Kenny, I've been looking for answers to this question and many more provided in your videos, for about a year. Many thanks for sharing your craft with people like me. Thanks man.
Hahaha... Mr Kenny's speech makes me think of "Goodfellas", lol. Christopher Walken, lol, I see it. Kind of the way he emphasizes while speaking, totally C Walken, lol. Total respect for Mr Kenny, love this channel. He knows a lot.
Kenny, just found your channel today and I find it super helpful. I've been around the block with digital recording several times but have recently got more involved in production and engineering, especially using REAPER in my home project studio, and am learning tons from you. Thanks!
Fantastic - just what I needed, so clearly explained, learned so much as always and now I know what I've been doing wrong ...! Love Kenny's videos. Always thought having to boost the volume later was some kind of failure but Kenny has reframed that for me. Invaluable.
Kenny bro, you earned my subscription. The way you explain by not just telling us what we should for recording on reaper......but you also give us the why, the myths and the legends on recording,which gives an advantage over the rest of good reaper tutorials. it makes you GREAT..and you deserve to get paid off your channel bro...and I hope you are..Thank you for your knowledge and your gift for explaining your knowledge. and ps. I also would like to ask you a personal recording question. but not here, cuz i dont wanna sound like an idiot or a dreamer..Thanks agaain
Hi! I’m a fairly new Reaper user, although I’ve been using DAWs for many years. Thank you for your tutorials. Not only the Reaper ones, but the general things such as levels and normalization are extremely helpful, and many things which I didn’t know. Thanks again very much.
Awesome! Thanks Kenny. Very helpful. The great instructional videos that Reaper has is one of the reasons why I dumped Ableton Live 9 for Reaper. The easy to follow Reaper instructional videos are a Godsend! Love it.
Well, this explains some of my problems. Thanks, Kenny. I have been thinking as along as I am not in the red, I am fine for years. A lot of the problems I've had suddenly make sense.
This is the missing link in my work with acoustic instruments. Been recording too hot since forever. First try after this video was like night and day. Huge thanks. Would be interested to know what setting enables drag normalizing of media items like you show at 1.12.
This was new to me. I've always thought you should record at the highest level without peaking for the best SNR. The idea being, it's better to record higher and then lower the signal and then also lower the noise floor, than to record lower and then raising the signal dragging the noise up with it. Anyway, thanks for another great tip!
Michael Hebo That was true back then when tracking on tape. Nowadays, 24 bits recording have a 144 dB dynamic range. Therefore, the digital noisefloor is extremely low.
But if my Aria Jazz Bass is a little bit noisy, then i think "oldschool" taperecord-oriented method will work . Or nothing can't help me with Jazz Bass noise? )
do you need the pre-amp (or 'a' pre-amp) plugin? is it functioning as a standalone then routed into reaper, or is it a sound effect under the plugin set of that track? cus it doesnt look like there are any plugins due to the grey colour, but there's an additional glowing green box beside the grey plugin indicator. I just need to find a way to use a pre-amp on a mac, cus my recording levels on this snowball microphone are reallllly low. I have to apply 10-15 dB increase during/and-or/after recording. Thanks a bunch, as always it's been a pleasure Kenny my man. Pce
I have to keep reminding me of this, Eons ago I was trained by manuals and best practices, and sane friends tp keep it around 18 to -12 db Its been that way for as long as I can remember with numerous DAWs. I figure I have better recordings just using Sound forge, and Audacity/ I am into sort of new age music and summing up tracks depends on sometimes lower levels often with outboard synths I find. I am still figuring this out, go hot for some instruments low for others,
So does this mean that when recording my guitar with amp, should stay between -18 and -12 but when recording my Vdrums or keyboard through a midi cable it doesn't matter as long as I don't go red? Also that it doesn't matter once I record my guitar with amp and the input level is between -18 and -12 but after when I playback it is much lower?
plz make video about the top audio interface and microphone so people wil not biased about the price and quality......plzzzzzzz🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏plz great Kenny
Ah, I 'think' this makes sense to me now. I just bought a digital package called Amp Room, by Softube. The amps and cabs are superb, but I couldn't fathom out why, with my normal settings on my audio device, where I would get a default volume level of -18db on a track, with Amp Room turned on, it was literally going through the roof. Meaning, I had to turn the track volume fader down to -42db to stop it going into the red. So what you're saying here, for my instance of Amp Room, I should alter the volume on my interface so that the track volume is around -18db? Am I correct in my understanding?
