Topic: Microtrack recording levels

[hijoq]

Please help me, tomorrow I will be taping my first show with the Microtrack, and I don't want to make mistakes.
How do the recording levels work?
Should I put the level arrows as up as I don't get enough level?
Is the "volume" setting involved in the process?

I'm worried because I tried to tape via the 1/8 analog input from television. I got only distorted sound!!! Even though I tried to put levels all the the way up and down, no change...distortion!

I will tape with DPA4061s and MPS6030 battery box, I hope things change when I use external mics.
Please help me if you can, thanks!

 

[rasta_cruz]

sorry if this isn't too helpful as i have never used one... but, hey looks like a nice little deck!

my thoughts are:

first, check the user manual or online faq's to understand the record levels, record quality settings, etc and to be able to start/stop recordings and adjust levels in the dark... check battery life too.

then, hook up your mics and batt box.  turn up your home stereo nice and loud with bass pumping and make some sample recordings standing at various locations in your room... watch the levels and get an idea where 0 db and clipping might be.  then playback with deck hooked up to the same stereo at the same volume levels and listen to the result.  does it sound pretty much the same?  if you're getting distortion, then you have a problem as is will be louder at the show.  maybe a setting is wrong... i'd assume you're using line-in with a batt box and not mic-in? 

well, practice with it my friend and good luck!

rasta

[svenkid]

use the spdif in, and run the levels from your pre-amp
if analog, use one of the lower settings on the input thing on the left side of it (L/M/H)

[china_rider]

Also... As a general note I don't use the actual LCD levels much other than initial settings.  Keep an eye on the red leds over the level settings when recording.  An occasional flash is OK but you don't want to see them light up too much.

[dallman]

Please help me, tomorrow I will be taping my first show with the Microtrack, and I don't want to make mistakes.
How do the recording levels work?
Should I put the level arrows as up as I don't get enough level?
Is the "volume" setting involved in the process?

I'm worried because I tried to tape via the 1/8 analog input from television. I got only distorted sound!!! Even though I tried to put levels all the the way up and down, no change...distortion!

I will tape with DPA4061s and MPS6030 battery box, I hope things change when I use external mics.
Please help me if you can, thanks!

 

Checkut this link. It has been posted before, because it has some great detail on what everything means in reading the meters. I found it really helpful.
http://www.sonicstudios.com/mt2496rv.htm

Also, recording through the 1/8 inputs is very tough. You cannot lower the levels very much and with live loud music it will distort unless you use a line attenuator.
If you adapt to the 1/4 trs jacks, you will not have this problem.