User manual

71
Recording
The procedure for checking the signal level coming into
the audio hardware is slightly different depending on
whether you are using Cubase or Cubase Studio:
Cubase
In Cubase, you check the input level at the input channel.
To check the level of the “unprocessed” signal coming into
the audio hardware, you need to switch the level meters to
“Meter Input”. In this mode, the input channel level meters
will show the level of the signal at the input of the bus, be-
fore any adjustments such as input gain, EQ, effects, level
or pan:
1. Right-click in the Mixer window.
The Mixer context menu appears.
2. Select the Global Meter Settings submenu and make
sure “Meter Input” is activated.
3. Play back the audio and check the level meter for the
input channel.
The signal should be as loud as possible without exceeding 0 dB (the
Clipping indicator for the input bus should not light up).
The Clipping indicator.
4. If necessary, adjust the input level in one of the follow-
ing ways:
• Adjust the output level of the sound source or external
mixer.
• Use the audio hardware’s own application program to
set the input levels (if possible).
See the documentation for the audio hardware.
• If your audio hardware supports the ASIO Control Panel
function, it may be possible to make input level settings.
To open the ASIO control panel, open the Device Setup dialog via the De-
vices menu and, in the list to the left (below “VST Audio System”), select
your audio card. When this is selected, you can open the Control Panel by
clicking on the Control Panel button in the settings section to the right.
The next step is to check the level of the audio being writ-
ten to a file on your hard disk. This is only necessary if you
have made any adjustments to the input channel (level
settings, EQ, insert effects, etc.). Note also:
• If you record in 32 bit float format, the bit depth will not
be reduced – which means there’s no risk of clipping at
this stage.
Also, this preserves the signal quality perfectly. Therefore, you should
consider using 32 bit float format when you are recording with effects
(see “Recording with effects (Cubase only)” on page 77).
• If you record in 16 or 24 bit format, the available head-
room is lower, which means clipping can occur if the sig-
nal is too loud. To avoid this, set the signal level in the
following way:
1. Bring up the mixer context menu and select “Meter
Post-Fader” from the Global Meter Settings submenu.
2. Set up the input channel, by adding EQ and/or effects
as desired.
With some effects you may want to adjust the level of the signal going
into the effect – use the Input Gain knob for this. Note that you need to
press [Shift] or [Alt]/[Option] to adjust the Input Gain.
3. Play back the audio and check the level meter of the
input channel.
The signal should be reasonably loud but should not reach 0 dB (the
Clipping indicator for the input bus should not light up).
4. If necessary, use the input channel fader to adjust the
signal level.