Hey Papa! I watched this a little earlier and it was great then, I'll see this in the AM. What I saw was the ducks nuts! I really like the ol MP3 / 44.1 / 256 right there on my post it, now. The flow is great and I will have to try the techniques you show for adding a track. I guess I just cave man it, sorta version 1, I guess.
Two small things ( I gotta run)
I saw you adj the "master' or "main" slider while setting levels prior to export.. I thought this would screw up the track for others behind me. I must be wrong, but how?
I did not see nay mention of input gain level setting. I'm sure you want to stay away from individual configurations.... but maybe a target range for the input signal as a starting point?
I'll watch it again in the morning. GREAT! Thanks!!!!!!!!!
Thanks!
Yes, I did move the output fader and you are right, it will change the output levels. I usually leave the output setting a 0.0db, but it's not sacrosanct, because in some cases the input levels may also have been altered. On playback after I have output the track I use a program that gives me a true graphic representation of the final track and I've been known to adjust the output on the mix so I end up with an average backing track level that is between 6 and 9 db below saturation (0db) to leave solo room for other soloists who might follow.
As to gain setting, it's not usually necessary unless you see your meters on the mixing console redlining (or on the input, going above the
0 indicator. This will depend on the interface you are using into Studio One. Also, the
faders have NO EFFECT on your input signal. They will control your monitor level. You can demonstrate this yourself by creating a track, arming record for the guitar channel and playing. If you watch the meters for your guitar channel, you'll see that they do not change regardless of where you move the slider. The sliders only work for mixing. Actual gain settings are pretty much a one time setting if you are always working with the same interface. I'll be doing a video on that within the next few days, but if you look in the mixer console, on the left, you will see a column of buttons, one of which is marked input. If you click on that, you'll gain access to the input settings.
At the top, you will see the input setting for each channel. By default they are at 0.0 or unity, so they accept the signal as it is provided by the interface. With a Presonus interface, you should never need to change this. Other manufacturers' outputs may be higher or lower than the Presonus. It's difficult to see, but there is a knob to the left of the 0.0 db indication that you can adjust by placing your cursor on top of the knob. Click and drag up will increase the gain, Click and drag down will decrease the gain. Unless you change interfaces (microphones, DI boxes, etc,) you may never need to adjust it again after the initial setting. I switch back and forth using my Eleven Rack and Presonus Studio LIve mixer as my main interfaces and I have never touched these gain settings. That doesn't mean they can't be adjusted, just that they have been satisfactory for my use. The bottom portion shows the actual input levels Studio One is seeing (after the gain setting). The goal is to keep it below the 0db line. I can get a signal out of the processed inputs of the Eleven Rack (with 11r amp sims and effects) that approaches 0db.
Using my dry input (straight guitar), my peaks are lower, probably around -12db. Using Ampire in Studio One, those levels will get the dry guitar to a level that is on par with (or exceeds) the Eleven Rack inputs.
YMMV, but it's important to keep in mind that your inputs should never exceed 0db or some rather nasty sounding audio will be the result.
Since I have the graphic onscreen, if you notice right below the 0.0db indicator, you see Ø (two on the stereo backing track channel) and one each on the guitar and vocal channels. Those are phase reversal switches which allow you to flip the polarity of the input signal.