need analog tape transfers recording volume advice

[DATBoy]

Hi guys,

When you do digital recordings of tape transfers into the digital recorders, do any of you turn on the Automatic Level Recording "ALR" function or do you simply dial in your recording volume manually? I know my manual says it's an acceptable method, BUT maybe there is something you guys know that the manual might not be telling me.

What are some of the consequences for using the ALR if you choose to use it this way?

[goodcooker]

I don't ever use any Automatic Gain feature of any recording device for any purpose. Ever. Don't trust it as it may (or may not) cause fluctuations that are audible. Find the sweet spot with some headroom and adjust later.

[rocksuitcase]

Hi guys,

When you do digital recordings of tape transfers into the digital recorders, do any of you turn on the Automatic Level Recording "ALR" function or do you simply dial in your recording volume manually? I know my manual says it's an acceptable method, BUT maybe there is something you guys know that the manual might not be telling me.

What are some of the consequences for using the ALR if you choose to use it this way?

Agree with goodcooker as far as never using it. One downside with live material can be if the SPL gets way low, as in between songs with zero tuning or banter, the ALR *might* turn the recording off. (* I believe specific to the device or software, of course)

[nulldogmas]

I don't ever use any Automatic Gain feature of any recording device for any purpose. Ever. Don't trust it as it may (or may not) cause fluctuations that are audible. Find the sweet spot with some headroom and adjust later.

This. I always record transfers at 24-bit, anyway, so there should be no issue with leaving a bunch of headroom.

[morst]

What are some of the consequences for using the ALR if you choose to use it this way?

the background noise will rise and fall the opposite of the signal.
Soft signal will be boosted and thus have extra noise
loud signals will not have this, so you might hear the noise rising when it adjusts levels for you.
If the original material needs level fixes, it's pretty easy to do that in post production.
I recommend setting levels against a saturated (peaking) tape and then not expecting to exceed that during the transfer.