Topic: problem with PCM D-50

[MAXIMUS MISCHIEF]

i record stuff at the proper level, which puts what ever i am recording into the -12dbs range, as close to 0 as i can get without it hitting red. usually my record level is set around 4 or 5, and listening level around 7 to 8.
the sounds i record sound great when i am listening through headphones with the actual device, but as soon as i upload them onto the computer they go to like... -50% volume... i can hardly hear a thing..
what is the reason for this? is this common? any way to fix it?
thanks

[mr qpl]

seems pretty unusual, can you upload an mp3 to listen to? also, try burning it onto a cdr and then listening on a standalone stereo system or a car audio cd player.

right off the top, this seems like a computer related problem, not a d50 issue?

[MAXIMUS MISCHIEF]

definitely not, it happens on my mac and my PC.

and yeah i will post one up in a bit.

[jlykos]

What kind of microphones and preamplifier are you recording with and what type of music?  If you are recording really loud music with so-so quality microphones, you may be overloading the microphones.  A little more information would help.

[MAXIMUS MISCHIEF]

i am using just the PCM D50.. no extra mics or amps or anything.

[newplanet7]

i record stuff at the proper level, which puts what ever i am recording into the -12dbs range, as close to 0 as i can get without it hitting red. usually my record level is set around 4 or 5, and listening level around 7 to 8.
the sounds i record sound great when i am listening through headphones with the actual device, but as soon as i upload them onto the computer they go to like... -50% volume... i can hardly hear a thing..
what is the reason for this? is this common? any way to fix it?
thanks

-12dbs range is pretty soft.
So if that is your average level with some peaks going higher,
you are hearing just that.

[jbell]

Once on the computer add some gain!  You can download and use audacity for free. 

[MAXIMUS MISCHIEF]

the way it works is that anything from -12 to 0 is green and anything above is red and clips. so i usually get it somewhere between -12 and 0.. majority of the time its like -4 or 5.

[jlykos]

If you are peaking at -4 or -5, it may show up as low in your computer software.  I shoot for peaks of -1 or -2 and then add gain to get it to -0.1db.  It probably sounds good out of the D50 because that unit has a very powerful headphone amplifier.

[stevetoney]

^ That's the answer I was about to provide.  You can't really compare the volume you get out of your D50 and the volume out or your computer.  For example, I have four separate listening points and I get different volume and sound performance out of each...1) directly at the recording/recorder either during recording or directly from playing back the recording, 2) at the PC when I master, 3) on my ipod, and 4) on my stereo system.  All four of these can sound different and have completely different volume levels, but I can confirm that when I listen though my laptop, it's the least impressive in terms of peak volume. 

Bump your levels up from -12 so that they're closer peaking near 0 and you should be OK. 

EDIT TO ADD:  Don't be reluctant to adjust your levels in post upward from -12.  Almost everyone does it (assuming you're running in 24bit).  In the olden days of 16bit, people needed to run hot for best sound, so they'd ride the red line at 0db or -1db, but they'd risk going over for the sake of getting a better sound.  Nowadays, almost everyone runs 24bit and leaves their peaks around -12db during the show so they can relax and not have to monitor levels every 5 minutes.  The extra resolution of 24bit means that there's little or no 'hotness' lost by bumping levels up to zero in post.   Yeah, you give up dynamic range, but the D50 is a low noise unit and if the music you record is fairly loud, your DR isn't much of an issue anyways.