Hey guys
I Have made several sets, but Im always encoutering the same problem, Im afraid to get distortion as the mixer reaches +5 DB sometimes, so I lower the volium from the computer but then the quality is not so good.
How can I set it to have good quality at high volium?
Thanks in advance.

Well it depends. When you are reaching those +5 dB's on your mixer, is that continuous (I mean pretty much) or are they just occasional peaks. You should try to average AROUND 0 dB (so not peaking at 0 dB on the vumeter). Occasional peaks aren't that bad, as long as you didn't use up all the headroom of your mixer (and frankly if you reached that high, you're not setting your levels the right way).

Like I said several times here on this forum, a digital peakmeter (like on your recording program) acts differently than a vumeter. You are not allowed to hit more than 0 dB in the digital domain, as this will irremediably mean digital distortion.
So the best way to set your recording levels is to mix as you always do, and set your recording levels when you are at a maximum level in your tunes (so adjusting your levels when playing the intro isn't right). If you are certain you won't get higher than this, adjust the levels in such a way the peakmeter of your recording program hits -0.1 dB maximum. This ensure you use the full dynamic range of your soundcard.

If you think that in the flow of your set you may even go a little bit louder, keep a little margin on the recording levels, say 2 dB. Don't keep too much a margin, because if you set your recording levels too low, you'll have to normalize/amplify it later, and this will bring extra noise.
Controlling your levels is important when recording sets. Try to practice on that. If you really keep overshooting, a compressor between the mixer and the soundcard could help. But like always, the less stuff you put in between, the cleaner the sound will be.

well said...

damn digital pickyness... i think it's time i buy a nice analog recording solution :P

-mer

Thats exactly what I did, and it reaches +5 DB when I mix 2 tunes together, only for those 2 minuts of the mix or so, not all the time.
So I did what you said, I put the EQ on high levels and checked if i got distortion, i recorded a few times but the quality wasnt that good.
Ill keep practicing on it.
Thanks

is there a crossfader curve control on your mixer? you might want to adjust that to prevent the level from going up when both tracks are in the mix... most mixers dont have them, but some do

also, if your mixer has a record output, you might want to connect that to your soundcard rather than the master... the levels of the record output on most mixers is a little more stable.

-mer

Erm I don't recall saying something about EQ's on max . I meant with 'maximum volume in your tunes' when your record is in a peak moment, the loudest part. The intro's and outro's of most tunes usually are less loud than the main part, because there is less going on at the same time, the tune is just building up.

First of all Meridian, the record output doesn't actually differ from the master output except for the fact that the record output is independent from the master fader. That's very useful if you have parents or neighbours that don't like noise. If you connect the master output to your soundcard, and adjust your levels when your master fader is completely open. Now for some reason you need to lower the master fader (parents are nagging or something like that), you'll have to adjust the recording levels again. Not with the record output. This output will always send the signal as if the master fader was completely open. That's why with that output you can set the levels, and basically forget about them later. (ok I admit it, there can be another difference on pro mixers. On pro mixers the master output is usually +4dBu, while the record output will be at consumer level -10dBu).
Crossfader curve adjust might be nice, but it's only in the assumption you use the xfader to mix . I know most use the line faders (I know I do).

So Scorchio, you say it only happens when you are actually in the mix?
Well I think you must pay a little more attention to your levels then, especially your bass. If you want the real smooth mix, basically your levels shouldn't increase.
There are two method to remedy to that situation (actually three, but the third is a combination of the first two).

a) when you are starting your mix, don't open the incoming channel 100% right away, but let's say 70-80%. Now when you are mixing, increase the incoming channel to 100% WHILE you are decreasing the old tune to 70-80%. That way the average volume won't move a lot.
b) use EQ's, and low frequencies in particular. Basically the same way as for a), start with the bass of the incoming tune low, and gradually increase it to it's nominal position while you are decreasing the bass of the old tune. Gradually can mean different things : in a smooth motion, in a broken motion following the rhythm of the tunes, ...
The most important thing is not to want to go too fast. It should sound like you aren't fiddling with the faders/EQ's at all.
Like I said, you can also use a combination of both.

I know some people like to have a little volume boost in the mix to give more energy, but 5 dB seems a little bit too much. 2-3 dB at most. But if you are that kinda guy, don't forget to compensate that in your recording levels.

Thats usually what I do Thy, I mix using the EQs and I try to fade them simultaniously so that the levels wont increase and collide too much.
Thanks for your hwlp I'll try it out

___________________


SIGN THE "WE WANT SASHA & DIGWEED @ BUENOS AIRES ON DVD" PETITION!