Anna Log

That's a lazy mans method, and guaranteed to ensure under-recording, with resulting noise and loss of bit depth. I understand the noise issue here. I thought we were recording at 24 bit no matter what the input level? So is everything that comes in under -18dbfs... under 24 bits? Or is it under -12dbfs. Where o where do I start losing bits? Yamaha said I should be at -12dbfs. Maybe I should make up better songs, then this kinda stuff wouldn't matter so much.

Originally posted by Sinesis Have been reading this thread and really don't understand really much of what is being said. I record directly into a MOTU 896HD and i usually keep my levels as hot as they can get before they clip, is this wrong? I don't use any analog mixer, all my keyboardsmics go right to my MOTU. please help Hmmm.

I like everyone involved with capturing Lyle Lovett's music, from tracking to mixing to mastering. Superb attention to detail. I have been told my mixes sound like {censored}. I just keep tryin.

Hey y'all... I talked to Yamaha today about my 4416. They said I should be going in at-12dbfs. They confirmed everything you guys were saying about input levels. They didn't agree with me that the guy who wrote the manual should get a shot in the nuts for not putting this kind of info in the manual. LOL About the 32bit floating thingy...isn't that whole argument pointless if you track correctly, or am I missing something here?

where... I would like to get out of your hair with this topic and on to another... thanks for your patience. My Yamaha AW4416 has a rinky dink little meter that reads 0to-60db in normal mode, and from 0to-26db in "fine" mode. You guys are saying to stay close to -18dbfs. On this unit, when I am around -18 db on my meter, I am still one tick below orange. It just seems soooo low. But I have to say I think it sounds better down there. Is -18db the same as -18dbfs? I am so confused by the whole thing at this point that I'm not sure if I am coming or going. Please understand, I haven't spent my whole life doing this, just chasing the chance to. It is hard to understand all this {censored} when the last time I recorded we were slammin to tape, and I haven't kept up on all the details of this digital monster thingy. I have been putting my little studio together for years now and I finally have my material together and I just want to get it as right as I can. I certainly appreciate the help you and everyone else have given.

You think you are frustrated huh? Try on my shoes for a spell.

Thank you for all the info! When I do that unity test thing, or what I think I'm supposed to do anyway, the level doesn't even reach midway thru it's travel. It goes to about 20db. The unit is a Yamaha aw4416, the meter says db on it, I may have the meaning of db wrong, I thought it meant decibel. What does dbFS mean? My mixes DO sound all mudded up. I have noticed a softer feel to tracks that I thought were recorded too low, but never thought of input levels because of my huge case of paradigm paralysis. I really need to get a handle on this, thanks again for all the input.

Sorry guys...I surely do not want to create hate and discontent. I appreciate all the input, really. I like the musician part of us best...

Originally posted by The Chinese just a guess, from the specs, that's it's -18dBfs=0VU. http://www.aw4416.com/e/product/product.html -Todd A. How does that translate to my meter scale, am I looking for -18? It sounds like that should be my mid point level, right? Where is that number found in the specs? I am pretty dense. Thank you all for the input.

Where01290 posted on a different thread, "Never record as hot as possible. Target your nominal level to the 0dbu reference of your converters inputs. This allows plenty of transient headroom for peaks without 0dbfs overshoot and optimum audio signal quality." I kinda get it, but not really. I am not to quick on the uptake on some things. Could you draw me a picture? I use an AW4416 for my little rinky dinkin' stuff. I try to get my levels as hot as possible without clipping. I was told once that if I wasn't in the orange, I may just as well be recording at 16 bits. Is there a spec that I should read in my manual that would tell me the 0dbu reference of my converters inputs? Thanks.