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Mixing CD with Vinyl

OK, I've noticed that when I mix a track from my CDJ with a vinyl, The sound is always louder on the CD.

Like, if I put the volume at 8/10 on the mixer for the CD, I always have to put the sound of the vinyl a little louder, around 8.75/10 (and no it's not my gain, they're both at around 0 dB).

any help ?

Re: Mixing CD with Vinyl

quote:

Originally posted by PezCore OK, I've noticed that when I mix a track from my CDJ with a vinyl, The sound is always louder on the CD. Like, if I put the volume at 8/10 on the mixer for the CD, I always have to put the sound of the vinyl a little louder, around 8.75/10 (and no it's not my gain, they're both at around 0 dB). any help ?

cd's are always gonna be better quality than vinyl so it will always be a bit louder. I adjust the gain on my mixer to compensate for it but i know ppl who compensate for it using the up-faders its up to you how you do it rly.

Re: Re: Mixing CD with Vinyl

quote:

Originally posted by chris harrington cd's are always gonna be better quality than vinyl

Incorrect.

The reason that CDs are louder is because they can be made louder. On vinyl you have to worry about the depth and width of the cut. Making the cut too deep (aka too loud) causes the needle to jump out of the groove.

I'm not agreeing with any of the answers above...

Lets break this down:

Your mixer has 2 diff types of inputs... 1) the line in for line level signals (CD Player). for the tech geeks, -10dbu

2)And phono inputs for your turntables. (-60dbu instrument level) The output signal of your turntable is not line level, so the phono ins on your mixer have pre-amps built into them to boost it up.

Bottom line here is that one input to the next is not apples to apples. That's the whole point of the trim / gain knob on your mixer. To allow you to intellgently adjust the gains of two sources so they match relatively. the inputs will always be all over the place because no two tracks are the exact same.


a different example of this would be... two people singing into microphones. their voices aren't going to be the exact same level... so the engineer adjusts the gains so they match.

quote:

Originally posted by CReddick Bottom line here is that one input to the next is not apples to apples. That's the whole point of the trim / gain knob on your mixer. To allow you to intellgently adjust the gains of two sources so they match relatively. the inputs will always be all over the place because no two tracks are the exact same.

OK, but I thought if channel 1 (tt) = 0dB and channel 2 (CDJ)= 0dB, adjusted with the gain/trim knob, they would sound identical in terms of master output volume..

So that means that I'd need for certain tracks to adjust the dB of channel 1 (tt) to 0dB and the dB of channel 2 (CDJ) around -2dB, so they sound equal in volume at ears, but not in the master output ??

Because if I mix 2 tracks from my CDJs at 0dB, they always sound equal in volume..

Re: Re: Mixing CD with Vinyl

quote:

Originally posted by chris harrington cd's are always gonna be better quality than vinyl

quote:

Originally posted by PezCore OK, but I thought if channel 1 (tt) = 0dB and channel 2 (CDJ)= 0dB, adjusted with the gain/trim knob, they would sound identical in terms of master output volume.. So that means that I'd need for certain tracks to adjust the dB of channel 1 (tt) to 0dB and the dB of channel 2 (CDJ) around -2dB, so they sound equal in volume at ears, but not in the master output ?? Because if I mix 2 tracks from my CDJs at 0dB, they always sound equal in volume..

I hear you on this point... sometimes using your eyes on the gain meter can be deceiving. What you might think would sound equal between the two, ends up not. Back to the whole no two tracks being the same... Your LEDs on your mixer are reading 'peak' levels. And your ears are hearing the overall sound(RMS), not just the loudest part.

I run into this issue when i dj / produce my podcast... its good to close your eyes, and A/B your cue from one source to the next, and make sure they sound equal in level to your ears too.

Thanks

and the best way to compensate would be the channel faders or the trim/gain knob ?? or is it the same in the end ?

quote:

Originally posted by PezCore Thanks and the best way to compensate would be the channel faders or the trim/gain knob ?? or is it the same in the end ?

Yes.

You should always watch you levels and make sure the two tracks are the same volume.

That's what the flashing red/green lights on the mixer are for; as the bloke above you said though, this is not always accurate (peak vs RMS), but it's a good guide.

quote:

Originally posted by PezCore Thanks and the best way to compensate would be the channel faders or the trim/gain knob ?? or is it the same in the end ?

equal them out on the gain side... so that way you don't have to be super tedious with your faders. all the way up on both faders will match.

thanks, that pretty much answer my question.. I knew what the red/green lights were for, I just didn't know that the line channel input was the peak level.. I was always refering to it as if both were at the same dB, they would sound equal in volume.

before playing track A, adjust the levels so they are within the limits... then in ur headfones play both track A and track B in them and adjust the gain on track B to the same volume as track A

i have a similar problem but the opposite way round. i kind of believe it's a fault with my equipment now tho, either my mixer or turntable.

quote:

Originally posted by CReddick I'm not agreeing with any of the answers above... the inputs will always be all over the place because no two tracks are the exact same.

+1

I have vinyls that have different levels thta have to be compensated for using the gain. Its often tracks on different labels, coz they probably use different mastering techniques or press them differently

Re: Mixing CD with Vinyl

What needles are u running?

quote:

Originally posted by PezCore OK, I've noticed that when I mix a track from my CDJ with a vinyl, The sound is always louder on the CD. Like, if I put the volume at 8/10 on the mixer for the CD, I always have to put the sound of the vinyl a little louder, around 8.75/10 (and no it's not my gain, they're both at around 0 dB). any help ?

Re: Re: Mixing CD with Vinyl

quote:

Originally posted by Dj Spiel What needles are u running?

I'm using a Shure SS35C, and it's not the needle cuz it's relatively new, and I've also noticed that problem with my previous needle

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