Monitoring Input Levels In Logic 9 While Tracking Drums

Kenny M · 8th November 2009

I'm a long time Logic user (since about V4) and Pro Tools HD user since Mix. While I sequence a lot of midi in Logic I have only actually recorded audio into it a handful of times. Pro Tools has always been my preference for that.

Lately I've been tracking drums at a studio that while having a PTHD rig all the composers there use Logic and prefer not to convert their projects over to PT for tracking drums and percussion. No problem I thought as I'm comfortable using Logic. The problem I discovered, at least with Logic 9 is that the track meters only seem to monitor the tracks output, not the actual input level. In other words if you turn down the tracks fader to set up a balance between all the drum kit inputs, the channel led's show a much lower safe level - EVEN IF YOU'RE SLAMMING THE CONVERTER INPUTS!

This is a big monitoring flaw as I see it and I can't believe that there isn't a way to monitor the actual input levels although I can't seem to find where to select that option neither tooling around the menus or the manual. Nor can these other composers who are what I consider to be Logic experts.

Is this a bug with Logic 9? Can anyone tell me how to monitor the actual inputs? Even though I love sequencing in Logic, a system that can't do this is pretty useless for tracking in my opinion.

up and at them · 8th November 2009

this shouldn't be happening if the track is record enabled, but if it is a problem turn on Pre-fader metering. It's under Options>Audio

darryl2112 · 8th November 2009

I am a little confused. In Logic, on each channel strip there are several buttons (mute,solo,rec enable,and input monitor). When you activate the input monitor (by click on the I button next to rec enable) you get to see and hear (if you have "software monitoring" enable in your project settings) whats coming into logic "pre-fader", that should be congruent with the levels on whatever you are using for pre's and converters (assuming they have meters).That should be what you want to look at, its pre fader, so turning your fader down shouldn't do anything until you are playing back what you recorded. Now, I say this realizing that L9 has a lot of options and settings to make it do all kinds of stuff, but iirc, it comes default with the setttings in play. I have had so many problems with L9's stability that I wouldn't be surprised to hear anything crazy about it though.

Kenny M · 9th November 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by up and at them

this shouldn't be happening if the track is record enabled, but if it is a problem turn on Pre-fader metering. It's under Options>Audio

Thanks, that's what I was trying to find.

8th November 2009	#1
Kenny M Gear addict Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 365 Thread Starter	Monitoring Input Levels In Logic 9 While Tracking Drums I'm a long time Logic user (since about V4) and Pro Tools HD user since Mix. While I sequence a lot of midi in Logic I have only actually recorded audio into it a handful of times. Pro Tools has always been my preference for that. Lately I've been tracking drums at a studio that while having a PTHD rig all the composers there use Logic and prefer not to convert their projects over to PT for tracking drums and percussion. No problem I thought as I'm comfortable using Logic. The problem I discovered, at least with Logic 9 is that the track meters only seem to monitor the tracks output, not the actual input level. In other words if you turn down the tracks fader to set up a balance between all the drum kit inputs, the channel led's show a much lower safe level - EVEN IF YOU'RE SLAMMING THE CONVERTER INPUTS! This is a big monitoring flaw as I see it and I can't believe that there isn't a way to monitor the actual input levels although I can't seem to find where to select that option neither tooling around the menus or the manual. Nor can these other composers who are what I consider to be Logic experts. Is this a bug with Logic 9? Can anyone tell me how to monitor the actual inputs? Even though I love sequencing in Logic, a system that can't do this is pretty useless for tracking in my opinion.

8th November 2009	#2
up and at them Gear Head Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 72	this shouldn't be happening if the track is record enabled, but if it is a problem turn on Pre-fader metering. It's under Options>Audio __________________ In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women

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8th November 2009	#3
darryl2112 Gear nut Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 111	I am a little confused. In Logic, on each channel strip there are several buttons (mute,solo,rec enable,and input monitor). When you activate the input monitor (by click on the I button next to rec enable) you get to see and hear (if you have "software monitoring" enable in your project settings) whats coming into logic "pre-fader", that should be congruent with the levels on whatever you are using for pre's and converters (assuming they have meters).That should be what you want to look at, its pre fader, so turning your fader down shouldn't do anything until you are playing back what you recorded. Now, I say this realizing that L9 has a lot of options and settings to make it do all kinds of stuff, but iirc, it comes default with the setttings in play. I have had so many problems with L9's stability that I wouldn't be surprised to hear anything crazy about it though.