Hi. Im new to Reaper so Im watching everything I can. Question: I see a knob above the media file where one can adjust the size of the wave form. How can I see that on Reaper 6? do I have to make a setting for that?
Wow. Great info. Kenny's the best! This reminds me of a question I've had for a long time. Is there a way to increase the volume ONLY on the parts of a signal that exceed a certain level? The idea is to keep noise and bleed minimized while amplifying the rest. I know I can use a gate, but I do primarily VO work that has nothing behind it, so if I bring up the volume, my noise floor gets too high. It seems like there should be a simple way to do this without having to resort to complicated side chain setups.
make a plugin that does all the dirty stuff under the hood and control it with just one knob called "please my entitlement / satisfy me instantly" just my two cents
These videos are soooo helpfull,thanks a lot REAPER Mania!!! Question: I would like to buy a lap-top that's strong enough to run Reaper,and that's also strong enough to have the interfaces etc connected to it. I wouldn't use it for anything else really. Any suggestions on what lap-top i should get? My knowledge on computers is rather poor...
So now the burning question - what DB level should we record at from Digital Sources ie VSTs or an audio signal coming from a keyboard (non analog) through the Audio Interface to Reaper? (noob here) Thank you.
how can i adjust my guitar output at around -18db when my (completely normal) equalizer has the trebles boosted? my high strings are louder of course. Plugging them quieter don't make sense since I want my trebles boosted. That's just how an EQ works. A compressor would make the same. I can never be around this -18db at every time. What is the solution to this?
Noob question here. How do you know exactly what DB your gain is at if your interface is only color coded? I've always used the "put it in yellow and back off slightly" technique because I don't know what my gain levels actually are. I'm under the impression that you can't go by the reaper faders because that is just output volume. So where should I be looking to check my input levels?
Kenny you're so conservative... I like to record my instruments peaking between -12 and -6... and things like kicks and snares, I like a peak between -6 and -3. A little extra drive on the preamps adds character. Don't be afraid to mush things a little bit!
im using Blackstar Amp usb connection to record directly from my AMP to computer using reaper....but when im using heavy distorted gainy present my recording level always clips with red signal ! how can i bring it to -18 db without losing the tone ?
Kenny. I just had an unusual problem occur with Reaper when starting it up. I have an existing project that I've been working on for a while. But now when I start it up, I get this warning window (SynthEdit), "Can't load SE Plugin:" It identifies some .sem files that it can't find in my Plugin folder. I have to click 'OK' about 120 times then Reaper finally start up and the project file functions properly. I've already posted this on the Reaper Forum but haven't heard anything back. How can I fix this?
Funny I happened upon this, because one strange problem I get often, is once a track does touch into the red, it stays that way no matter what I do. Turning the fader down, sticking the provided "volume" plug on and trying to turn it down that way, etc. But I'm on a hobby basis, not professionally. Which may explain my ignorance re: laying studio trax, lol. That didn't matter back during my 4 track cassette days, lol.
Thanks, Kenny. My problem is that if I use any FX on my guitar or vocals (using a 2i2 into Reaper), the level I see while recording my be at -18 but the playback level will be much hotter, sometimes into the red. I can't figure out how to see what THAT level will be while recording. I know this must be a simple thing but I can't figure it out. Please help!
How can I get the proper screenset view for the mixer panel (small full meter) in Reaper v6.25? In this version I don't see any of the same screenset options as you have. I just see "A", "B", and "C", and then zoom-levels for those screensets (50%, default, 150%, 200%). None of them enlarge the db meter to full screen like what you have in this video?
I'm new to recording and reaper and I have the levels set up correctly but my waveform is too small even when I max the volume afterwards as you showed. Is there a way to fix this?
