I have some basic questions that I would like to make, because I would like to improve the quality of my productions.
sorry if some of the questions look basic or are dumb. I did read the manuals of my gear, but I simply don’t know what to look at to improve.
I use several synths (OT, Tempest, Vermona Perfourmer) and acoustic instruments.
Everything is connected to a Soundcraft 22 mtk, and I record via the Soundcraft USB.
I use external effects, as inserts,
plus delay and reverb in the aux of the Soundrafft.
For some of my tracks, I get a high level of background noise in the recordings, and I would like to imrpove my recording methodology to limit those as much as possible.
I use Nuendo for recording.
usually, I record the effected signals directly.
When I use delay and reverb a the aux,the way I do it is by recording the master out of the Soundcraft.
I was told that I should record the dry signals, then resample the signals from the computer to the reverb and delays in a second recording.
I don’t really get the use of this procedure, what am I missing ?
for some tracks, I can get rid of the background noise by EQing the recorded signals in Nuendo and removing the low frequencies. For the drums, of for the bass synths, I don’t want to remove the lows, and most of the background noise comes from there. How should I deal with that ?
I never used a compressor. For what kind of sounds should I do ? Would this help ?
Then I “mix” in Nuendo (adjusting EQs, pans and levels of the tracks, but I do nothing else). Is there an additional parameter that I should look at ?
then I export the mixdown from Nuendo., and the mixdown average volume is quite low. the only parameters that I see when exporting audio mixdown are sample rate and bit depth, but I don’t find any way to increase the volume of the export. Is there any additinal step that I should look at to be able to adjust the level of the mixdown ? Any soft that you would advise me to use ?
Can’t really comment on the Soundcraft, since I’ve never used one, but in my opinion it’s not acceptable in 2019 to have to be concerned with eqing out noise from an uncomplicated recording chain. Maybe try a different interface on a trial basis, and see if you still have noise? Is it possible that your external fx are the culprit? As for mixing/mix down, don’t worry. Getting good at this just takes a lot of time and practice. I’d definitely recommend studying up on compressors and limiters though, and suggest practicing with them regularly. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to get your final mixdowns up to the average level of most music out there, without using them. Be careful though. They can destroy a mix as easily as helping it, so practice practice. Getting good with your eq will also create space in the mix that you can use to bring up the final output significantly. Eq is indispensable.
Have you tried soling individual tracks to help identify the source of the noise? It’s a good method of troubleshooting, If I were to guess its most likely one of the acoustic instruments and less likely a line signal from a synth. Just a hunch though.
Also, yes to compressors/maximized/limiters. Read up on them but also experiment with preset settings. With that also comes learning about your master effects chain, this will go along way to bumping the signal of the final mix.
Personally, I don’t like recording wet. I prefer to dial in effects per track, I rarely use auxs and prefer running effects as an insert. YMMV though.
Exporting a mixdown is just rendering the main/master outs as you have everything set up. If the volume is too low you have to increase the volume of the individual channels or the master channel before exporting.
About the noise: Yep, approach it methodically. Try to simplify the setup step by step until you find the source of the noise.
Main Steps:
do you hear the noise when listening to the main output with headphones on the mixer? (if “no” then the "recording via USB have to be the source of the noise)
if “yes”: find the noisy channel on the mixer. Is the gain setting on it quite high? Try to lower it and try to increase the level of the connected audio source. Pushing the gain in the mixer too hard will result in noise.
remove effects from the channel to try to identify if the noise is coming from the audio source or the effects
Might be obvious but… when recording an
individual track with fx via the console master, make sure all your other channels and fx returns are muted. May or may not be significant for a single pass, but is sure to build up over several tracks. Compression will make the noise issue worse actually.
Soundcraft signature desks arent that noisy IME. Check / recheck your gain structures, something might be off.
Go throught each channel by soloing until you find the noisy ones. If you find noisy channels, make sure that you are using the correct cabling (ie. not using TRS cable for a stereo output etc) and are sending hot enough into the mixer. Use the PFL metering on the mixer to verify healthy input levels.
TRS cables should be used if the connectors support them on mono outputs as well, they provide balanced output that is less sensitive to incoming disturbance then a regular telecabel.
If you only use unbalanced cables the risk for noise or “hum” increases. A linebox can solve this if your connectors doesn’t support balanced cables.
In some cases the error is electricity. Boxes like this can fix that.
Sorry if I provide doubleinfo, didn’t read the entire thread because I didn’t have the time. And English is not my native language but hope you understand what I’m trying to write.
sure, always use balanced interconnects whenever possible. But I was talking about incorrectly interconnecting (using balanced cable with an output that is unbalanced stereo and feeding that to an input expecting to see balanced mono).
