Channel EQ levels

RussMaGuss · 17th July 2009

I'm not sure what's up with Logic and my MacBook, or maybe it's the PreSonus Firepod I'm using, but I have the levels up on my Firepod enough that the tracks will occasionally clip, but when the file gets recorded on my software, (through 24 bit, 96k) the sound level on the track looks like it's only taking up a small percentage of what it could be taking up. Should I just turn up the level even more and then put a compressor on the channel? It gets pretty low with everything except for the bass mostly, but any help would be appreciated by a recording n00b. Included is a screen cap, with the button that increases the size of the waves. without that activated the levels are even lower, taking only roughly 5-10% of what it's capable of.

Jesse Graffam · 18th July 2009

You might want to have a look at the Presonus mixer for the card (part of the driver software it came with that you installed), and make sure the faders are all at unity gain, so that it's not adding unnecessary gain stages.

If you're getting near analog clipping, and still sub -6db digital levels then the digital record levels are probably messed up. However don't correct for low digital levels in the analog section (you'll get analog distortion) or the Presonus mixer (you'll add potentially audible artifacts). Just turn up the gain within Logic with a decent channel plugin.

Please don't use compression just to make things louder, because you'll fall into that trap quickly where everything competes and nothing wins because you're cheating yourself into an acceptable mix (at best)... when you could be learning to make incredible mixes. And believe it or not, it's actually easier to mix properly.

The more dynamics when tracking (and in general), the better. To a point of course, but I'm talking about the recording of what 99% of people call music. :P And really the most bothersome thing to most listeners is the short-term loudness, and you would be reaching for a limiter to "hit" just those transient edges in question... not slap down the entire track at all times like some people seem to think ... well... i have no idea what they are thinking. lol

There's 1,001 books about mixing out there. Crack some open. thumbsup

17th July 2009	#1
RussMaGuss Gear nut Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 95 Thread Starter	Channel EQ levels I'm not sure what's up with Logic and my MacBook, or maybe it's the PreSonus Firepod I'm using, but I have the levels up on my Firepod enough that the tracks will occasionally clip, but when the file gets recorded on my software, (through 24 bit, 96k) the sound level on the track looks like it's only taking up a small percentage of what it could be taking up. Should I just turn up the level even more and then put a compressor on the channel? It gets pretty low with everything except for the bass mostly, but any help would be appreciated by a recording n00b. Included is a screen cap, with the button that increases the size of the waves. without that activated the levels are even lower, taking only roughly 5-10% of what it's capable of. Last edited by RussMaGuss; 17th July 2009 at 01:55 AM.. Reason: Adding the picture

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18th July 2009	#2
Jesse Graffam Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,114	You might want to have a look at the Presonus mixer for the card (part of the driver software it came with that you installed), and make sure the faders are all at unity gain, so that it's not adding unnecessary gain stages. If you're getting near analog clipping, and still sub -6db digital levels then the digital record levels are probably messed up. However don't correct for low digital levels in the analog section (you'll get analog distortion) or the Presonus mixer (you'll add potentially audible artifacts). Just turn up the gain within Logic with a decent channel plugin. Please don't use compression just to make things louder, because you'll fall into that trap quickly where everything competes and nothing wins because you're cheating yourself into an acceptable mix (at best)... when you could be learning to make incredible mixes. And believe it or not, it's actually easier to mix properly. The more dynamics when tracking (and in general), the better. To a point of course, but I'm talking about the recording of what 99% of people call music. :P And really the most bothersome thing to most listeners is the short-term loudness, and you would be reaching for a limiter to "hit" just those transient edges in question... not slap down the entire track at all times like some people seem to think ... well... i have no idea what they are thinking. lol There's 1,001 books about mixing out there. Crack some open. thumbsup