Recording vocals... BR900

[Frank53]

I feed my condensers through an ART MP Project tube pre to my '900. Usually, after I record a vocal track, the level is rather low. But I can't push up the channel fader very far, or the meter for that track clips on playback. I end up having to lower all the other tracks to get a balance. Are there any guidelines for setting the input level and recording level controls to mitigate this problem?

[thouston]

You must have the record level on the BR-900 set too low. The channel fader only works on track volume, not record levels.

There are two knobs (well really one) which set record levels, the SENS knob (gain) and the Input Level knob. It's really the Input Level knob that controls the record level.

The SENS knob does have some effect, because if the gain is to low, you won't have much signal, and if if it's too high, you'll have clipping, which causes distortion.

I know that the manual says you should have the Input (record level) at -12 (between -24 and -6)–0 dB range of the "IN" level meter. But I was told that you should have the input set to as close to 0db as possible, but not over 0db, if so you'll have clipping.

[Frank53]

Thanks, Tony. I appreciate the input. As far as the fader is concerned, I meant that during playback I attempt to compensate for the low level by pushing it up, but the meter pins by the time I get to a reasonable volume. Therefore, I have to lower everything else instead.

I've been playing with it a bit, and it's a combination of preamp settings as well as the BR's input level (SENS) and recording level settings. It seems that reducing the SENS pot helps, because of the signal boost from the pre. A little more experimentation, and I think I'll get there.

[thouston]

I've been playing with it a bit, and it's a combination of preamp settings as well as the BR's input level (SENS) and recording level settings. It seems that reducing the SENS pot helps, because of the signal boost from the pre. A little more experimentation, and I think I'll get there.

Yes, that's all it is, the preamp circuitry in the BR-600 and BR-900 are sensitive to 'signal-in' load.

I was lucky enough to buy a (now OOP) Roland MMP-2 - Mic Modeling Preamp http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=349 that I sometimes use with my BR-600 and Studio Project C1 mic http://www.studioprojectsusa.com/c1.html because it needs phantom power.

I really have to tweak the signal levels, I also make sure that the MIC-In FX is disabled.