Analogue equipment is optimised for -18db FS, yes. Not PEAK, that's RMS! (that would mean the average amplitude is -18db, not occasional maximums) So Aiming for RMS -18db with peak below -6db good practice. Failing having RMS meters, probably -12db on the medium parts of the track is ok (with some peaks over and certainly no clip!). (if e.g. your interface shows only peak lights)
Because it is a preAMP. It AMPlifies the sound/makes it stronger/louder/hotter. Just make sure to stay at -18db in Reaper, and don't peak red in your Preamp. 🤘
Not quite just a button, but there is an easy way to set a function key to do this. Go to "View>Screensets/Layouts" the open the layouts tab. Set the "Mixer Panel" to what you would normally have it as. Open the "Window" tab and click on an empty row, then hit save. Give it a name and de-select everything apart from layouts. Repeat for all other layouts you may wish to use.
Kenny, I'm an old Tape guy. Digital is trickier than Tape was. Reaper is amazing and I wish I had it 40 years ago when I was recording. I'm trying to record my friends and family and get into again. Your Video was a great start but I need a better real world way to set the level from microphones. Can make another video that teaches an end to end level adjustment? I'm going to try what you did but expand it a little by placing a 1K sound generator in front of A microphone in a room simulating the distance of a singer or acoustic instruments ? I have the Scarlett 212 which lights green, yellow, red on input. How much green is too much? I don't know how calibrate it so I don't get mike overload. I know this topic can go on forever but with your extensive knowledge It could simple. How can I contact you?
Kenny, I may have already asked this but here goes again. How do you adjust the output level of a track during record? (The track that is being recorded?) For instance, the vocalist complains that he/she is either too loud or not loud enough in the headphones during record. I know I could just lower or raise the level of all the playback tracks, but that seems cumbersome and besides, I have those set to optimum levels and don't want to mess them up.
Why would you be adjusting all levels if the singer just wants to hear him/her self at a different volume? You would just slide their single fader up or down in reaper and problem solved? That would affect what they're hearing but not the level of what's being recorded. I feel like I might be misunderstanding so just holler back if that's the case.
Jeff. I'm not adjusting all the levels. That's what I Don't want to do. I want to adjust only the track that is being recorded. The fader on the track that is set to record has no effect. I just tried it again. The only adjustment I have is on my audio interface gain and I always try to keep that around -18dBm.
I'm having a hard time understanding this. In Reaper I have my track with meter but all I have is a volume for that track that doesn't effect the recording levels at all. I'm kind of lost on how to adjust it.
My recorded tracks all go in the red (no fx added just the DI) even if I set the gain on my focusright to zero and the volume on the tracks to zero aswell. I am really new to all of this and I don't even know how to make my reaper look like yours to be able to compare it to one another. Could someone please help me?
If you have older focusrite first gen, you should get a new one. All focusrite from 4i4 also have a pad. So if you have a sensitive pickups you can cool than down. All models below 2i2 miss the pads.
Hi Kenny, I'm quite new to Reaper and have a question. I don't understand what you did abaut "big wave forms" at 1:08. I tried to figure out how to do that myself but couldn't. Can you please explain IN DETAIL what's going on there? Because I'm totally lost.
My focusrite scarlett is too loud, and adjusting the gain has no effect on it even when its all the way down. The only solution I could find is turning the track volume down before recording. Is that a big no no or?
Gain is NOT volume. You may be confusing input levels with output levels. Your track volume can theoretically be whatever you want as long as it's not red. He's only referring to pre-amp gain staging in this video. The gain going from your interface to mixer is not the same as the volume coming from your mixer to your monitors/headphones.
REAPER Mania what should i do if with gain of the interface at 0 the signal of a guitar goes at -6dB or above 0? should I go down with the track fader?
@@knumbugs So its like, do not touch the volume knob of the track, start with the interface gain adjust, or inside amp sim? And if its a vst, say ez drummer, adjust the volume inside ez drummer, not the volume control of the track it self?
Kenny...Yeah man my soundcraft usb works great with the suggestive -18db ghost pre-amps And for the comment below mine...Kenny is obviously from NY like me..WHAT OF IT?
