I am nearing my wits end with a problem I've seemingly developed of late. I'm recording some short soundclips for a friend who's developing his own range of guitar pickups. I'm using an old but perfectly solid P4 3.2ghz PC with 2gb RAM and separate system and audio drives. Soundcard is an RME Multiface1 (8 analogue ins and outs) and I'm using a budget Behringer Xenyx small mixer just for a mic pre into the RME and as a monitor level control. I have the recording aux 'bus' from the desk going to the first two 'IN's on the RME and the first two 'OUT's from the RME running to the 'TAPE IN' phono sockets on the desk.
I've recorded several clips so far and levels on the two DAWs I use (an old version of Sonar 4 and likewise for Nuendo) look fine - both on recording and playback. Levels in the souncard's built in mixer/routing software 'Totalmix' look equally healthy. I also ensured that I got a reasonable recording level and recorded in 24 bit for an extra bit of leeway.
When I select the track and then export the audio, ie File > Export > Audio (I've tried selecting broadcast wave and AAC) the resulting file has severely dropped in level. A friend has suggested running it through a mastering type plug in to boost the level but surely for one simple mono track with a bit of guitar playing I shouldn't have to do this? I've compared my track with clips from pickup makers websites and the difference in volume is staggering. I've also tried running a db boost on the file through Audacity but this doesn't seem to do the trick either and often ends up clipping the file.
I have no problems with clicks, pops or latency but this level drop thing is driving me barmy. I'm convinced it's something I have connected incorrectly between the soundcard and the desk but for the life of me can't find what!
I'm going to try again at the week end but if anyone has any suggestions I'll be really grateful. I had this rig set up before and don't recall having a level problem. I think back then that I had my studio monitors connected directly to the soundcard's outs rather than via the mixer - could this be the problem?
Seemed like a good idea.....
Comments
Just a thought but, go into Windows Sounds and Audio Devices from Control Panel and work thru the various menues and check that a "slider" has not been pulled down. Xp used to slam the Synth slider down on me once a month or so...Boggled the A off me till I sussed it!
I trust you have disabled both the OnBoard Sound and Windows noises?
Also, download Samplitude Silver Cloud. I never have any issues exporting from that.Either .wavs or mp3.
Dave.
Bandcamp
Spotify, Apple et al