Windows 7: Line Level Input Recording Volume LOW / QUIET

Muad Dib · 25 Jul 2012

I have Xonar D1 with Windows 7 x64 using Sound Forge 9.0e to capture audio from Line Level inputs (LPs played on stereo system).

The recording level maxes at -12Db to -15Db. This of course artificially restricts the dynamic range. All settings are maxed in the Xonar D1 control panel as well as the Windows Sound control panel.

All drivers are current.

This problem has beem reported by others on the internet with Xonar cards.

I have searched and tried many things suggested. None have worked.

Any ideas?

fireberd · 25 Jul 2012

-12 to -15 should be more than adequate for recording. I generally record in that range in my recording studio (using Sonar X1). This allows headroom for whatever I want to do. Sonar has the ability to raise the levels as I need them for final mix and exporting.

Record in 24 bits if you can (and then export/save the final file as 16 bit).

Muad Dib · 25 Jul 2012

I can and have been recording in 24 bits (can do 32 as well). I can normalize the levels to restore volume.

My question then is if should I normalize first, then do Click Removal and Noise Reduction? It would seem to me I am normalizing the clicks and noise as well as everything else.

OR I can do Click Removal and Noise Reduction first, then normalize.

I have tried it both ways. If I normalize LAST it seems to introduce more audible clicks almost requiring a second Click Removal pass.

What sequence would you suggest?

Thanks.

fireberd · 26 Jul 2012

I only do that once on LP's that I record (that really need it). I use Goldwave to clean up the tracks first before any other processing. Too much "cleaning" can affect the fidelity of the recordings.

In my recording studio (and Sonar) I'm not recording anything "noisy" so I don't need any cleanup there.

Windows 7: Line Level Input Recording Volume LOW / QUIET

Line Level Input Recording Volume LOW / QUIET problems?