vocal tracking level

[wonderland]

hello, new to pro tools can some one help? I am having a problem recording vocals. I have grouped all the instrument tracks and set at about -6 output. Whilst tracking the vocal I can hear it perfectly loud, however once recorded the playback volume of the vocal is very low even when the fader is pushed all the way up and even clipping. The vocal is nowhere near recording loud enough to compete with the track. Am I doing something obviously wrong?
I'd appreciate some help. Cheers

[caruso7r]

It's hard to troubleshoot without knowing some info on what you have. What is your system? Mbox? 003? etc. When you're recording obviously you have a good amount of input level at the hardware device whatever that device is. Post back with your system and version of PT

[wonderland]

Thanks for replying, My chain is Se 5600a11 mic into a focusrite saphire 56 out thru sdif into eleven rack (monitored via sub mixer) any ideas?

[wonderland]

sorry forgot PT8.1

[caruso7r]

And levels to the eleven rack are healthy going into it? One thing if you can do without being a big hassle is post a pic on here so we can all see your setup. 1 show a pic of your mix page and show your hardware chain. That may help alot. I have to admit since I dont own a eleven rack I'm not the best to help although I do understand the signal chain for recording. Post back with pics when you can.

[wonderland]

Thanks, I'll see what I can do. The level into the Saphire pre amp is great and the level showing out into the pro tools recording track is fine. Just very low once recorded and played back.

[caruso7r]

The recorded level looks low or only sounds low?

[StudioDTA]

are you monitoring a different mix than what you are recording?

what I mean, is are you using a monitor input (like an eleven preamp) that affects the monitored only sound?

[wonderland]

The recorded level looks fine on the meters but even with the fader pushed into the red the playback is very low. For tracking monitoring I am taking a feed from the headphone out of the eleven rack into a channel on a sub mixer and a feed from the headphone out of the saphire into another channel on the sub mixer (a VS2480) so i have easy control over the track level and the input recording balance.

[caruso7r]

Originally Posted by wonderland

The recorded level looks fine on the meters but even with the fader pushed into the red the playback is very low. For tracking monitoring I am taking a feed from the headphone out of the eleven rack into a channel on a sub mixer and a feed from the headphone out of the saphire into another channel on the sub mixer (a VS2480) so i have easy control over the track level and the input recording balance.

There may be an issue with impedance mismatching going on with taking from a headphone output going back into a submixer. I personally would have to see it for it to make sense to me, but reading your statement here seems that impedance mismatching might cause a big level drop in monitoring. I could be wrong though. Again your saying the playback level for the vocal only.