Controlling track volume

[Jim Hollingsworth]

Hi all,
I have been doing a lot of tracking at home using ProTools 7 LE and would like to see how the studios keep the levels constant on steel guitar tracks. I try to keep the volume pedal steady but there are still occasions where it'll jump a bit - which always stands out on replay. I prefer not to over use compressors because it ruins the dynamic feel. SO ..... does anyone have recommendations ?? I will ProTools LE had the "Normalize" function but it doesn't.

Your advice is appreciated.


Jim

[mtulbert]

Jim,

The studio's really don't keep the level "constant". If you want a total constant level then you should not use a volume/swell pedal.

To maintain the proper level of the steel in the mix normally requires "riding" a fader or using automation to vary the level of the blend of the steel to the track.

The next time you sit down at your computer, try playing the track and moving the fader up and down to achieve the desired level. Remember the steel is a dynamic instrument with the swell pedal and it is OK IMHO to have the level vary some with the song. As always it depends on the what the instrument is doing.

Hope this helps

M

[Tony Prior]

The studio's don't keep it constant, the player does.

Tracking Steel with a V Pedal is not easy and does require strong focus. What you can do to help is to use a slight soft compressor setting (outboard gear) on the input before PT see's the signal.

Proper V Pedal technique is an art especially when recording...

good luck

t

[Jim Hollingsworth]

Thanks guys,
I try really hard to keep the VP steady but you know how it goes when the red light is on! I have been coming back after I get a keeper track and automating the volume to keep those occasional peaks down so they don't jump out in the mix.

Thanks again!
Jim

[Scott Henderson]

When I do sound checks in studios, be it mine or someone elses, I sound check at full throttle. That way I don't have to worry about clipping. I agree with Tony sometimes a soft compressor can do the trick. Remember a soft mix can be fixed but a clip in a DAW is next to impossible to get rid of completely. That's my two cents...

[Greg Cutshaw]

Lately I've started using compression on all my steel tracks during the mastering. I normalize the track in Reaper, then use about 5.4/1 compression just to cut down on the very peaks. Occasionally I add a volume envelope to manually bump the levels up and down before mastering. These processes still leave in all the intention al volume swells that make a steel sound like a pedal steel.

Look at the link below and you will see a volume envelope applied to a steel track:

http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Zoom%20R24%2 ... tudio.html


Greg

[Tony Prior]

The last couple of sessions I have done( not many ) both studio's fed the Steel thru an outboard tube compressor ahead of the PC input interface. Made a huge difference.

Now I went ahead and got a small outboard compressor with presets( cheap not a tube compressor) and I now use it for everything ahead of the PC interface, aa very slight soft compression setting but it also has input level and output level control. I do plan on acquiring a single channel tube compressor at some point. The compressor I bought is a low cost Behringer Mini Com, it has 16 presets and for the money I paid, it's a great value and is like a small miracle on the input of all the tracks. I use the very slight soft preset setting. Barely there but you can see it control the peaks.

t

[Franklin]

I never keep the volume level....I play soft and loud within a song, depending on the dynamic of the emotion I try to convey........Just like singers do........That's what a mix is for......Make the emotional music first, even if it makes the mixing process more complex the end result is worth the extra effort........Paul

[Frank Freniere]

Thanks, Paul - always appreciate your input.

[Tony Prior]

IF you are referring to over loading the input while tracking that is not the same as what Paul refers to as "dynamics". You are asking about engineering and you do not want to clip the signal while tracking, agreed.

Compressors do not ruin the sound, the operator of the compressor does. Improper compression ruins the dynamic feel, proper compression is used to do exactly what you need.

Every recorded track that you hear has proper compression applied, either at the initial tracking or in the mastering.

In this scenario, volume pedal technique along with a very soft input compression will solve what you are describing without affecting dynamics while recording.

Pretty much every engineer on the planet will tell you don't use a compressor if you don't know how to use it, but they will tell you it is an extremely valuable tool once you do learn how to use it.

There are several low cost compressors out there with PRESETS, they range from barely compressed to over compressed and everything in between. I would recommend one of those as a starting point and put it in your input signal path starting with the least "setting" preset. Also concentrate on V pedal technique.

One of the things that is included with every DAW and many workstations are the dynamic processors, and they all have presets that the user can select. These are written by engineers and although they may not be perfect they are pretty darn close to what the user may be needing. They are there and included for a reason.

Good luck

t

[Jason Hull]

The "Normalize" feature effects the entire track level, so it won't fix this problem. Compression will, though most people over-use it, which will kill dynamics. You can fix it using the Pro Tools "pencil" to pull down the amplitude at just the problem spots. You can use the track zoom to get down to a microscopic level and really tweak a track. It's tedious, but it might be the way to fix it, short of re-cutting the track (or learning how to use a compressor).

[Tony Prior]

Jason brings up a good point about repairing issues, but, if a track has saturation ( input overload) on it, that is near impossible to fix and it may take less time to either punch in a new "take" or just record the whole track again !


Think LOOP record here !

t