Recording vocals with Pro Tools, MIC GAIN>

[Johnny916]

Hi, Can somebody tell me how high my gain should be when recording vocals?

I'm not sure how to explain this but when I look at the data on vocal audio tracks it doesn't look very THICK..? Should the vocal data range be as close to the top and bottom of my audio tracks as possible??

Please help!

[AfricanCaneKing]

its really all relative, but i try to mke sure i get my vocals recorded as loud as possible with out clipping. i watch the mbox and make sure as my vocalist performs the peak light doesn't light up, or if it does it lights up rarely. also use your ears, you cant mix your music visually its better to listen than watch peak meters and wave forms

[GapeOne]

I usually try keep mine at around 12 o'clock when I record myself, but when my guys are in the studio recording it tends to be in the 9 o'clock setting as they have a much stronger projection.

As for your vocal data not being too thick, try Normalizing your vocal data. In your audio suite there is a Normalize plugin that you can use to bring all of your vocal peaks to 0db (Not exactly sure of the proper wording either, but this boosts your vocals AKA makes the vocal data thicker).

Good luck!
- GAPE

[where02190]

For an 001 and M-box, nominal (average) levels should be -18dbfs, for the 002/002R -18dbfs. This applies to anything you're recording. This allows adequate headroom for transient peaks while achieving best possible audio quality.

Check out the Pluggo PeakMe for a decent, accurate meter plugin.