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Recording Quality Question

I have been DJing and recording for a long time, but have not had a chance to get too deep into the technicalities of recording. I've been recording through a high end SoundBlaster Audigy sound card and using SoundForge to clean things up and normalize my sets when I'm done.

Despite attempts at various methods of normalization, my mix CDs always turn out much quiter than other recorded sets and CDs. I have tried normalizing to a higher level, but that always results in excessive clipping which makes it sound like shit.

Is there any simple way that I can increase the level of my recorded sets without clipping, or is this just a limitation of my current setup that I have to live with until I can go buy some expensive recording equipment?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Great thread.

To add to the question, will a soundcard determine the quality of sound coming from the mixer to the pc as well? I have a pretty cheap sound card in my computer and was wondering if I upgrade to something better, the recorded sets will sound better.

Isolater: A friend of mine let me use his pc to record my last set and did it through SoundForge. He was explaining to me what he was doing when it was finished recording but I don't remember all of what he said. But I do remember him saying something about "maximizing" the mix to make it louder. Hope that helps a little!

quote:

Originally posted by DOOMBOT Great thread. To add to the question, will a soundcard determine the quality of sound coming from the mixer to the pc as well? I have a pretty cheap sound card in my computer and was wondering if I upgrade to something better, the recorded sets will sound better. Isolater: A friend of mine let me use his pc to record my last set and did it through SoundForge. He was explaining to me what he was doing when it was finished recording but I don't remember all of what he said. But I do remember him saying something about "maximizing" the mix to make it louder. Hope that helps a little!

Hmmm, not sure what maximizing would be...

One thing I can gell you in regards to sound cards is that the type ov available inputs definitely does make a difference. I used to record all of my sets on a crappy sound card through an 1/8" input. I bought a sound card with standard RCA inputs which definitely made a difference in the sound.

I know there are a great deal of professional quality sound cards on the market, so I imagine that they probably do make a difference.

Buddy of mine just said this...

quote:

Use a tool called the �Wave Hammer� in Soundforge. This can compress your file, and then you can maximize it. I use the Waves UltraMaximizer for that, but I don�t think you have Waves. I could send it to you if you wanted it. The wave hammer has a volume maximizer on the second tab, so you should be fine with using that.

Cool, thanks for the info. I'll let you know how that works out for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Isolator Cool, thanks for the info. I'll let you know how that works out for me.

+1. Same problem.

What version of Sound Forge are you using?
If you're using SF7 or above, the normalizing can get a bit confusing. Try using the volume adjustment then do some minimal normalizing. Also, while you're recording, make sure that on your soundcard, the input sound isn't too high. This can cause clipping even if you're not registering it and makes it tough to lower and normalize. In short, a bad recording.

quote:

Originally posted by TwistedDUO What version of Sound Forge are you using? If you're using SF7 or above, the normalizing can get a bit confusing. Try using the volume adjustment then do some minimal normalizing. Also, while you're recording, make sure that on your soundcard, the input sound isn't too high. This can cause clipping even if you're not registering it and makes it tough to lower and normalize. In short, a bad recording.

I have used 7.0, 8.0, and Sound Forge Audio Studio - currently using Sound Forge 8. I did try using volume instead of normalizing to attempt to even out the changes in recording level, which worked, but the CD is still quiet.

I know that it would help if I had a compressor to use while I was recording. Now that it's recorded I'm hoping that this Wave Hammer tool will essentially serve as this. Maybe after that, I can normalize a little more with minimal clipping. I'll have to check the input levels on the sound card though, I never thought that there could be clipping going on in the sound card that would not register above 0.0 in SoundForge.

quote:

Originally posted by Isolator I'll have to check the input levels on the sound card though, I never thought that there could be clipping going on in the sound card that would not register above 0.0 in SoundForge.

For example:
If you have your input up too high, but adjust your SF recording levels down to compensate. You'll still get a clipping sound through.

if it's quiet, turn up the volume when listening

make sure to not use too much compression in mastering your sets

the tracks themselves have gone through numerous compressors by the time you get it

compress it too much and you lose that dynamic range making your recordings sound flat, it may be loud but it's flat

Sound blaster is not that good.
Better sound interface = slightly better sound.

Id recommend to set your project to 24bit instead of 16bit.
This way you can record at lower volume, say at -10db, this
way you are leaving some headroom before digital clipping.
24bit file has 256 times more depth resolution over 16bit.
This way you capture more sound information at a lower input
volume. Then, you can increase your recording's volume by either compressing/limiting right up to near 0db and save your recording
as 16 bit file. I use SF 8.0 and its build in compressors are lousy.
Invest into Waves or T-racks. Look for good Mastering Processors.

Also, compressing already mastered recording (track you play) is not
always a good idea. Modern EDM, especially Trance already comes
compressed the shit out of, with little dynamic range. I recommend Leveling as close to zero as possible without excessive clipping.

Anyone have any comments on the basic M-Audio Fasttrack box?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7372354&st=m+audio&lp=6&type=product&cp=1&id=1122654018433

Will it give me better quality than my basic laptop card?

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