Topic: what level should i set my m10 with Cafs?

[pdastoor]

The gear I will be using is Church Audio CAFS mics with church audio ugly battery box and sony pcm-m10. I have never used this recorder in a live setting before. I am going to be recording heavy metal / hard rock shows from the nose bleeds.

From what I have read here, I should plug in the line input and then set my levels knob to 3 and turn on the limiter so it doesn't peak above -6 db?

[fandelive]

From what I have read here, I should plug in the line input and then set my levels knob to 3 and turn on the limiter so it doesn't peak above -6 db?

I don't own the CAFS or the m10, but I can tell you a few things :

1. Don't use the limiter. Don't use the High-Pass Filter or automatic gain options (if any).
2. The -6db peak is a good advice. If you record in 24/48, you could even go lower than this and add more gain in post without adding unwanted noise. Better be safe than sorry.
3. Check the levels during the opening act, but keep in mind the main act often plays louder.

[down2earthlandscaper]

I own the CAFS and the Sony M10 (they pair up very nicely). I'd have to say that there really isn't one "go to" setting - for me it always varies depending on the type of music and the house mix, etc. Lots of variables. I don't pay a lot of attention to the number on the dial, but rather I always adjust the levels so that they peak pretty consistently around -12 to -10, spiking at -6 but not much louder than that (the green led should be flashing on and off fairly often). So what the meter reading is and whether my green light is coming on (and off) is my main guide. If I had to err on one side, it would be the low side. I've recorded shows where I was certain the recording wouldn't be loud enough - but later in post I'm able to raise the levels significantly and the results are usually great. The M10's preamp is surprisingly good, in my opinion, for it's price point. So especially if you're recording at 24bit, you can get away with a lot of level boost in post.

[pdastoor]

I own the CAFS and the Sony M10 (they pair up very nicely). I'd have to say that there really isn't one "go to" setting - for me it always varies depending on the type of music and the house mix, etc. Lots of variables. I don't pay a lot of attention to the number on the dial, but rather I always adjust the levels so that they peak pretty consistently around -12 to -10, spiking at -6 but not much louder than that (the green led should be flashing on and off fairly often). So what the meter reading is and whether my green light is coming on (and off) is my main guide. If I had to err on one side, it would be the low side. I've recorded shows where I was certain the recording wouldn't be loud enough - but later in post I'm able to raise the levels significantly and the results are usually great. The M10's preamp is surprisingly good, in my opinion, for it's price point. So especially if you're recording at 24bit, you can get away with a lot of level boost in post.

I did a few tests, I plugged the cafs in the CA ugly and put in line up and raised the levels to 10 on the pcm-m10 knob and the recording turned out to be around -50 db! That was way too quiet. I am not using a separate pre-amp, would it be better for me to just use the mic in?

[down2earthlandscaper]

I own the CAFS and the Sony M10 (they pair up very nicely). I'd have to say that there really isn't one "go to" setting - for me it always varies depending on the type of music and the house mix, etc. Lots of variables. I don't pay a lot of attention to the number on the dial, but rather I always adjust the levels so that they peak pretty consistently around -12 to -10, spiking at -6 but not much louder than that (the green led should be flashing on and off fairly often). So what the meter reading is and whether my green light is coming on (and off) is my main guide. If I had to err on one side, it would be the low side. I've recorded shows where I was certain the recording wouldn't be loud enough - but later in post I'm able to raise the levels significantly and the results are usually great. The M10's preamp is surprisingly good, in my opinion, for it's price point. So especially if you're recording at 24bit, you can get away with a lot of level boost in post.

I did a few tests, I plugged the cafs in the CA ugly and put in line up and raised the levels to 10 on the pcm-m10 knob and the recording turned out to be around -50 db! That was way too quiet. I am not using a separate pre-amp, would it be better for me to just use the mic in?

Definitely use mic in in that case. As long as your levels are set correctly you should get great results. If it's a very quiet source you would probably be ok without the UBB, but for louder sources, the conventional wisdom here is that the extra juice from the battery box will allow the mics to handle the higher SPL's.

[nulldogmas]

Definitely use mic in in that case. As long as your levels are set correctly you should get great results. If it's a very quiet source you would probably be ok without the UBB, but for louder sources, the conventional wisdom here is that the extra juice from the battery box will allow the mics to handle the higher SPL's.

I'll second that. I don't have CAFS either, but I've gotten great results with a UBB and the mic in on the M10 so long as it's not clipping, which doesn't sound like a concern for you.

[pdastoor]

thank you!

[ace5gt]

I have the same setup but with a 9200 preamp in the middle.  On the pre I set it to +15 and I set the level on the M10 at 4 or 4.5.  Then boost if needed in Post.

[H₂O]

11

[trustthex]

11

:clap:

[Cheesecadet]

The gear I will be using is Church Audio CAFS mics with church audio ugly battery box and sony pcm-m10. I have never used this recorder in a live setting before. I am going to be recording heavy metal / hard rock shows from the nose bleeds.

From what I have read here, I should plug in the line input and then set my levels knob to 3 and turn on the limiter so it doesn't peak above -6 db?

I always use the limiter on my M10 just in case.  It only engages if you go above 0dB and does not affect the rest of the recording at all...only those high spikes that may crackle otherwise..  I generally run my levels to be peaking -6dB to -3dB.  The better levels you can get in the initial recording the better it sounds to me.  Any amplification that you add in post will add to the noise floor so if you can get it right at the show more power to ya.

Just my .02 of course.

[earmonger]

I agree.  There is no reason not to use the limiter. It doesn't kick in unless the recording would be  $#$%ed otherwise.