Recording Advice

[apkbass]

I am making the effort of moving from using my 8-track to using the computer for recording. My setup revolves around Mixcraft 5, and I use a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB interface. It's really simple. I use an MXL 990 for recording vocals, an MXL 991 along with the 990 for percussion, and a Shure SM58 for miking guitar/bass amps. This is a very basic setup as you can tell, but I can't seem to record even the simplest tracks without some problem, and I'm sure that 100% of it is due to lack of experience. Some of my problems include:

1) Input gain vs. actual track volume. I turn up my gain knob on the 2i2 so it is at a healthy level (green light) without any overdriving (amber/red light). I then turn up the track gain on Mixcraft so the bars fill up pretty well but there is no overdriving. Then, after recording, the volume level of the track is low, even with the speaker volume turned up. Maybe this wouldn't be an issue if I had studio monitors/louder speakers???

2) Monitoring. I like to use the direct monitor feature on the 2i2 with headphones, but when I do this, I can't hear the metronome on the computer. I'm not willing to deal with latency issues when plugging my headphones into the computer rather than the interface, so is there a way I can hear both?

 

[darius8]

AFAIK, as your second question, Direct monitoring is listening to the input signal as it's going into the your Focusrite then out to your headphones. It doesn't send back what your computer hears.

 

[darius8]

I may know why your playback is lower than when you record. Your playback is affected by your Mixcraft's master volume.

 

[Hellbastard]

I don't have experience with Mixcraft, what do you mean when you say you adjust the track gain on mixcraft?

You should set an audio track and arm it for recording, then adjust the input gain on the scarlett without doing anything on your DAW, you should aim for about -18dbFS of gain display on the track level meter on your DAW.

For monitoring purposes set the direct monitor to ON. in your DAW arm the traget track to record and mute its output. That way you'll monitor the recording signal before it goes through your DAW, but at the same you'll be able to hear the playback or your DAW.
It you're not hearing the Playback there's something wrong with your setup.

 

[apkbass]

AFAIK, as your second question, Direct monitoring is listening to the input signal as it's going into the your Focusrite then out to your headphones. It doesn't send back what your computer hears.

Yeah, but I just wondered if there is a way I could hear the metronome on the DAW and get the latency-free monitoring from the Focusrite.

 

[darius8]

Yeah, but I just wondered if there is a way I could hear the metronome on the DAW and get the latency-free monitoring from the Focusrite.

I don't know, but a quick work around would be to put the metronome on a separate track and play the track back while recording your bass, like a click track.

 

[Ajak]

You could use open headphones to hear the click in Mixcraft and the sound of your amp's speaker at the same time. You don't necessarily need to hear both signals on your headphones or do you? If you do, there's no way to do that with this interface latency-free, except if you have an electric hardware metronome that you could plug into the second input of your interface.
If you use the first option I mentioned, make sure you pull back the recorded part for the latency your system has (eg. if you have 23.415 ms of latency, I'm pretty sure there's a window where you can type in the exact amount of time you want need move your part - type in -23.415ms), so your track is in sync with the metronome.

Sorry about my English but with this topic I'm hitting my limits.

good luck

 

[apkbass]

You could use open headphones to hear the click in Mixcraft and the sound of your amp's speaker at the same time. You don't necessarily need to hear both signals on your headphones or do you? If you do, there's no way to do that with this interface latency-free, except if you have an electric hardware metronome that you could plug into the second input of your interface.
If you use the first option I mentioned, make sure you pull back the recorded part for the latency your system has (eg. if you have 23.415 ms of latency, I'm pretty sure there's a window where you can type in the exact amount of time you want need move your part - type in -23.415ms), so your track is in sync with the metronome.

Sorry about my English but with this topic I'm hitting my limits.

good luck

Thanks. That's exactly what I'm doing now. I use the Direct monitoring to do a sound check, then unplug the headphones and put them into the computer to hear the metronome.

 

[darius8]

........I like to use the direct monitor feature on the 2i2 with headphones, but when I do this, I can't hear the metronome on the computer. I'm not willing to deal with latency issues when plugging my headphones into the computer rather than the interface, so is there a way I can hear both?

So your not having latency issues anymore?

 

[Hellbastard]

Thanks. That's exactly what I'm doing now. I use the Direct monitoring to do a sound check, then unplug the headphones and put them into the computer to hear the metronome.

Why? Do you hear any playback at all from the focusrite?
Or do you always monitor and playback through the computer soundcard?

 

[music fun]

Every thread I read conceding this audio interface/Daw concept is riddled with user confusion. This idea seems impossible to use. How does anyone do it?

 

[nick98338]

Every thread I read conceding this audio interface/Daw concept is riddled with user confusion. This idea seems impossible to use. How does anyone do it?

