Topic: I think i set the recording levels too high!

[goldenbreast]

recorded a gig last night using my CA cards, 9100 pre and r-09 setup. had the r-09 set at 23 and the pre at about 60-70%. ive listened back on the r-o9 and there appears to be some backround noise present - a humming sort of sound. i will try and post a sample once ive transfered to computer.

on another note, at times the red light flashed up indicating clipping (right?). is that likely to create distortion on the recording. i supposed i need to give it a real listen.

by the way, it was massive attack at the royal festival hall 22nd june

[willndmb]

recorded a gig last night using my CA cards, 9100 pre and r-09 setup. had the r-09 set at 23 and the pre at about 60-70%. ive listened back on the r-o9 and there appears to be some backround noise present - a humming sort of sound. i will try and post a sample once ive transfered to computer.

on another note, at times the red light flashed up indicating clipping (right?). is that likely to create distortion on the recording. i supposed i need to give it a real listen.

by the way, it was massive attack at the royal festival hall 22nd june

i don't have any of that gear so i can not say 100% about the hum or anything
but if you were flashing the clip light - yes it can cause distortion
anytime you go over 0db you could cause distortion it really depends on how long and how much over 0 you go though
it ifs just slightly over (time wise and db wise) you prob will be ok

[Krispy D]

16 or 24 bit?  16 bit tapes need to be pushed so you don't raise the noise when you boost in post.  I don't have the gear in question but I ride the clip light like it's my job with 16 bit tapes.  you should be fine.  the hum should not be there no matter how hot you run with Chris' gear. 

[Dede2002]

recorded a gig last night using my CA cards, 9100 pre and r-09 setup. had the r-09 set at 23 and the pre at about 60-70%. ive listened back on the r-o9 and there appears to be some backround noise present - a humming sort of sound. i will try and post a sample once ive transfered to computer.

on another note, at times the red light flashed up indicating clipping (right?). is that likely to create distortion on the recording. i supposed i need to give it a real listen.

by the way, it was massive attack at the royal festival hall 22nd june

Hi,
I have a similar rig ( mics are different). For what you say and based in my experience, 23 rec level PLUS
60-70% on the 9100 is way too much in normal loud music shows. In club gigs ( loud electric blues, for example) I usually set my R09 rec level at 10. In this case, the 9100 would be set at 2 or 3 o'clock. Very important regarding your 9100 60-70% gain remark : keep in mind that the 9100 gain pot at 11 o'clock is unity ( like a regular BB). You only get real gain after that point.  
I agree with Krispy D: the hum shouldn't be there. Talk to Chris. He's sure going to help you out.

[Belexes]

Red light on the 9100 means clipping. 

I know, I have one and have seen it happen.  You have to dial down on the pre.

[Dede2002]

Red light on the 9100 means clipping. 

I know, I have one and have seen it happen.  You have to dial down on the pre.

I think he is talking about the R09 red/clip light 

[Belexes]

Red light on the 9100 means clipping. 

I know, I have one and have seen it happen.  You have to dial down on the pre.

I think he is talking about the R09 red/clip light 

There's a red light on some versions of the 9100. There is on mine. Red light on the R-09? If there is, I haven't seen it, but then I am scared to death about clipping. I now record 24 bit and leave plenty of headroom.

[powermonkey]

recorded a gig last night using my CA cards, 9100 pre and r-09 setup. had the r-09 set at 23 and the pre at about 60-70%. ive listened back on the r-o9 and there appears to be some backround noise present - a humming sort of sound. i will try and post a sample once ive transfered to computer.

on another note, at times the red light flashed up indicating clipping (right?). is that likely to create distortion on the recording. i supposed i need to give it a real listen.

by the way, it was massive attack at the royal festival hall 22nd june

Any chance you might have been going mic-in by mistake? My R09HR was doing some odd things, clip light flashing sporadically and that sort of thing.... on closer inspection it turned out I'd been going mics > pre > mic-in. Didn't sound great, but I'd given up on that particular show because of the vile audience.

[goldenbreast]

i defo wasn't using mic in on the r-09. i used line in. im actually having a bit of trouble with the sound on my computer, think its something to do with the driver. hopefully i'll sort that out soon and listen to the show back on the pc speakers plus post that sample. from my limited knowledge, im guessing i set the levels too high on both the r-09 and 9100.

i recorded 24bit/44.1khz

[goldenbreast]

sample attached from track 2. once music starts you don't really notice the humming. in general, the recording seems a bit bass heavy

[Dede2002]

Red light on the 9100 means clipping. 

I know, I have one and have seen it happen.  You have to dial down on the pre.

I think he is talking about the R09 red/clip light 

There's a red light on some versions of the 9100. There is on mine. Red light on the R-09? If there is, I haven't seen it, but then I am scared to death about clipping. I now record 24 bit and leave plenty of headroom.

Belexes,

The R-09 has a small red Peak light (front). You can disable the thing, fortunatelly.

[Jeremy Lykins]

I don't mean to threadjack, but I've got a similar problem.  Last week I recorded a show with my CA-11's, CA-9000, and R-09 and during the loud parts there's a background noise that sounds kinda like wind blowing into the mics.  I had accidentally bumped my gain switch from +10 down to 0 and didn't notice, so I upped the recording level on my R-09 to 27.  I typically record with the preamp at +10 and the R-09 at 20-23, so I didn't think that going up to 27 would be that big of a deal, but is that too high?  Is that "wind" sound my R-09 getting overloaded? 

[Dede2002]

I don't mean to threadjack, but I've got a similar problem.  Last week I recorded a show with my CA-11's, CA-9000, and R-09 and during the loud parts there's a background noise that sounds kinda like wind blowing into the mics.  I had accidentally bumped my gain switch from +10 down to 0 and didn't notice, so I upped the recording level on my R-09 to 27.  I typically record with the preamp at +10 and the R-09 at 20-23, so I didn't think that going up to 27 would be that big of a deal, but is that too high?  Is that "wind" sound my R-09 getting overloaded? 

Unless you're taping a person whispering on the other side of the room,
27 Rec Level with loud live music is, yes, too high most of the times.

[Belexes]

Red light on the 9100 means clipping. 

I know, I have one and have seen it happen.  You have to dial down on the pre.

I think he is talking about the R09 red/clip light 

There's a red light on some versions of the 9100. There is on mine. Red light on the R-09? If there is, I haven't seen it, but then I am scared to death about clipping. I now record 24 bit and leave plenty of headroom.

Belexes,

The R-09 has a small red Peak light (front). You can disable the thing, fortunatelly.

Oh yeah! I think I disabled mine. Forgot all about it.

[boojum]

Music is like stew; and levels are like salt.  You can always add more salt to the stew and raise the volume after the gig.  But it is the devil's own job to get the salt out of the stew and to lower the volume after the fact and it has clipped.