32 bit audio interfaces/ ultra low NOISE FLOOR

[icarus88]

Interesting topic. I don’t know if I believe that there is much to be gained by using a 32 bit interface inmost home studios, at least for straight instrument recording. If you have a world-class studio, then maybe.

But, I used to do a lot of messing around with samples, for my own experimental electronic stuff. In particular I loved to slow/pitch sounds waaaay down, and then boost the super quiet parts. This allowed me to extract some unearthly weird sounds from a pretty normal sounding source sample. But I hit the noise floor very easily doing this. A true 32 bit sample would be a gold mine for creative editing work.

I haven’t done that stuff for a while, but with current tech maybe I should…. My interface is an RME Babyface Pro FS, which is a high quality unit that can go up to 192k/24 bits. I wonder how that would compare to the Zoom in the real world.

My little kid Focusrite Scarlett Solo gen 3 can also go up to 192khz/24 bit, actually the important thing is to buy equipment with low white noise floor. but I haven't come across anything that measures this anywhere. There is no interface noise floor measurement anywhere. The ones who do are a few people on the ASR forum.


When superconductors operating at room temperature are used, there will be no such problem as white noise.

 

[Alban]

My little kid Focusrite Scarlett Solo gen 3 can also go up to 192khz/24 bit, actually the important thing is to buy equipment with low white noise floor. but I haven't come across anything that measures this anywhere. There is no interface noise floor measurement anywhere. The ones who do are a few people on the ASR forum.


When superconductors operating at room temperature are used, there will be no such problem as white noise.

At this point it is important to understand that the noise you are experiencing, is coming from the overdrive pedal and your bass, and not from the interface.
The noise floor is irrelevant with most modern interfaces.

 

[icarus88]

At this point it is important to understand that the noise you are experiencing, is coming from the overdrive pedal and your bass, and not from the interface.
The noise floor is irrelevant with most modern interfaces.

but when the gain setting on the interface is at 10 o'clock, there is no white noise. Focusrite explains it anyway, it says that the white noise after 12 o'clock is normal.maybe it's because it's a cheap interface, I don't know, maybe something like RME doesn't produce white noise after 12 o'clock gain setting

Actually, this issue is not even a problem under normal conditions, but it is a problem for someone with special requests.

 

[Alban]

The gain setting on the interface is there to make sure that you are recording a healthy sound level into the Focusrite. The ring around the preamp knob should only flash green. If you are using a pedal in front of the interface, just turn up the volume of the pedal instead of adding gain on the Focusrite preamp.

In rare cases, some Focusrite interfaces were sensitive to what USB-input was being used on your computer, maybe you can try another (direct-to-computer, not via a hub) USB port to see if things improve.

 

[icarus88]

The gain setting on the interface is there to make sure that you are recording a healthy sound level into the Focusrite. The ring around the preamp knob should only flash green. If you are using a pedal in front of the interface, just turn up the volume of the pedal instead of adding gain on the Focusrite preamp.

In rare cases, some Focusrite interfaces were sensitive to what USB-input was being used on your computer, maybe you can try another (direct-to-computer, not via a hub) USB port to see if things improve.

yes, I think this is the real solution, keep the focusrite gain fixed at 11-12 o'clock and turn the pedal volume settings to full.

Focusrite's own preamp is too weak for bass. I tested it.

I reached industrial standard lufs levels with only pedal settings.

 

[Alban]

-4 LUFS is not an industrial standard. As soon as you publish your music on any streaming service, it will get turned down to -10 or -14 LUFS.
Also, LUFS is only used when mixing and mastering your music, it is never used for recording.

 

[icarus88]

-4 LUFS is not an industrial standard. As soon as you publish your music on any streaming service, it will get turned down to -10 or -14 LUFS.
Also, LUFS is only used when mixing and mastering your music, it is never used for recording.

So I've already exceeded the limit

So I have no problem, I don't need to do anything more than that. This topic shouldn't even be opened, right? So I apologize for being a distraction.

