GUITAR BOARD

bruce phipps wrote:


The headroom is important, as with digital recording, sneaking into the
red will introduce horrible digital clipping. Always use your ears,
though; the peak markers on your DAWs UI may err on the side of
caution. I use Pro Tools Lite, and thats definitely the case - I can
quite safely push the meters momentarily into the red without hearing
any ill effects.

On the other hand, you dont want the overall track level to be too low,
otherwise you wont be making full use of the available bits.


Well, the SM58 is a dynamic mic, and theyre designed to deal with high
volume signals. For the low volume of an unplugged electric, a condenser
mic might be a better choice.


As long as youre not overloading the converters or underusing the bit
depth, any relative ...dB level figures are pretty meaningless.
Concentrate on getting each track recorded with the best fidelity
possible... after all, youll be adjusting the level, panning and eq for
every track when you mix the song.

If two hot tracks overload the mix buss when theyre combined, reduce
the level of both of them (and, therefore, the level of the other
tracks, to preserve the relative levels in the mix).


Adrian


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bruce phipps wrote in message
news:27351d26.0307220141.5482bbe@posting.google.com...

Hi,

I aim to hit peaks of -3db. But its better to be safe than sorry.
Its almost, if not impossible to satisfactorily remove the digital noise
caused by clipping during that perfect take. A limiter in the recording
chain is obviously an option, but not one I use. Careful setting of you gain
structures should be sufficient.

My two pennies worth..

M.
--
Michael Peel

peelm@NOSPAMaccuread.com
peelm@NOSPAMbtinternet.co.uk
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bruce phipps wrote:


Hmm... thats strange. Ive recorded an acoustic guitar successfully
with an SM57 (very similar to the 58), which suggests that your mic
preamp isnt pushing out enough gain. What are you using?


Adrian


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bruce phipps wrote:


Thats weird, then... I cant understand why youre getting such a weak
signal. As David says, the benefit of a condensor mic is that you can
get a good strong signal without being too close to the source, but if
youre putting the SM58 an inch away, you ought to be getting a
reasonable amount of signal.

Strange... anyone else suggest anything?


adrian

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THE VIEW FROM THE SPAGHETTI FACTORY
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On Wed, 23 Jul 2003 10:33:56 +0100, spagfact@hotmail.com (Adrian
Clark) wrote:


Duff capsule on the mic?

Phase cancellation due to a poor connection?


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The Shure user manual states that I should be able to record holding
the mic 12 inches or so away (cant remember the exact figure). No
way can I do this. Mind you, Im quietly spoken...but not whispering
Bob Harris.

*Ill recheck the XLR cable connection at the microphone end.
* I cant remember dropping the SM58, though they are supposeed to be
robust.
* Does phantom power zap a SM58? My DI box uses phantom power from the
mixer. Maybe Ive inadvertently left it on.

Bruce

Adrian Clark wrote in message
...

You need to check each bit of kit and work out by a process of elimination
what might be wrong. If you have any level indicators on your mixer this
should quickly determine whether the mic, cable and mixer pre-amp are doing
their bit then you can work from there.

Are your soundcard settings definitely OK? Maybe you could plug something
else into the line in to check?

Cheers,
Steve W

Its not the XLR cable, I tried a substitute.
The mixer mic pre-amps works fine for bass/guitar DI.

Mixer channel fader at unity, master volume at unity. Preamp trim
*full on!*.
Hold 6 inches away from acoustic guitar and strum a few strings. Get a
level of -30dB max. The mic preamp should be clipping with these
settings, I would have thought.

So its either a loose connection on the SM58 or I have zapped the
SM58 with phantom power.
SM58 was bought brand new 3 weeks ago.

OK. I can record guitars etc. with good levels.

Bruce