Topic: Need some quick help w/ levels in post

[Brennan]

Just got back from the Patrick Park show and the recording sounds pretty damn good, it's just LOW! I know, I know...shoulda set the preamp higher

Anyway, I'm constantly faced with the problem of whenever I raise the levels (through either normalize or amplify...I don't know how to use envelopes..) a certain amount of hiss is introduced. It could just be my speakers in this case, although I'm not sure.

I'm working to have this show ready in a few hours because we're going to the beach and we wanna listen to it on the way.

What I'm asking is, can anyone give me some ideas as to what to do to avoid the hiss? I know there's going to be some, but hopefully not as much as there seems to be..

Here's a sample for someone to work with if they would be so kind:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JR4Q9B0S
(WAV, 26.9MB)

Just give me whatever ideas you got, I'm open to em..Oh, and possibly what program you're using would be awesome..

Hope this isn't too much to ask, I don't mean to be greedy in the least

Thanks in advance..

[Brennan]

Okay, I'll rephrase that lol

Does the normal series of events go Normalize->EQ?

I managed to boost the volumes and remove the hiss through just using EQ, although I think I should normalize and go from there, right?

[firebaugh]

I'm a noob too so I can't offer any expert advice.    I downloaded you're sample WAV and the levels are really low.  I'm using Audacity 1.3.3-beta and after I normalized to -0.3 dB I get some hiss like you mentioned.  As far as your sequence question goes, I believe that normalize -> EQ is correct.

[F.O.Bean]

Well, youre bringing the noise floor up. only way to avoid that is to set the preamp higher live. If thats your only option tho, Id normalize near 0db and then use a hiss reduction on the whole show....

what programs for that do you have available?

oh and I use Wavelab 5.01b to do my editing/adding gain/resampling/dithering

[Dede2002]

Okay, I'll rephrase that lol

Does the normal series of events go Normalize->EQ?

I managed to boost the volumes and remove the hiss through just using EQ, although I think I should normalize and go from there, right?

As far as my (little) knowledge goes, Normalize should be your last step before tracking.

[easy jim]

Okay, I'll rephrase that lol

Does the normal series of events go Normalize->EQ?

I managed to boost the volumes and remove the hiss through just using EQ, although I think I should normalize and go from there, right?

As far as my (little) knowledge goes, Normalize should be your last step before tracking.

I can see some logic to EQing post-normalization if you are using a 'normalizing' plug-in that uses compression based on average/maximum peak levels.  I 'normalize' by adding final gain to a file as the final step before tracking; however, I usually EQ after compression - at least on the master stereo bus - when mixing a matrix/multi recording.

Reducing the high-end frequencies reresenting 'hiss' ought to not significantly affect your final volume/gain post-'normalizing.'  Generally, your dynamic range will be pushed much more by the low and mid-range in a recording vs. the top end of the frequency spectrum.

[F.O.Bean]

youre right jim. i just thought about this, and you def want to EQ first, because depending on what youre doing EQ-wise, it could add volume to the recording anyway, and if you already brought your levels to around 0db, and THEN EQ'd, you could possibly addgain and youd be hitting over 0db, ending in clipping.

So I take back what I said. EQ>THEN Normalize.

[Brennan]

Thanks everyone for the advice - I have a finalized version I can post a track or two from if anyone's interested...

I ended up using the paragraphic eq and raising the levels through that filter as well and I think it sounds pretty nice all told.

[F.O.Bean]

Thanks everyone for the advice - I have a finalized version I can post a track or two from if anyone's interested...

I ended up using the paragraphic eq and raising the levels through that filter as well and I think it sounds pretty nice all told.

awesome, you should post a link of the recording before AND after editing

mediafire.com is a great place for that, and it even verifies the transfer when its done

[Brennan]

As you requested Bean...although for some odd reason mediafire wouldn't work for me in any browser

Anyway--

Before:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YZCPPBWJ

After:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=B9LWOT9I