Miner_Hokie_Ramp
Joined: 09/10/10
Posts: 20
Loc: Texas, USA
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Recording software with automatic level control
#957186 - 05/12/11 04:51 AM
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What are some good, inexpensive options for PC recording software with automatic level
control? I'm using Audacity and I don't think it has an automatic level control
feature.
Thanks,
Jeff
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Jeff Bledsoe
Miner_Hokie_Ramp
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desmond
Joined: 10/01/06
Posts: 7897
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Re: Recording software with automatic level control
[Re: Miner_Hokie_Ramp]
#957198 - 05/12/11 09:05 AM
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I'm curious as to why you would need it?
Modern software and a decent audio
interface recording at 24-bit has more than enough dynamic range to handle most things at
a reasonable level to avoid getting anywhere near clipping and should make this
unnecessary...
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BJG145
Joined: 06/08/05
Posts: 2156
Loc: Norwich UK
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Re: Recording software with automatic level control
[Re: Miner_Hokie_Ramp]
#957201 - 05/12/11 09:13 AM
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James Perrett
Joined: 10/09/01
Posts: 9659
Loc: The wilds of Hampshire
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Re: Recording software with automatic level control
[Re: Miner_Hokie_Ramp]
#957228 - 05/12/11 10:41 AM
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The problem is that level control (if it exists) is built in to your soundcard's hardware
and the interface to that is different for every card. Most people avoid
automatic level control as it never produces good results - most people who have used it
will remember the first overloaded few seconds of sound followed by a few seconds where
the sound almost disappears before the level control finally finds something close to the
right setting. It is much better with modern systems to be very cautious when setting the
level and most systems will let you bring up the level by 20-30dB later without any
obvious problems. James.
-------------------- JRP Music - Audio Mastering and Restoration.
http://www.jrpmusic.net
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Miner_Hokie_Ramp
Joined: 09/10/10
Posts: 20
Loc: Texas, USA
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Re: Recording software with automatic level control
[Re: desmond]
#957426 - 06/12/11 01:02 AM
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One of our speakers speaks at a much lower level than the singers. Plus, there are various
types of mics, each with their soundcheck settings. Last time, there was ~ 12 dB
difference between our loudest and quietest sources. I was crossing the booth to change
the level at the sound board. It appeared that I couldn't adjust the active project's mic
level while exporting another (completed) project.
Next time, I'll set the
soundboard-to-PC rheostat at max output and try adjusting the mic level in the Audacity
window as required. It might require that I wait until the end to export all the projects.
Thanks.
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Jeff Bledsoe
Miner_Hokie_Ramp
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Miner_Hokie_Ramp
Joined: 09/10/10
Posts: 20
Loc: Texas, USA
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Re: Recording software with automatic level control
[Re: BJG145]
#957428 - 06/12/11 01:04 AM
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Thanks, I'll look at these links.
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Jeff Bledsoe
Miner_Hokie_Ramp
Edited by Miner_Hokie_Ramp (06/12/11 01:04 AM)
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Miner_Hokie_Ramp
Joined: 09/10/10
Posts: 20
Loc: Texas, USA
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Re: Recording software with automatic level control
[Re: James Perrett]
#957429 - 06/12/11 01:08 AM
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Quote James Perrett:
The problem
is that level control (if it exists) is built in to your soundcard's hardware and the
interface to that is different for every card.
Most people avoid automatic
level control as it never produces good results - most people who have used it will
remember the first overloaded few seconds of sound followed by a few seconds where the
sound almost disappears before the level control finally finds something close to the
right setting. It is much better with modern systems to be very cautious when setting the
level and most systems will let you bring up the level by 20-30dB later without any
obvious problems.
James.
Thanks. I think we need to a better job involving all sources during our
soundcheck. Up to now, we've only done soundchecks on the mics used by singers, musicians,
and songleaders.
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Jeff Bledsoe
Miner_Hokie_Ramp
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James Perrett
Joined: 10/09/01
Posts: 9659
Loc: The wilds of Hampshire
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Re: Recording software with automatic level control
[Re: Miner_Hokie_Ramp]
#957468 - 06/12/11 10:36 AM
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Technically the best thing would be to record at the lower level and bring it up with your
software afterwards. With digital recording it is always better to have levels too low
than too high as the noise floor is usually low enough to let you increase the volume
substantially without any problems. As you say, more careful soundchecking
might help although some speakers have a habit of speaking at a totally different volume
when they have an audience in front of them so allow for plenty of headroom. James.
-------------------- JRP Music - Audio Mastering and Restoration.
http://www.jrpmusic.net
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Zukan
Zukan
Joined: 12/09/03
Posts: 8510
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Re: Recording software with automatic level control
[Re: Miner_Hokie_Ramp]
#957470 - 06/12/11 10:42 AM
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Calibrating the signal path plus sorting out all your gain stages is an integral part of
engineering. Forget level controllers and treat each project on its own merits.
-------------------- Samplecraze
Stretch That Note
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gazza1967
Joined: 08/02/10
Posts: 22
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Re: Recording software with automatic level control
[Re: Miner_Hokie_Ramp]
#957702 - 07/12/11 01:52 PM
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Just a thought, but would Waves Vocal Rider help?
Check out the youtube clip,
might be worth a demo?
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The Elf
active member
Joined: 14/08/01
Posts: 8156
Loc: Sheffield, UK
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Re: Recording software with automatic level control
[Re: gazza1967]
#957716 - 07/12/11 03:12 PM
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Quote gazza1967:
Just a thought,
but would Waves Vocal Rider help?
Check out the youtube clip, might be worth a
demo?
As the others above have
said, if you set levels properly you should be nowhere even close to clipping. Adding
Vocal Rider AFTER recording has merit, but certainly not while recording.
--------------------
An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.
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