Volume levels input / output

[rocabras]

Hi guys,

I am wondering what’s is the optimum input and output gains to use with a Stratocaster.
I use some plugins (tube scream, overdrive) and I have noticed to many noise, but with others, there is none. I think that I am not setting the levels correctly.

Sorry about my ignorance…

Thanks

[unbracketed]

Sorry about my ignorance…

Me too… These threads have been helpful to me in the past for understanding some basics:

Handling headroom from ADC to DAC? How?

Hi, I’m using my MOD with an amp so I’m not using it for amp modeling or cabinet emulation so I want to use it primarily for effects. Up until now I’ve been using it with a small but loud Fender Pro Junior tube Amp but I recently added a larger Vibrolux Reverb and and I’m becoming aware that the headroom for signals between the Input Analog to Digital Converters and Output Digital to Analog converters is a bit of an issue (for me). I fully understand the MOD’s gain adjustment structure and the…

Level Up!

I’ve started using the Level Meter (under Beta in the store) liberally while setting up boards. It has been helpful to get a ‘better than nothing’ understanding of what the levels are like across the board, which plugins are changing the levels, and where I was losing headroom. Based on reading through other threads about gain staging, I’ve been arbitrarily trying to keep the signal between -18 to -10 across the board for regular to aggressive strumming. I use the looper in front during build…

Input stage and hot input sources

When I am plugging my bass guitar (a Sterling RAY 35) into the MOD Duo I have to select the “low” input stage and select the lowest input setting (all way back to -12). Minor nitpick: someone else already said that the definition of the input stages is not too clear, but I suppose the “low” input stage is the one with the highest attenuation (for hot signals). But even then it is possible to clip the input stage of the MOD Duo. And I didn’t even use the onboard EQ. I don’t know if this is pos…

Inconsistent Gain Handling - Feedback Welcome

Description The working point of non linear plugins like many distortions, etc, are all over the place. Some TAP plugins use -20dBFS (decibels relative to full scale), some others like the GxSD1 or the tube screamer or GxQuack seem to expect signals much closer to 0dBFS. This makes using these plugins without having to almost clip the input stage of the MOD hard. As an example on the loops I have to jump through to get a usable high gain sound from GxSD1: I set the input stage of the mod to hi…

[rocabras]

Thanks a lot

[bulevardi]

I’m wondering what the best setting is for recording with a DAW?
(using a guitar with passive pickups, modelling the amps with the ModDuo)

Do you set the audio interface (focusrite scarlet solo in my case) input to the highest? Because I already have a reasonable high volume when I just turn it open to level 1 or 2.

Do you keep your ModDuo output as close to 0 ? Or you lower it so you can put your audio interface’s input higher? (if there’s a good reason to ?)

I prefer to keep my ModDuo input as close to ‘0’, to avoid clipping when I get over, or to loose details when I go under, or do I have it wrong?

I can record clean, but when I normalize the track, the noise ‘floor’ levels up. Wich isn’t what I need. How do you guys deal with this?
I read in the following article that it’s best to record to your tracks at -18db to have enough headroom later for mixing/mastering your tracks. I’m wondering why this is, as you can record at 0db and slide the VU meters down to create more headroom, no?

Headroom in Audio Recording: What, Why, & How | LedgerNote

[Skydiver]

For my hardware (Duo output and recording interface), I set everything at unity gain, which means that there is no boosting or attenuation of the signal at any of the gain stages and reduces signal loss and introduction of unwanted noise. The output of my Duo is set at 0 and my interface is set to unity. Both the Duo output and Interface Input use balanced connections.
My setup is the MOD Duo going into my KMI K-Mix with balanced cables. When everything is set to unity gain, the output showing on my Duo matches the input level showing on my K-Mix.

That is hardware…

Setting Levels…
As for the level, setting to an area where it just gets into the yellow (-18 to -12) is perfectly acceptable and recommended. Be aware that this is RMS (it’s a type of averaging the signal) and not peak. Most meters on a DAW are showing peak so if it jumps into the yellow you are fine.
In theory, getting the signal as hot as possible means that you will have the highest fidelity audio. However, in the real world you can get lots of clipping and unwanted issues. Modern converters are so good that playing the hot signal game isn’t even worth it. Play it safe and remove the worry of clipping your signal.
When mixing, it’s recommended to attenuate (digitally) so that you optimize the plugins which are designed to work with signals around -18dBFS (RMS), their sweet spot.

In both the physical world and digital world, it’s all about gain staging… and making great music.

Here is an article I found about this:
https://mixcoach.com/levels-demystified-10-tips-for-setting-levels-part-6/

[bulevardi]

Alright, learned a lot now about ‘gain staging’ now, thanks for this link you posted.
Watched a few videos about it too, if I knew this before, my previous mixes would probably be a lot easier/better.
Anyway, will practice tomorrow to get a correct recording, by playing with inputs/outputs with the mod and interface and daw metering.