 

[darev]

This topic shouldn't even be opened, right? So I apologize for being a distraction.

You all good. No distraction. We're all learning here.

 

[silky smoove]

Focusrite's own preamp is too weak for bass. I tested it.

No they aren’t. They work fine for recording bass.

I reached industrial standard lufs levels with only pedal settings.

A good level for recording is around -12dbfs, which you’ll note is a digital peak amplitude measurement, not a loudness measurement. You don’t measure gain structures at input using LUFS. Further, technically anything that doesn’t exceed 0dbfs, including intersample overs, is fine. Personally I would turn down at that point.

 

[icarus88]

No they aren’t. They work fine for recording bass.

I don't know about the other Focusrite models, but when I connected my Solo Gen 3 directly to my guitar, I could never exceed the recording volume level of -20, -25 (gain at 12 o'clock), I had to keep the gain level at the highest level to get it.

I've seen this from a few people too. The preamp is weak.

 

[silky smoove]

I don't know about the other Focusrite models, but when I connected my Solo Gen 3 directly to my guitar, I could never exceed the recording volume level of -20, -25 (gain at 12 o'clock), I had to keep the gain level at the highest level to get it.

I've seen this from a few people too. The preamp is weak.

There is ample gain with the Scarlett preamps to send a direct passive bass and get adequate results. -20dbfs is perfectly fine. If you have other things in the chain, just turn them up if you want more, or add gain in post if needed.

 

[Alban]

I don't know about the other Focusrite models, but when I connected my Solo Gen 3 directly to my guitar, I could never exceed the recording volume level of -20, -25 (gain at 12 o'clock), I had to keep the gain level at the highest level to get it.

I've seen this from a few people too. The preamp is weak.

You did switch the interface to “instrument” level, right?

 

[icarus88]

There is ample gain with the Scarlett preamps to send a direct passive bass and get adequate results. -20dbfs is perfectly fine. If you have other things in the chain, just turn them up if you want more, or add gain in post if needed.

I reached -4, there is no need for it anymore, I will lower it to -12, I think -25 is not a good level, if you see the bass guitar as a background filler only it may be enough for you, not for me, I want a hard and loud sound

 

[icarus88]

You did switch the interface to “instrument” level, right?

Of course!

 

[Alban]

I reached -4, there is no need for it anymore, I will lower it to -12, I think -25 is not a good level, if you see the bass guitar as a background filler only it may be enough for you, not for me, I want a hard and loud sound

You would normally use LUFS to measure a full mix, not just one instrument.
If you want everything to be louder, just turn up your speakers

 

[icarus88]

You would normally use LUFS to measure a full mix, not just one instrument.
If you want everything to be louder, just turn up your speakers

If the speakers are turned up even more, the sound of other instruments will also increase, there will be no difference

 

[icarus88]

High gain is a requirement in genres like death metal, heavy metal too.


may not be needed in genres like blues

 

[silky smoove]

I think -25 is not a good level, if you see the bass guitar as a background filler only it may be enough for you, not for me, I want a hard and loud sound

You have a fundamental misunderstanding of the relationship of amplitude within a DAW, context within a mix, and tone in general. -25dbfs may or may not be perfectly acceptable.

 

[silky smoove]

High gain is a requirement in genres like death metal, heavy metal too.

High gain in the analog domain could end up (theoretically) anywhere between -144dbfs and 0dbfs once it crosses the AD stage. You're conflating multiple things.

 

[icarus88]

You have a fundamental misunderstanding of the relationship of amplitude within a DAW, context within a mix, and tone in general. -25dbfs may or may not be perfectly acceptable.

At first I thought the same as you, there was no pedal or anything else, when I recorded at -25 the bass sound was so low that I did not like it at all, I repeat this is a matter of personal preference.


I play with a light touch, I don't even touch the strings properly with my right fingers. It makes a weak recording, my philosophy is light touch/high gain


By the way, I don't use an amplifier or speaker, this also has an effect, if I had given it to the amplifier output it would have been enough. There are only headphones.