I had some trouble with this also until I went through the themes and found Default 5.0 and all the things he has are in there. Try that and it should work.
the signal comin in should be at -18 db ok but how about the "track volume slider position" ? should i put it at 0? or your put it at -18 also? How about the master volume slider? at -18 or 0 also? sorry for the noob question, thanks! ..
@@kchez5586 Yeah the way I understand it is it controls how much the audio on the track is being amplified, eg if the fader is at -6dB the audio is reduced by 6dB or if the fader is at +3dB the audio is amplified by 3dB. 0dB means the volume of the audio is unchanged
Hey Kenny, why did you upload the same video twice ? I noticed this one is 45 seconds longer, but didn't see what the difference is. Also you just uploaded the Drum editing with/without stretch markers a second time.
People were confused regarding the digital recording, recording from an another application or printing from VST Instruments so I added that into this one. The other two I re-uploaded because I said "Vertical Lines" (Transient Sensitivity) instead of "Horizontal Lines". Normally I would leave it but I thought it was confusing. Thanks.
REAPER Mania For the vertical/horizontal mistake, no need to redo the video, you could just have added a small annotation on the videos to correct them.
True. If it was an older video that's what I would have done. But since I was adding content to the "Proper Recording Levels" video and I had just upoladed the other ones a day earlier it was just worth doing. Also, it will remind me not to do that again. :)
"Because I like big wave forms." - Kenny 'Big Wave Form' Gioia
And I cannot lie.
Kenny's knowledge is invaluable for me, and most Reaper users. Of course this video applies to everyone, but he is a Reaper genius.
probably one of the most important videos you have done
Kenny, I've been looking for answers to this question and many more provided in your videos, for about a year. Many thanks for sharing your craft with people like me. Thanks man.
Thnx Christopher Walken!
I like my tracks.... to be colored... with so many... fruity flavors!
Lol. I picture him doing a few takes anytime he felt imperfect...then going back in and perfectly spacing the final waves of audio apart.
@@validcore 🤣🤣🤣☠️
Hahaha... Mr Kenny's speech makes me think of "Goodfellas", lol. Christopher Walken, lol, I see it. Kind of the way he emphasizes while speaking, totally C Walken, lol. Total respect for Mr Kenny, love this channel. He knows a lot.
Hell, his speech sounds 500% cooler than my Texas-ass speech, lol.
Kenny, just found your channel today and I find it super helpful. I've been around the block with digital recording several times but have recently got more involved in production and engineering, especially using REAPER in my home project studio, and am learning tons from you. Thanks!
Fantastic - just what I needed, so clearly explained, learned so much as always and now I know what I've been doing wrong ...! Love Kenny's videos. Always thought having to boost the volume later was some kind of failure but Kenny has reframed that for me. Invaluable.
Learning Reaper at the moment and this guy's videos are invaluable.
Another useful clear video! Your work on these gems is outstanding. Thank you!
Absolutely awesome. Thanks for creating these videos. You are the best by far!
NVM. I had a question but went into your Recording Your Band series which answered my question, and is an excellent and superb series! Thanks!
I was looking for this explanation of levels like months. This is amazing. Thank you.
Kenny bro, you earned my subscription. The way you explain by not just telling us what we should for recording on reaper......but you also give us the why, the myths and the legends on recording,which gives an advantage over the rest of good reaper tutorials.
it makes you GREAT..and you deserve to get paid off your channel bro...and I hope you are..Thank you for your knowledge and your gift for explaining your knowledge.
and ps. I also would like to ask you a personal recording question. but not here, cuz i dont wanna sound like an idiot or a dreamer..Thanks agaain
I was looking for THIS video for a long long time (as a drummer who records himself in home-studio). Thanks !!
Watching this in 2019! Thank you for this. Very well explained and concise. 👆🏾
Hi! I’m a fairly new Reaper user, although I’ve been using DAWs for many years. Thank you for your tutorials. Not only the Reaper ones, but the general things such as levels and normalization are extremely helpful, and many things which I didn’t know. Thanks again very much.
Always great information Kenny! Thanks!
Awesome! Thanks Kenny. Very helpful. The great instructional videos that Reaper has is one of the reasons why I dumped Ableton Live 9 for Reaper. The easy to follow Reaper instructional videos are a Godsend! Love it.
