Topic: Why is my recording so quiet

[gouge1]

I bought a Church-Audio STC-9000 stereo cardioid microphone system and a sony md mz-700pc a few months ago and made a few recordings of my favorite u2 tribute band here in the uk.
Can someone help me out as i got to have the pre amp set at +30 db to get a good level to listen back to, is this normal ?? if i set it on +10 db its very quiet and 0 db is very very quiet even though the gig is very loud live!!!
I've got the bass roll off switched on because the live performance is very bassy with the audio level on max on the pre amp and use the line in on the md recorder.

[DaveG73]

Strange one.

I have the same Mic/Pre set up and have only ever once used the +30 setting (by mistake) and the results were clips all over the place.

I assume that you are recording amplified instruments/vocals etc. Perhaps a sample might help people to decide what is going wrong.

Good luck and welcome.

Dave.

[gouge1]

Yes Dave i'm recording amplified instruments and vocals which are very loud live.
I tried at home with the sterio to but still come out quiet!!
I'll upload half of the gig in a min and post the link.

Here is the link this was recorded at +10 db http://www.transferbigfiles.com/Get.aspx?id=b672fbd7-40c3-4807-825c-518ead050f34

[3-Fan]

Stupid question, but do you have the knob turned all the way up?

I only ran +30 once too and clipped it all over the place and that was on a bluegrass acoutsitc band.

[gouge1]

Yes i got it maxed up as far is it will go

[DaveG73]

Just having a listen to your sample now and it doesn't sound that quiet to me. Listening through computer speakers at the same volume as I usually use and it sounds fine volume wise.

Dave.

[Church-Audio]

I downloaded the sample I think the problem is one of frequency not of volume. My meters were hitting around -8 to 0 db and they are calibrated to with in 0.004db I think that the problem is the mics were not high enough on your body or there was something in front of the mics.. Because they dont sound that muffled ever unless something is blocking the front of them or they are not aimed at the source. I think for loud shows +10 is pretty good on that preamp. The + 30 setting is strictly for acoustic stuff.
On your recording there is a serious bump at 300 to 600hz and one at 125. If you reduce these and boost from 2k all the way up to 15k you will hear what I am talking about. Normally you dont have to do much eq adjustments with my mics but I really feel the mics must have been not aimed properly or you were very close to a turbo sound PA. Where the boxes blue or purple? In the UK there are lots of Turbo sound systems and you have to be very careful because they have beaming mid range for days on them.
especially if you are right beside them. It also sounds like at some point in time the guy doing sound lost the top end on the PA system and if he did it still would have sounded ok... Because if it was turbo sound he would have had the top end crossed over much higher then most other pa systems I believe they cross over at 3.5k and the 10 inch mid speaker goes from 250 to 3.5k very wide range... I can hear the top end coming back and going away in the mix that has to be the sound system or the mics getting uncovered... One of the two.


Chris

[gouge1]

Cheers Chris,

I was very close to the front of the gig and sat level or just below the speakers didn't have alot of choice as it was a seated venue and that was the tickets i was allocated.  Not sure what colour the boxes where. It says on there site they got a 20000 watt Logic Line Array sound system if that means anything.
If i record on +10 db the meter on the md only goes up 3 or 4 bars max while recording, is this normal on that setting?? and is there any way of making the recording louder after i've recorded it on the pc??
I've tried one gig on +30 db and it came out better, but still when i burn it to cd you got to crank the volume up louder than normal

Paul

[Church-Audio]

Cheers Chris,

I was very close to the front of the gig and sat level or just below the speakers didn't have alot of choice as it was a seated venue and that was the tickets i was allocated.  Not sure what colour the boxes where. It says on there site they got a 20000 watt Logic Line Array sound system if that means anything.
If i record on +10 db the meter on the md only goes up 3 or 4 bars max while recording, is this normal on that setting?? and is there any way of making the recording louder after i've recorded it on the pc??
I've tried one gig on +30 db and it came out better, but still when i burn it to cd you got to crank the volume up louder than normal

Paul

The meter on your recorder does not mean much to me because I dont have one. But I will say this for loud shows you cant go above the +10 setting on that preamp. So I would stick to the +10 setting and get the rest of the gain from your MD. Don't go crazy trying to get more level from your recorder then necessary I would say the levels you had on your recorder were maybe a bit to hot but not to much maybe by 2 db.. You did go over 0 a few times. I think after you get the audio into your computer you should normalize it. It depends on what program your using but adding a few db there would not hurt but for this recording it sounds like you were just underneath the pa cabinet so what was happening is you were recording the "rap around" of the pa cabinet thus the reason why you dont have very much top end. On line array cabinets you have to remember that the high end is very VERY directional and when you are that close and underneath them you will be missing top end. This translates into a recording that sounds dull and not very loud. Most big venues that employ line array also have underhang cabinets or stage lip cabinets that supply a more dense sound field in front of the stage where the main line array does not cover. Its very hard to know all about this stuff when your just starting out but remember to use your ears as much as possible they will always tell you where the best spot to stand is.. I also know that sometimes you cant get to that spot. Some good eq will help this recording out big time.



Chris