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Recording with Bass Rolloff

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sup8

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There is also a Record Volume setting in my MD. i can set in in a range from the mic pickup. would this cut down on overload without lowering my playback volume? its been on auto till now.. this is where a lit screen would come in handy.

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Run the batt box into line in. I have a sound professionals box with 7 bass settings- I have found it works best with on the 6th highest rolloff. My MD, a Sony 505, has auto levels. Thats what I use. I tried setting them myself, but set them too high. Im new at this, but my understanding is if you record at a lower sound level than you like, you can adjust this upon converting to cd.

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I think i will use the mic in next time. i have the bass rolloff box, so it should work out better. i was able to amplify the line in recording later with software.. but it doesn't sound too good. using the line in and bass rolloff doesn't seem to be a good combo.

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There's no one-size-fits-all method for live recording.

The key to a good recording is to get the best initial recording: a good signal as loud as it can be without overloading. You can tweak afterward but every tweak adds its own noise, as you've found out by amplifying your too-quiet recording.

Bass roll-off is a way to fight the problem of low frequencies overloading a mic input, and also a way to compensate for overly bass-heavy club sounds. But I'm leery of using it much because it's going to muffle low notes, and if they're not on the initial recording you can't put them back. I've heard some life recordings with bass roll-off and if you listen to the bass line it suddenly seems to drop to half the volume at a certain note. If you are hearing good sound in the room, and you like the mix, then control volume rather than bass.

Add one gizmo to your recording kit: a Radio Shack Headphone Volume Control ($5.99). In fancy terms, it's a variable attentuator--it cuts the signal going through it in a way that's controlled by a knob.

Mic--RSHVC--Mic-In, with the volume knob all the way UP on the RSHVC, prevents overload for all but the loudest concerts. At those shows, the knob on the RSHVC is a good real-time level control, especially if you have enough light to read the meter.

At loud shows, Mic-Battery Box--Line-In gives a fuller, probably richer but slightly lower volume recording. At quieter shows, Mic-BB-Mic-In is the way to go. And if it's just someone talking or strumming a guitar, Mic-Mic-In is the method. Experiment, expect some flops, and you'll develop some instincts.

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Live and learn, yup. i was able to get to a club Sat night and do some recording tests. got excellent results, the best yet.. on low sense, mic in, and bass rolloff set 2 steps down from max. you can't get much louder than the shows i'm recording, and the mic in gives me a lot more to work with.

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