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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: Druide on July 21, 2007, 05:26:44 PM

Title: Volume of recording...
Post by: Druide on July 21, 2007, 05:26:44 PM
Hi all

Finally i've bought a Microtrack + cardioid mics...So i've just a question :

For to tape a show like The Cure for example, at which level I have to adjust the volume of recording ?

THX
Title: Re: Volume of recording...
Post by: guysonic on July 21, 2007, 10:01:39 PM
Hi all

Finally i've bought a Microtrack + cardioid mics...So i've just a question :

For to tape a show like The Cure for example, at which level I have to adjust the volume of recording ?

THX

No simple answer as different mics have varied sensitivity so REC level setting for same venue loudness will vary with the brand of mic used.  Also Microtrack has TWO TYPES of mic inputs with different associated gain ranges.  So deck settings are going to be determined depending on mic model and which MT mic input being used for a particular type of venue being recorded.

Most find the ministereo jack input on the MT too limited in having only two gain settings, and resort to using the dual TRS 1/4" inputs for having needed gain flexibility of five gain selections to handle a wider range of mic models and venue loudness.

Review on my site might help with knowing about Microtrack inputs and settings: www.sonicstudios.com/mt2496rv.htm (http://www.sonicstudios.com/mt2496rv.htm)
Title: Re: Volume of recording...
Post by: bipton on September 27, 2007, 02:22:18 AM
I just bought one and ruined a recording tonight cause I didn't quite know how this thing operated, thanks for the info ;)
Title: Re: Volume of recording...
Post by: stevetoney on September 28, 2007, 07:35:32 PM
I just bought one and ruined a recording tonight cause I didn't quite know how this thing operated, thanks for the info ;)

That's frustrating.  I always try to test my new equipment at home before I take it out for the first time.  I'll crank the stereo up high and record something.  It doesn't tell you what settings you should go with, but it does familiarize you with the gear, gets you turning on the buttons, plugging in cables and stuff like that.  It also gives you at least a little bit of feel for what you can get away with on settings because it can kinda tell you at least a little bit about how your setup will react to the sound pressure of at least your stereo system and then you can adjust from there for when you go out in the real world. 

For example, if I hadn't done this one time in the past, I would have gotten into the field and discovered that my cables wouldn't even have fit because the XLRs weren't aligned right and the jacks on the recorder were too close together for the XLRs to fit properly.  So I had to take the XLRs apart and change the orientation of the pins for the cables to fit.