Brickwalling vs meter crunching

[divamum]

Hi!

What are they and how do they differ?  Can somebody explain? I gather "brickwalling" is what happened in this afternoon's recording session (v annoying cause i performed REALLY well) and got home and uploaded to discover a bunch of superlow level recordings that STILL have distortion... the classic "squred off" waveform even though the leve is WAY low.

How does distortion happen at such a low level? I think I know WHY it happened in my case (I had the gain on the pre set wrong) but I still am beffuddled as to why it would distort even when it isn't actually LOUD.

Thanks. Sorry for another stoopid noob question

[greenone]

Everything you always wanted to know about brickwalling (but were afraid to ask):

http://rockpark.com/d7/8_brick.txt

[Tim]

but I still am beffuddled as to why it would distort even when it isn't actually LOUD.

"loud" is relative... while it may not have been loud to you it was excessively loud for your pre

[divamum]

but I still am beffuddled as to why it would distort even when it isn't actually LOUD.

"loud" is relative... while it may not have been loud to you it was excessively loud for your pre

Well, when I uploaded it to the puter it's clear that the levels are incredibly low (it's barely audible and needs at least +12 gain to be at any kind of "normal" playback level), it's just distorting regardless.

Thanks for the link Greenone.  I'm kinda sorta starting to understand, but still not how or why it happens. 

[Tim]

but I still am beffuddled as to why it would distort even when it isn't actually LOUD.

"loud" is relative... while it may not have been loud to you it was excessively loud for your pre

Well, when I uploaded it to the puter it's clear that the levels are incredibly low (it's barely audible and needs at least +12 gain to be at any kind of "normal" playback level), it's just distorting regardless.

yep. you are overloading the input on your mic pre... it doesn't matter what you think of the levels. it matters what the incoming levels are in relation to what the mic pre can take.

[greenone]

Don't think of it as loud so much as "hot". Mics are very sensitive instruments and the signal they output is very high compared to what the preamp can take at a higher sensitivity setting. Drop the sensitivity down lower, and the signal will be low enough for the preamp to do its job properly and boost the signal cleanly.

[divamum]

but I still am beffuddled as to why it would distort even when it isn't actually LOUD.

"loud" is relative... while it may not have been loud to you it was excessively loud for your pre

Well, when I uploaded it to the puter it's clear that the levels are incredibly low (it's barely audible and needs at least +12 gain to be at any kind of "normal" playback level), it's just distorting regardless.

yep. you are overloading the input on your mic pre... it doesn't matter what you think of the levels. it matters what the incoming levels are in relation to what the mic pre can take.

I phrased myself badly - you are indeed right that the only opinion that matters is the equipment's!  What I meant was A. taht the JB3 wasn't showing any meter levels crunching, B that although I had the sensitivity selection too high (live and learn) the level knob was way down and C on uploading to the 'puter, the level was VERY low - it's barely audible.

Greenone, thanks agaia - yes, I know what i need to do for next time, I"m just trying to understand the phenomenon as well as i can. The 'tech" aspect of this is all SO new to me and I feel like I am SO ignorant that I'm at least trying to learn from my mistakes!