Proper Recording Levels

[SpinningDisk]

The video is gone mannnn.

Disk


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[sunburst79]

Orange is the new yellow.

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by sunburst79

Orange is the new yellow.

Whaaatt....? Yellow is the new red

[groundcontrol]

AFAIK, 0VU = -18dBFS is a (somewhat ancient by DAW's short history comparison) AES standard dating from pre 24 bit converter days.

The widely used film/broadcast standard of 0VU = -20dBFS is much more in line with present days systems performances.

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by groundcontrol

The widely used film/broadcast standard of 0VU = -20dBFS is much more in line with present days systems performances.

Just what I said few posts ago; theoretical 144dB minus practical 120dB (give or take) equals about 20dB headroom

[soybalm]

A bit meter can help you with quality levels. If you are recording 16 bit which no one hardly does, it's critical to keep your levels hot as possible without touching red. You can end up with 8 bit audio and less if the level goes down to far. 24 bit makes it less relevant. In theory, 32 bit float is supposed to keep the audio pristine at all levels. So for 24 bit, keep it green and yellow, never red.
bit depth=dynamic range

[JFreak]

If your dynamic range is 18 dB you could be satisfied with 3 bit master. Really. One bit equals roughly 6 dB dynamics. So what you end up with is less important than what you record.

It is the recording phase where you need headroom. Having 24 bit word means 144 dB theoretical dynamics, and knowing the best AD converters can only do about 120 dB it means recording 24 bit makes you not to worry about levels, as soon as they're not too hot.

But once you mix the tracks together, your dynamics is pretty much guaranteed to stay between 24...8 dB so you don't need to think about bitness any longer. You just mix your stuff and mastering engineer does the rest.

This is not rocket science.

[YYR123]

Originally Posted by soybalm

In theory, 32 bit float is supposed to keep the audio pristine at all levels.

Can you imagine when 32 bit A/D D/A converters come out ? $$$$&

[sunburst79]

Originally Posted by sunburst79

Orange is the new yellow.

Originally Posted by JFreak

Whaaatt....? Yellow is the new red

I actually like that a bit better.

[bryced87]

I have peak turned on at the bottom of the fader so it's reading -8 to -10. How do you read the meters though? I'm not sure I'm understanding the difference between the numbers on the right and left and of the Faders.