm mixing or adding compression and/or limiting. I was just thinking a gain stage bus may be a good idea, but it's probably not needed. All tracks are at or below unity and the gains are at zero. I guess I could try my new waves one knob...Hahaha, but that adds compression. I don't want that yet.

I'd say let it ride until you get it where you want and then crank it in a mastering session. But obviously I'm still figuring stuff out myself so maybe ask the dudes in the techniques forum.

And thanks for checking out the tunes. They were fun and got my head wrapped around everything. Now I gotta my shiz together and see if I can get to a semi pro level. Dagnab baby steps ain't cuttin' it no more, yanno? 

Cheers, bro.

Yep, every song I have on soundcloud so far is basically me learning to use Sonar. I've only had it since May and it's my first PC based daw. I'm also getting to a point where I'm getting tired of reading and I'm ready to record a lot. Sonar has so many tools I'm always wondering if I'm making things to hard......This is usually the case!

Beepster


Low record level? All tracks are that low? Anyway... can't turn up your Master? Are you going to add any mastering effects? You could get some more oomph there. Someone also mentioned to me at one point inserting blank PC modules and using the input/output knobs to adjust gain. A bus would work too. IDK... more details perhaps?

Also.. hiya, Clint. ;-)

I mentioned using blank PC FXchain modules, but more to gain stage within the PC to prevent overloading individual modules.
 
At the OP, it depends what you are preparing the projects for.  Mastering?  Then you want to leave plenty of headroom for the mastering engineer.
 
Are you recording at 24 bit or 16?
 
Unlike the analog days, you don't need to record too hot.
 
There are better ways to raise the levels than having to insert a buss.  Explain a little more about what you're doing, and we can offer some more accurate advice.
 

clintmartin


Yep, every song I have on soundcloud so far is basically me learning to use Sonar. I've only had it since May and it's my first PC based daw. I'm also getting to a point where I'm getting tired of reading and I'm ready to record a lot. Sonar has so many tools I'm always wondering if I'm making things to hard......This is usually the case!

I think there comes a point where if you know how to get things into and out of a project you just gotta start making music. There's only so much fiddle faddle and minutiae that one can delve into before you're just wasting time. That's stuff seems to be easier to figure out as you truck along the bumpy road. I'll dig into your SC uploads when I get a chance. The move has been hectic though. So much crap to do. Ugh. Much better environment though. Cheers. 

@jb... Ah, yes. I remember the thread now. Still seems like a useful trick for multiple circumstances. Man... I can't wait to get set back up again.