AudioBanter.com - View Single Post - Controlling dynamics while recording horns with a DAW

In article writes:

So the main opinion here is:
1) No need to reduce dynamics, simply reduce the gain and/or back the
horns off the mics.

Well, really, position the horns reltaive to the mics (and the room)
so that you get the sound sound want, adjust the mic preamp input gain
so that the preamp doesn't clip during the loudest parts (leave
yourself a little headroom here), and them adjust the preamp output or
A/D converter input gain so that the A/D converter doesn't clip.

The later setting is something that you really only need to do once
and nail it in place, or mark it for each preamp you use with that A/D
converter.

2) There´s no need to record the signal with a high level (hope you
understand my english) as you usually did with a analogue tape
recorder.

It's better to say that it's preferable to record at a conservative
level rather than risk overload. Unlike analog tape, you have a low
enough system noise floor so that you don't need to get maximum
playback level in order to overcome the noise. You can boost the
digital recording 10 or 20 dB if you need to, though you shouldn't
count on boosting it 40 or 60 dB. So you still have to pay some
attention to the range where you're recording.

Creamware writes in the A/D converter´s manual: "You HAVE to care
about high leveling". Is this nonsense ?

No, not if you interpret it to mean that you HAVE to care about
exceeding the maximum input level of the A/D converter, because this
will case digital clipping.

And as I wrote earlier, I´m not able to keep a big distance between
the horns, because the room is actually too small and therefore I have
to put the mics very close to the horn, not directly ´looking´ into
the bell.

If your mic preamp or mixer has a pad (10 or 20 dB attenuator) switch
you might find it useful to get the proper level at the mic preamp.
You can get in-line (plug-in) pads to reduce the level into the preamp
if necessary.

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