These videos are SUPER helpful. Thank you!
Great tutorial, lots of useful info and easy to understand. Thanks!
Sooooo clear!!!!! Thanks a lot Kenny!!!
Thanks Kenny
All your videos are so helpfull
Reaper is getting easier and easier thanks to you
Great video! Thanks Kenny!
Well, this explains some of my problems. Thanks, Kenny. I have been thinking as along as I am not in the red, I am fine for years. A lot of the problems I've had suddenly make sense.
love your vids
Brilliant job Kenny :-) big props
excellent Kenny thank u
Thanks!!! You explained this very well!
I was recording far too hot!!! EXCELLENT,CONCISE INFO!! Great Job!!
Excellent thanks!
Thank you, it works perfect!
Thank you very much for there tutorials!!!!!
Super job of showing the levels clearly and telling why these levels matter. Thanx.
Thank you so much!
Thanks so much
Very Informative Sir.
Fantastic
Thank you sir
Good Stuff!
This is the missing link in my work with acoustic instruments. Been recording too hot since forever. First try after this video was like night and day. Huge thanks. Would be interested to know what setting enables drag normalizing of media items like you show at 1.12.
Kenny what’s the name of the microphone preamp you use in this video
This was new to me. I've always thought you should record at the highest level without peaking for the best SNR. The idea being, it's better to record higher and then lower the signal and then also lower the noise floor, than to record lower and then raising the signal dragging the noise up with it.
Anyway, thanks for another great tip!
Michael Hebo That was true back then when tracking on tape. Nowadays, 24 bits recording have a 144 dB dynamic range. Therefore, the digital noisefloor is extremely low.
But if my Aria Jazz Bass is a little bit noisy, then i think "oldschool" taperecord-oriented method will work . Or nothing can't help me with Jazz Bass noise? )
Uhhhhj... use a noise gate???
do you need the pre-amp (or 'a' pre-amp) plugin? is it functioning as a standalone then routed into reaper, or is it a sound effect under the plugin set of that track? cus it doesnt look like there are any plugins due to the grey colour, but there's an additional glowing green box beside the grey plugin indicator. I just need to find a way to use a pre-amp on a mac, cus my recording levels on this snowball microphone are reallllly low. I have to apply 10-15 dB increase during/and-or/after recording. Thanks a bunch, as always it's been a pleasure Kenny my man. Pce
Kenny I would like to see your master output to check out the volumes. Wondering if you had a +6dBFS added by all the individual tracks
I have to keep reminding me of this, Eons ago I was trained by manuals and best practices, and sane friends tp keep it around 18 to -12 db Its been that way for as long as I can remember with numerous DAWs. I figure I have better recordings just using Sound forge, and Audacity/ I am into sort of new age music and summing up tracks depends on sometimes lower levels often with outboard synths I find. I am still figuring this out, go hot for some instruments low for others,
So does this mean that when recording my guitar with amp, should stay between -18 and -12 but when recording my Vdrums or keyboard through a midi cable it doesn't matter as long as I don't go red? Also that it doesn't matter once I record my guitar with amp and the input level is between -18 and -12 but after when I playback it is much lower?
Thanks!!
plz make video about the top audio interface and microphone so people wil not biased about the price and quality......plzzzzzzz🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏plz great Kenny
Ah, I 'think' this makes sense to me now.
I just bought a digital package called Amp Room, by Softube.
The amps and cabs are superb, but I couldn't fathom out why, with my normal settings on my audio device, where I would get a default volume level of -18db on a track, with Amp Room turned on, it was literally going through the roof.
Meaning, I had to turn the track volume fader down to -42db to stop it going into the red.
So what you're saying here, for my instance of Amp Room, I should alter the volume on my interface so that the track volume is around -18db?
Am I correct in my understanding?
Hi. Im new to Reaper so Im watching everything I can. Question: I see a knob above the media file where one can adjust the size of the wave form. How can I see that on Reaper 6? do I have to make a setting for that?
