Mixer fader and input level
 

I read the book "Offical Pro Tools Courseware".
In there it states that the mixer faders in Pro Tools has no effect on input levels.
But.... when I plug my guitar into the Mbox 2 mini and check the levels the input level decreases when I lower the fader knob in the track. In other words I play the guitar and the level goes up. when I lower the fader knob the input level goes down. So... is there something Im missing here?

My stuff is below. I just uped to PT 8.0

Alienware area 51 Mobile Desktop
portable setup

win xp home
Pro Tools 8.0
V One Toontrack sample player
Xpand plugin
Mbox 2 mini
Korg pandora effects unit
CPU Pent 4 2.9 gz
3 gigs ram
2 hard drives both 7200 rpm
Pro tools sessions stored on HD without the Win OS
Traveler guitar electric 6 string
Mogami audio cables balanced
Nothing running that doesnt need to be running
A pair of sony $20 headphones

Re: Mixer fader and input level
 

The mixer faders do effect your listening volume in Pro Tools..
They don't effect the level being recorded. The software faders are "post" input level.
You must set your input gain using the hardware Pre volume knob... either on your Digi device, or whatever external pre you are using.

Re: Mixer fader and input level
 

:cool:

Re: Mixer fader and input level
 

You may have your meters in Post-Fader mode which would make things more confusing. But as said already, the "fader" only affects playback/listening volume.

Re: Mixer fader and input level
 

yep yep yep...Only hardware knobs can affect your input level.So in normal pre fader level display settings, even if your fader is set on minus infinite, your bargraph should still dancing!

Re: Mixer fader and input level
 

For what one guy's opinion is worth, go to your preferences and un-check "pre-fader metering" so you can see the actual, post fader level of your track.....
But that's just MY preference.

Re: Mixer fader and input level
 

Mine too

Re: Mixer fader and input level
 

The recommendation used to be "Pre Fader Metering" when recording and "Post Fader Metering" when mixing. The former so you could see the level of the signal coming in and the latter so you could see the level of the signal coming out. I prefer leaving everything on Post Fader Metering. YMMV. Of course, if you want to see any Volume Automation reflected in your Meters, then you must have Pre Fader Metering turned OFF.

You can set your Preferences to Unlock the Record and Playback Faders. This way, if you prefer it, you can have one level in your monitors for Record and another level for Playback. Personally, I prefer them to be the same, YMMV.

And, as previously mentioned, you must set the incoming signal at the source as no Fader in Pro Tools will affect the actual level of the Record signal, only Playback.

Cheers,

Re: Mixer fader and input level
 

I did some more experiments with this. and... you all are right. I have no idea why but I swear what I explained in my original post about this was definitley happening The input level was going up and down when I played the guitar and moved the fader. I dont know what scenario would cause this but it did happen.

And its not happening now.

Greg

Re: Mixer fader and input level
 

Again - it was NOT the record level that was being adjusted (unless the signal was coming in via an aux input or something), but the playback level.