Best program for recording your sets

TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- DJ Booth
-- Best program for recording your sets

Posted by agentdansmith on Feb-22-2007 13:41:

Best program for recording your sets

What do you guys use to record your sets onto your PC?

I'm after something that records in a very good quality without a load of extra stuff that I'll never use - such as Audition.

Also, how come when I record to my PC, I have to have the line-in level set to minimum and the gains on my mixer set to 10 o'clock? It doesn't leave much room for gain increase through the mix without distortion.

Posted by ill0gical0ne on Feb-22-2007 13:52:

Re: Best program for recording your sets

quote:
Originally posted by agentdansmith
What do you guys use to record your sets onto your PC?

Audacity.

quote:
Originally posted by agentdansmith
Also, how come when I record to my PC, I have to have the line-in level set to minimum and the gains on my mixer set to 10 o'clock? It doesn't leave much room for gain increase through the mix without distortion.

Master volume? Try turning down the master volume on your mixer, and just upping the volume on your speakers.

Posted by everett on Feb-22-2007 14:00:

If you're using audacity turn up the line in volume.

Posted by agentdansmith on Feb-22-2007 14:06:

Not used Audacity, I'll try that.

The master volume on my mixer doesn't affect the recording levels, only the gains do.

I've got a Numark DXM06 24bit Digital Mixer if that helps.

Posted by everett on Feb-22-2007 14:18:

quote:
Originally posted by agentdansmith
Not used Audacity, I'll try that.

The master volume on my mixer doesn't affect the recording levels, only the gains do.

I've got a Numark DXM06 24bit Digital Mixer if that helps.

Sounds like your using a booth out, in that case the master shouldn't affect your recording anyway. The reason the gain does is so you can normalize each song while your mixing.

Posted by ill0gical0ne on Feb-22-2007 14:20:

quote:
Originally posted by everett
Sounds like your using a booth out, in that case the master shouldn't affect your recording anyway. The reason the gain does is so you can normalize each song while your mixing.

Yeah... If you're just recording at home, I'd plug your speakers into the booth output, and your computer into the master out.

Posted by agentdansmith on Feb-22-2007 14:24:

quote:
Originally posted by ill0gical0ne
Yeah... If you're just recording at home, I'd plug your speakers into the booth output, and your computer into the master out.

Without sounding too thick...

When you say plug your speakers, you mean, plug my amp into the the booth output? Also, it doesn't say Booth at the back - it says Record Out - are these the same?

What difference will doing this make?

Posted by everett on Feb-22-2007 14:49:

quote:
Originally posted by agentdansmith
Without sounding too thick...

When you say plug your speakers, you mean, plug my amp into the the booth output? Also, it doesn't say Booth at the back - it says Record Out - are these the same?

What difference will doing this make?

You hook up your amp and speakers to the master out and hook your computers line-in/mic to booth out on the mixer. Record is the same.

Posted by ill0gical0ne on Feb-22-2007 14:59:

quote:
Originally posted by everett
You hook up your amp and speakers to the master out and hook your computers line-in/mic to booth out on the mixer. Record is the same.

This is why he's having problems with clipping.

I know it sounds odd, but I believe that if you plug your speakers/amp into "record" and your computer into "master" it will help. That or you can get a powered signal splitter, and just have both on the same signal.

Posted by agentdansmith on Feb-22-2007 15:00:

Posted by everett on Feb-22-2007 15:17:

quote:
Originally posted by agentdansmith
That is how I've got it wired up, but I have just been told to wire it up the other way.

AMP > BOOTH

PC > MASTER

Its really personal preference, I like to be able to control my main speakers using master.

Posted by agentdansmith on Feb-22-2007 15:35:

quote:
Originally posted by everett
Its really personal preference, I like to be able to control my main speakers using master.

So, if I've got it wired up the other way:

AMP > BOOTH

PC > MASTER

Do I adjust the recording levels with ther Master rather than the Gains? And what do I do with the gains then?

Posted by everett on Feb-22-2007 15:44:

quote:
Originally posted by agentdansmith
So, if I've got it wired up the other way:

AMP > BOOTH

PC > MASTER

Do I adjust the recording levels with ther Master rather than the Gains? And what do I do with the gains then?

The gains will adjust the volume to the amp and recording and the master will control the volume of the recording only.

Posted by skip on Feb-22-2007 16:33:

adjust the gains so that both channels peak at 0dB and adjust the master so that it peaks at 0db too. never go above 0dB, that's when it starts clipping. if you're much under 0dB the signal isn't very loud. to get the loudest non distorted signal everything should be exactly at 0db. this still might be a bit quiet on your computer as there's different sorts of line level signals. i think what most "pro gear" use is about 10dB under the normal home audio gear line level signal. if your sound card doesn't have any settings to change the recording signal level you can later on amplify it using your recording program (for example audacity).

Posted by agentdansmith on Feb-22-2007 16:58:

quote:
Originally posted by skip
adjust the gains so that both channels peak at 0dB and adjust the master so that it peaks at 0db too. never go above 0dB, that's when it starts clipping. if you're much under 0dB the signal isn't very loud. to get the loudest non distorted signal everything should be exactly at 0db. this still might be a bit quiet on your computer as there's different sorts of line level signals. i think what most "pro gear" use is about 10dB under the normal home audio gear line level signal. if your sound card doesn't have any settings to change the recording signal level you can later on amplify it using your recording program (for example audacity).

Thanks for the tip, but unfortunately the db level inditor LEDs on my mixer are crap. There is only about 7 LED's from MIN to MAX and they seem very unresponsive.

Or do you mean the db meter on my PC's recording software?

Posted by skip on Feb-22-2007 18:48:

quote:
Originally posted by agentdansmith
Thanks for the tip, but unfortunately the db level inditor LEDs on my mixer are crap. There is only about 7 LED's from MIN to MAX and they seem very unresponsive.

Or do you mean the db meter on my PC's recording software?

no, i mean the ones on your mixer. how are yours unresponsive? and 7 leds should be enough to get the gains and the master adjusted to 0dB.

Posted by cmay119 on Feb-23-2007 07:22:

Master Out from mixer > RCA Plugs directly into Creative X-Fi Bay Drive > Set Creative driver to 'Audio Creation' Mode and set the Gain levels to 0dB on the Mixer and in drivers > hit record.

Posted by Trance Android on Feb-23-2007 10:47:

I use SoundForge. Can't remember the exact wiring configuration (I'm at work) will post it later. I have the booth control set to about 30% on the dial & then whilst playing a track (to get a visual on the levels coming through SoundForge) I adjust both the line in volume control on the PC & also the booth volume control on the mixer so that the levels are at the maximum without clipping.

Like the others said, use the mixers level meter LED's to keep the volume peaking at around 0db. You now get plenty of play in with the gains as you've not got em cracked up to the max to start off with