Wow. Great info. Kenny's the best! This reminds me of a question I've had for a long time. Is there a way to increase the volume ONLY on the parts of a signal that exceed a certain level? The idea is to keep noise and bleed minimized while amplifying the rest. I know I can use a gate, but I do primarily VO work that has nothing behind it, so if I bring up the volume, my noise floor gets too high. It seems like there should be a simple way to do this without having to resort to complicated side chain setups.
make a plugin that does all the dirty stuff under the hood and control it with just one knob called "please my entitlement / satisfy me instantly"
just my two cents
These videos are soooo helpfull,thanks a lot REAPER Mania!!!
Question:
I would like to buy a lap-top that's strong enough to run Reaper,and that's also strong enough to have the interfaces etc connected to it.
I wouldn't use it for anything else really.
Any suggestions on what lap-top i should get? My knowledge on computers is rather poor...
So now the burning question - what DB level should we record at from Digital Sources ie VSTs or an audio signal coming from a keyboard (non analog) through the Audio Interface to Reaper? (noob here) Thank you.
Everything "coming through the Audio Interface to Reaper" will be analog.
Is there a way when you play back you vocal track it will show the levels? It’s not doing it on mine
how can i adjust my guitar output at around -18db when my (completely normal) equalizer has the trebles boosted? my high strings are louder of course. Plugging them quieter don't make sense since I want my trebles boosted. That's just how an EQ works. A compressor would make the same. I can never be around this -18db at every time. What is the solution to this?
How do I play a test tone?
Noob question here. How do you know exactly what DB your gain is at if your interface is only color coded? I've always used the "put it in yellow and back off slightly" technique because I don't know what my gain levels actually are. I'm under the impression that you can't go by the reaper faders because that is just output volume. So where should I be looking to check my input levels?
Thanks for making these. Does the -18 DB rule apply to other recorders as well? I'm recording on to a Tascam dp-24sd and then transferring to reaper.
For all things digital. Yes.
Kenny you're so conservative... I like to record my instruments peaking between -12 and -6... and things like kicks and snares, I like a peak between -6 and -3. A little extra drive on the preamps adds character. Don't be afraid to mush things a little bit!
im using Blackstar Amp usb connection to record directly from my AMP to computer using reaper....but when im using heavy distorted gainy present my recording level always clips with red signal ! how can i bring it to -18 db without losing the tone ?
Kenny. I just had an unusual problem occur with Reaper when starting it up. I have an existing project that I've been working on for a while. But now when I start it up, I get this warning window (SynthEdit), "Can't load SE Plugin:" It identifies some .sem files that it can't find in my Plugin folder. I have to click 'OK' about 120 times then Reaper finally start up and the project file functions properly. I've already posted this on the Reaper Forum but haven't heard anything back. How can I fix this?
We here
Funny I happened upon this, because one strange problem I get often, is once a track does touch into the red, it stays that way no matter what I do. Turning the fader down, sticking the provided "volume" plug on and trying to turn it down that way, etc. But I'm on a hobby basis, not professionally. Which may explain my ignorance re: laying studio trax, lol. That didn't matter back during my 4 track cassette days, lol.
Thanks, Kenny. My problem is that if I use any FX on my guitar or vocals (using a 2i2 into Reaper), the level I see while recording my be at -18 but the playback level will be much hotter, sometimes into the red. I can't figure out how to see what THAT level will be while recording. I know this must be a simple thing but I can't figure it out. Please help!
Lower the track level slider in the mixer when playing back to keep it out of the red.
Where do I find that "Small full meter" you mention at 3:59? I don't see it anywhere in any of the dropdown menus, including the "View" menu.. Thanks
Options - Layouts - Track Panel - C or 50%_C or 75%_C or 150%_C or 200%_C Try any of these and see what looks best to you. Smaller meter or larger.
How can I get the proper screenset view for the mixer panel (small full meter) in Reaper v6.25? In this version I don't see any of the same screenset options as you have. I just see "A", "B", and "C", and then zoom-levels for those screensets (50%, default, 150%, 200%). None of them enlarge the db meter to full screen like what you have in this video?
Options - Layouts - Track Panel - C or 50%_C or 75%_C or 150%_C or 200%_C Try any of these and see what looks best to you. Smaller meter or larger.
