Cubase volume question

[FinnJ]

now this may seem like a silly question to yo pros out there but im only a bedroom recorder so please help!, how do i increase the volume of a track in cubase without using the mixer. i recorded a very low guitar part but now i want to up the volume. i have the mixer set volume at its highest but i want it louder.
thanx
john

[rfb]

Use the wave editor to normalise the audio in that part. This ups the volume till the loudest peak hits 0db, without changing it in any other way.

- rfb

[30yroldpig]

Originally Posted by rfb

This ups the volume till the loudest peak hits 0db, without changing it in any other way.
- rfb

Wrong. Normalizing will boost the noise floor as well. Especially since the guitar part was recorded low. Normalizing...BAD

Try using a plug-in compressor. Although the noise floor will increase as well, you will have much more control over it. If you don't have plug-ins...normalizing is the only other option over re-recording your part (My vote for the re-recording).

[rfb]

Originally Posted by Pat7

Wrong. Normalizing will boost the noise floor as well. Especially since the guitar part was recorded low. Normalizing...BAD

Well, the noise floor is part of the recorded part - so it does exactly the same thing as turning up the volume, if he had any more volume left. Which would be what I said, and what he asked for.

- rfb

[30yroldpig]

Originally Posted by rfb

Well, the noise floor is part of the recorded part - so it does exactly the same thing as turning up the volume, if he had any more volume left. Which would be what I said, and what he asked for.

- rfb

No it's not the same thing. If you understood what normalising does then you wouldn't say that it's the same as turing up the volume. Understanding signal to noise is extremely important here. A normalise function makes everything loud. Loud is fun, but loud noise sucks.

Why would you want to raise the noise floor by the same proportion as the rest of the audio data? That doesn't make any sense.

Keep your options open. If you have plug-ins, use them before running a normalise function. If you don't have plug-ins, then re-record the part and learn how to record properly, or try different mixing techniques.

To quote a good friend of mine on his opinion of normalising: "It is the way to go - if you're gonna listen to it through your ass"

Just my 2 cents.

[FinnJ]

hmmm i dont play on listening to it through my ass

[FinnJ]

play.....DOH!!! i mean plan...

[rfb]

Originally Posted by Pat7

No it's not the same thing. If you understood what normalising does then you wouldn't say that it's the same as turing up the volume. Understanding signal to noise is extremely important here. A normalise function makes everything loud. Loud is fun, but loud noise sucks.

Ummm, I do understand what normalising does. It looks like you don't understand what a volume control does (on a playback channel in a digital mixer) - it makes everything that you recorded louder, or quieter, including the noise. A normaliser does this exactly to the point where it would clip if you turn it up any further.

Why would you want to raise the noise floor by the same proportion as the rest of the audio data? That doesn't make any sense.

That's what a volume control does, you know. Many people find them useful.

Obviously the best option is to rerecord the part at a better level, and the next best option may well be compression or similar. I'm just answering the question he asked.

- rfb

[30yroldpig]

Dude

It seems you know better.

Ummm, I do understand what normalising does. it makes everything that you recorded louder, or quieter, including the noise. A normaliser does this exactly to the point where it would clip if you turn it up any further.

With the volume control you can ride, ie control the level of noise within a mix. It's linear, More the fader goes up, more the noise goes down & vice versa. Therefore more flexible. Add some EQ and maybe you can EQ it out. Once you have normalized an audio clip you have FORCED the noise floor all the way to the same level of the sound. How can you control more?

That's what a volume control does, you know. Many people find them useful

It looks like you don't understand what a volume control does (on a playback channel in a digital mixer)

-

Please do not patronize me. Unfortunately, my job as an audio technician sometimes requires me to work with crappy audio files that have to be mixed for TV shows. I know a thing or two here about low level audio. No pro normalises.

Granted you answered his question. I'm just saying there's other possibilities.

Cheers
Pat

[30yroldpig]

BTW FinnJ

I don't know about all the tracks you have recorded so far, but try this:

You obviously ran out of head room on the guitar channel in the cubase mixer (that's why you can't go any louder).Try pulling the volume down on the other recorded tracks. You'll also have to experiment with level riding using cubase's automation (it does have automation right?)

Good luck

Pat

[rfb]

Originally Posted by Pat7

With the volume control you can ride, ie control the level of noise within a mix. It's linear, More the fader goes up, more the noise goes down & vice versa. Therefore more flexible. Add some EQ and maybe you can EQ it out. Once you have normalized an audio clip you have FORCED the noise floor all the way to the same level of the sound. How can you control more?

Well, by using the volume control. I'm only talking about normalising the audio on the tracks he's recorded the guitar to, track by track, which is trivial to do in Cubase; it's effectively just going to increase the range of his faders so he can get it loud enough.

Please do not patronize me.

Well, you started out by claiming I didn't understand what normalising did. I was just responding in kind.

All the best,

- rfb

[30yroldpig]

Well, you started out by claiming I didn't understand what normalising did. I was just responding in kind.

You are absolutely right. In fact I re-read my post and indeed it too seemed patronizing and for that I apologise. I never meant to insult.

No hard feelings?

[rfb]

Originally Posted by Pat7

No hard feelings?

Absolutely none. I apologise too, I need to calm down .

Waiter! Bring me icecream and cuddly kittens!

- rfb

[30yroldpig]

Sweet!