Recording Levels in Cubase

shadyru · 3rd November 2006, 09:48 PM

I hope Im posting in the right area.

I am just starting to record guitars into rme fireface 400 using Cubase SX 3 and digicheck as my meters.

I was hoping someone could explain at what level I should be recording guitars and other instruments. I will be doing all my mixing in the box, using plug-ins, etc. Using my DIGICHECK for meters I have been recording my guitars at -12dbfs peak, I have read elsewhere that is what I should be doing if I am mixing aprox 24 tracks later.

Is this seem about right? Can anyone give me a quick easy tutorial on how they set up and at what level they record?

Thanks ahead of time!

statikcat · 3rd November 2006, 10:08 PM

I record almost everything as hot as I can without clipping or manipulating the source in a bad way. I want signal-noise ratio as far aprat as possible. If I record in 10 tracks at a good hot signal I just turn down my track faders to compensate on the stereo output bus.

Having to turn things down is much easier than up!

**Geert van den Berg** · 3rd November 2006, 10:10 PM

You're doing fine...

Though I'd say aim for an rms level at about -18 or -12 dbFs, it's okay if you have some peaks going to -6, though you'd have to keep in mind which instrument you're recording, some are more dynamic and then you could use a little extra headroom to capture it without having to compress it to death and to avoid clipping.

The thing is that if you track very hot you sometimes also have to drive your analog hear/pre-amps hard which not always leads to transparent results. You have to use them at their optimum level too. It can look on the meters as if nothing is distorting, but you can definately hear it sometimes, though sometimes it sounds nice.

lovingj · 4th November 2006, 10:54 AM

Aim for peaks not exceeding -6 dbs. In digital, hot is not necessary. Never aim for 0 dbs. Never. In other words, you are on the right track.

shanabit · 4th November 2006, 11:07 AM

-12 to -6 is where most Cubase guys record at with good results and enough room to apply EQ after the fact without issues.

Mike Tholen · 4th November 2006, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by statikcat

I record almost everything as hot as I can without clipping or manipulating the source in a bad way. I want signal-noise ratio as far aprat as possible. If I record in 10 tracks at a good hot signal I just turn down my track faders to compensate on the stereo output bus.

This is so wrong that it should be deleted from the thread.

damn kids these daze.

dementedchord · 4th November 2006, 09:40 PM

it's a pretty heavy read for some but if your really interested try searching here and PSW for the discussions by paul frindle... ethan winer has also had some good explainations on this...

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3rd November 2006, 09:48 PM	#1
shadyru Gear maniac Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 251	Recording Levels in Cubase I hope Im posting in the right area. I am just starting to record guitars into rme fireface 400 using Cubase SX 3 and digicheck as my meters. I was hoping someone could explain at what level I should be recording guitars and other instruments. I will be doing all my mixing in the box, using plug-ins, etc. Using my DIGICHECK for meters I have been recording my guitars at -12dbfs peak, I have read elsewhere that is what I should be doing if I am mixing aprox 24 tracks later. Is this seem about right? Can anyone give me a quick easy tutorial on how they set up and at what level they record? Thanks ahead of time!

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3rd November 2006, 10:08 PM	#2
statikcat Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: USA - Indiana Posts: 774	I record almost everything as hot as I can without clipping or manipulating the source in a bad way. I want signal-noise ratio as far aprat as possible. If I record in 10 tracks at a good hot signal I just turn down my track faders to compensate on the stereo output bus. Having to turn things down is much easier than up!

3rd November 2006, 10:10 PM	#3
Geert van den Berg Mac Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 2,583	You're doing fine... Though I'd say aim for an rms level at about -18 or -12 dbFs, it's okay if you have some peaks going to -6, though you'd have to keep in mind which instrument you're recording, some are more dynamic and then you could use a little extra headroom to capture it without having to compress it to death and to avoid clipping. The thing is that if you track very hot you sometimes also have to drive your analog hear/pre-amps hard which not always leads to transparent results. You have to use them at their optimum level too. It can look on the meters as if nothing is distorting, but you can definately hear it sometimes, though sometimes it sounds nice.

4th November 2006, 10:54 AM	#4
lovingj Gear Head Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 63	Aim for peaks not exceeding -6 dbs. In digital, hot is not necessary. Never aim for 0 dbs. Never. In other words, you are on the right track.

4th November 2006, 11:07 AM	#5
shanabit Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,005	-12 to -6 is where most Cubase guys record at with good results and enough room to apply EQ after the fact without issues.

4th November 2006, 09:40 PM	#7
dementedchord Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 799	it's a pretty heavy read for some but if your really interested try searching here and PSW for the discussions by paul frindle... ethan winer has also had some good explainations on this...