From Turkey, thanks
Thanks bro
You are gooder
i dont understand test tone,is that something that can be downloaded?,please explain more? thank you
I'm new to recording and reaper and I have the levels set up correctly but my waveform is too small even when I max the volume afterwards as you showed. Is there a way to fix this?
Analogue equipment is optimised for -18db FS, yes. Not PEAK, that's RMS! (that would mean the average amplitude is -18db, not occasional maximums)
So Aiming for RMS -18db with peak below -6db good practice.
Failing having RMS meters, probably -12db on the medium parts of the track is ok (with some peaks over and certainly no clip!). (if e.g. your interface shows only peak lights)
Why your mic preamp plugin shows different dB than what reaper catches? For example, the acoustic guitar is -7.0dB on the mic, but -18dB in reaper.
Because it is a preAMP. It AMPlifies the sound/makes it stronger/louder/hotter. Just make sure to stay at -18db in Reaper, and don't peak red in your Preamp. 🤘
Hi - thanks for your videos!!! - What preamp did you use in your video? and what standard preamp would you recommend? Maybe free of charge.
Most preamps are fine.
What kind of type meter you use in this video stereo peak, multi track peak or ?
There's not a way to create a shortcut on the toolbar for a toggle back and forth between 'Small Full Meter' and 'Default Layout' is there?
Not quite just a button, but there is an easy way to set a function key to do this. Go to "View>Screensets/Layouts" the open the layouts tab. Set the "Mixer Panel" to what you would normally have it as. Open the "Window" tab and click on an empty row, then hit save. Give it a name and de-select everything apart from layouts. Repeat for all other layouts you may wish to use.
What is this view/interface ? Is it the mixing pannel ?
9:40 If it's a pretty good level for you, it's a pretty good level for me too.
I've been using your level in the other videos by keeping it between -12 and -8, is it still relevant?
Kenny, I'm an old Tape guy. Digital is trickier than Tape was. Reaper is amazing and I wish I had it 40 years ago when I was recording. I'm trying to record my friends and family and get into again. Your Video was a great start but I need a better real world way to set the level from microphones. Can make another video that teaches an end to end level adjustment? I'm going to try what you did but expand it a little by placing a 1K sound generator in front of A microphone in a room simulating the distance of a singer or acoustic instruments ? I have the Scarlett 212 which lights green, yellow, red on input. How much green is too much? I don't know how calibrate it so I don't get mike overload. I know this topic can go on forever but with your extensive knowledge It could simple. How can I contact you?
What is the mixer layout name? I can't find the template with the tall meters.
Why not recommend using a VU meter calibrated at -18db? Do you see any drawback in that?
Yep. I use this www.tb-software.com/TBProAudio/mvmeter.html )
SO if the gain on your interface is considered the preamp for your mic what is the purpose of a pre amp plugin if it is not suggested to use it ?
thanks for reply and info.
lol
Kenny, I may have already asked this but here goes again. How do you adjust the output level of a track during record? (The track that is being recorded?) For instance, the vocalist complains that he/she is either too loud or not loud enough in the headphones during record. I know I could just lower or raise the level of all the playback tracks, but that seems cumbersome and besides, I have those set to optimum levels and don't want to mess them up.
Why would you be adjusting all levels if the singer just wants to hear him/her self at a different volume? You would just slide their single fader up or down in reaper and problem solved? That would affect what they're hearing but not the level of what's being recorded. I feel like I might be misunderstanding so just holler back if that's the case.
Jeff. I'm not adjusting all the levels. That's what I Don't want to do. I want to adjust only the track that is being recorded. The fader on the track that is set to record has no effect. I just tried it again. The only adjustment I have is on my audio interface gain and I always try to keep that around -18dBm.
I'm having a hard time understanding this. In Reaper I have my track with meter but all I have is a volume for that track that doesn't effect the recording levels at all. I'm kind of lost on how to adjust it.
Adjust it on your mic preamp on your interface. The track level is just for playback. Not recording.
Thanks, I think i finally figured it out.
@@REAPERMania Thanks
Hi how I I get that Skin on Reaper it's fantastic for Levels?? Love your videos the best
nice voice dude
how do you do a test tone
my layout won't change when I put in the small full meter setting
You need to have the mix view open.