I use my stuff, just fine. I don't have any problems with monitoring from the software, and hearing the metronome, and hearing sound from the interface, and adjusting levels. All at the same time. I also do midi in and out. I also use virtual instruments which are plug-ins to the recording software. All of the things I have, work well, and work together.

I don't have the same hardware/software as the OP, so I can't answer specific questions about his unique setup. I don't have the same stuff as anyone else. So I can't answer their specific questions.

I can answer this one question from this one post. Seems impossible? No. It's all quite possible. How does anyone do it? IMHO, they read the instructions that came with their equipment, and practice using it until they know how.

 

[music fun]

Well, Nick, I'm glad someone has worked it out. It sure isn't working for me. I'm taking back the interface I bought. They won't refund it because I've opened the software, but they can just have it back.

 

[Charling]

Well, Nick, I'm glad someone has worked it out. It sure isn't working for me. I'm taking back the interface I bought. They won't refund it because I've opened the software, but they can just have it back.

Take it a bit at a time man, read the manual carefully, learn what the terms mean, its not too hard and takes a hell of a lot less aptitude than, say, learning to play bass!


apkbass -

There isn't a track gain on mixcraft, I'm pretty sure of it, gain is entirely from the physical gain knob on your interface. The faders in mixcraft adjust the volume AFTER it has been commited to disk and make no difference to recording. Most faders are of a 'passive plus' sort, as in they should comfortably sit at 0 most of the time unless you want to turn something down, but they DO have a little bit of extra volume on top as well in case you need it.

Keep the faders at 0, look at the meters and get it to hit -18DB on average below 0. Individual quick peaks can hit -6db but certainly no higher! If the meters are filling 2 thirds of the bar when recording with the faders at 0 you are doing fine.

Yes, this will be quieter than a CD recording at this stage, a lot quieter, CD's have been mixed and mastered! Just turn up monitor volume while you are working. If the master fader meters are getting to around 3/4 of full then you have nothing to worry about.

Regarding monitoring, you should never be plugging headphones into the computer with an interface like your focusrite on hand, it doesn't work like that! It sounds like you haven't quite set it up right, your computer speakers come out of the focusrite, right? They need to if not. That will allow playback of the mettronome through computer speakers and headphones while direct monitoring allows you to hear your bass without latency. (that said, if you are using JUST the focusrite you will be able to get pretty close to perfect latency even without the direct monitor feature as lo g as your computer is ok!)

Direct monitoring, as the name suggests, only effects monitoring of what you are playing into the computer at that moment, everything else should work as normal, playback etc. The latency issue with computer recording only effects delay while you are monitoring in real time. All the other latency compensations take place 'under the hood' and rarely need to be worried about! All you need to be concerned with is being able to play the track without being put off by the delay of course!

 

[music fun]

Take it a bit at a time man, read the manual carefully, learn what the terms mean, its not too hard and takes a hell of a lot less aptitude than, say, learning to play bass!


OK, Charling, thanks. I'll keep trying: Breathe in, breathe out. I think I'm on the path to solving the file format problem. Now I just need to get the box working. As Jackson Browne said, "I guess I'll get there, but I wouldn't say for sure."

 

[5 String Rich]

I just started using one of these, problem I'm having seems like it's that my bass pickups may be too hot?
I play Spector Euro basses with EMG 40 CS-TW "Pups" & that Tone Pump pre-amp, advertised at +/-17Db bass & treble boost..

Anywho, when trying to use this thing, I have to turn both volume knobs 50% down or this Focusrite 2i2 shows RED around the "Gain" knob that I'm inputting into, even then If I pluck too hard (W/fingers) it will jump up into red easily when I CAN get it dialed in the Green range, is there another setting I'm missing in the manual? Or is it just that the basses electronics are too hot & this thing likes passive "Pups"?

Grrrrr..........

 

[DuraMorte]

I just started using one of these, problem I'm having seems like it's that my bass pickups may be too hot?
I play Spector Euro basses with EMG 40 CS-TW "Pups" & that Tone Pump pre-amp, advertised at +/-17Db bass & treble boost..

Anywho, when trying to use this thing, I have to turn both volume knobs 50% down or this Focusrite 2i2 shows RED around the "Gain" knob that I'm inputting into, even then If I pluck too hard (W/fingers) it will jump up into red easily when I CAN get it dialed in the Green range, is there another setting I'm missing in the manual? Or is it just that the basses electronics are too hot & this thing likes passive "Pups"?

Grrrrr..........

Use the line input, NOT the guitar input.

 

[5 String Rich]

Use the line input, NOT the guitar input.

So basically, when using a bass guitar via 1/4" cable, swith it to "LINE" instead of "INST"?

Thanks!!