Setting it all up - part 2...

So you're all plugged in and ready to go - now you need to set up some levels.

A basic principle where acoustic recording is concerned (and recording in general) is to get as much good sound in as you can. Lower signals can be boosted and normalized (more on that later) but a good rule of thumb is always record what you actually want to hear. Don't rely on software and effects to fix everything later. Messing with audio just messes up the audio.

If you use a Mac, the set up is fairly easy. Make sure the gain is at zero in the sound preferences, and that the input source is external mic. Switch on your desk, and hit the phantom power button if you are using mics powered from the desk. Then turn up the channel and the desk output to somewhere just below the max. Play something/sing something as you intend to actually record it. The level meter on screen should peak just below the max. The output meter on the desk should do likewise. If both are roughly at that point, that's a good general area to start with.

Never overload the signal - but don't be afraid to peak in the low red zone.

For a PC use the sound control panel to select the line-in as source and line-out as output. You need to make sure it's playing the sound back (that is, the wav sound) but not recording the wav. Again, set the levels as above.

If your sound is a bit quiet (as it might be with a dynamic mic) you can boost it a little from the desk - but remember using 'gain' adds output to all the noises, and that includes any 'hiss'. Some desks are quieter than others, so play around with it to see what works best.

Some software incorporates it's own level meters but don't rely on these for initial set-up. They will help you to work when recording however. And remember - not all computers have top quality soundcards - some (especially laptops) are quite noisy indeed. At some point you may wish to invest in a better one (the CREATIVE company range are a good example of the sort of thing you might be looking for) or even an external soundcard (which effectively bypasses the PC/Mac soundcard, and uses your computer at just a hard disk via the software). But to begin with, make best use of what you have. It means you can make better choices later.

Finally, ensure you can hear what you play in your headphones. If not check the leads, and the sound options on the computer to make sure the sound is going in and out - and make sure the desk in also receiving the output so you can hear it.