What About USB mics?
My recorded tracks all go in the red (no fx added just the DI) even if I set the gain on my focusright to zero and the volume on the tracks to zero aswell. I am really new to all of this and I don't even know how to make my reaper look like yours to be able to compare it to one another. Could someone please help me?
If you have older focusrite first gen, you should get a new one. All focusrite from 4i4 also have a pad. So if you have a sensitive pickups you can cool than down. All models below 2i2 miss the pads.
Hi Kenny, I'm quite new to Reaper and have a question. I don't understand what you did abaut "big wave forms" at 1:08. I tried to figure out how to do that myself but couldn't. Can you please explain IN DETAIL what's going on there? Because I'm totally lost.
ruclips.net/video/pUpGaSYYadw/видео.html
Thank you sir, everything clear now
My apologies as that button is not the default.
Would you update this?
My focusrite scarlett is too loud, and adjusting the gain has no effect on it even when its all the way down. The only solution I could find is turning the track volume down before recording. Is that a big no no or?
Gain is NOT volume. You may be confusing input levels with output levels. Your track volume can theoretically be whatever you want as long as it's not red. He's only referring to pre-amp gain staging in this video. The gain going from your interface to mixer is not the same as the volume coming from your mixer to your monitors/headphones.
@@jamrhein2 yeah I get that. I was talking about the input level. I got a different interface now and don't face this problem anymore
very interesting trick! where can I download that mic preamp plugin you're using?
That was just a simulation of a preamp. You shouldn't use a plugin as a preamp. You should use the gain on your interface.
REAPER Mania what should i do if with gain of the interface at 0 the signal of a guitar goes at -6dB or above 0? should I go down with the track fader?
Matt Mantovani I'm guessing you need to reduce the volume of the guitar or effect unit, whatever you're plugging into your interface.
@@knumbugs So its like, do not touch the volume knob of the track, start with the interface gain adjust, or inside amp sim? And if its a vst, say ez drummer, adjust the volume inside ez drummer, not the volume control of the track it self?
Which meter do I use for this reference?
Kenny...Yeah man my soundcraft usb works great with the suggestive -18db ghost pre-amps
And for the comment below mine...Kenny is obviously from NY like me..WHAT OF IT?
How can i fallow your tutorial when the screenlist/layout is not the same plus your using plugins there is no information on
I had some trouble with this also until I went through the themes and found Default 5.0 and all the things he has are in there. Try that and it should work.
the signal comin in should be at -18 db ok but how about the "track volume slider position" ? should i put it at 0? or your put it at -18 also? How about the master volume slider? at -18 or 0 also? sorry for the noob question, thanks! ..
The Track volume can go wherever it sounds good. It doesn't matter.
so the slider position does not influence the "loudness" when recording? cool! thanks!
Correct
Sorry to be replying to a 3 yr old comment - so basically the track volume slider only controls the playback/monitor volume?
@@kchez5586 Yeah the way I understand it is it controls how much the audio on the track is being amplified, eg if the fader is at -6dB the audio is reduced by 6dB or if the fader is at +3dB the audio is amplified by 3dB. 0dB means the volume of the audio is unchanged
What's that preamp plug-in?
Hi, i think is the Blue Cat's Gain Suite, but i could be very wrong.
Hey Kenny, why did you upload the same video twice ?
I noticed this one is 45 seconds longer, but didn't see what the difference is.
Also you just uploaded the Drum editing with/without stretch markers a second time.
I noticed that too. WTH is going on? lol
People were confused regarding the digital recording, recording from an another application or printing from VST Instruments so I added that into this one.
The other two I re-uploaded because I said "Vertical Lines" (Transient Sensitivity) instead of "Horizontal Lines". Normally I would leave it but I thought it was confusing. Thanks.
REAPER Mania For the vertical/horizontal mistake, no need to redo the video, you could just have added a small annotation on the videos to correct them.
True. If it was an older video that's what I would have done. But since I was adding content to the "Proper Recording Levels" video and I had just upoladed the other ones a day earlier it was just worth doing. Also, it will remind me not to do that again. :)