Live adding distortion?

Ska_Mike · Post by **Ska_Mike** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:10 am

Here's my little problem.

I am recording a guitar track into Live 5. My setup is fairly simple. Guitar into Behringer V-Amp Pro which is S/PDIF-ed into my M-Audio Firewire 410. This is the signal path.

When I am monitoring (i.e. when the track is armed) the signal, it is fine. However, when I play back the recorded track, it is more distorted than how it is played. It also is less bassy, and a bit harsher. (a small change, but nonetheless noticable)

My Sample Rate is 96000, and I am recording at 32 bit. I honestly cannot figure out where this disortion is coming from. Any help would really be appreciated.

DeadlyKungFu · Post by **DeadlyKungFu** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:21 am

does the recorded waveform look distorted? is the waveform hitting the top or bottom of the waveform window?

try recording at a not so hot level, you won't effect the signal to noise ratio that much, I typically record my guitar a few dB too low to avoid distortion.

also, my Gina sound card has various gain settings for 'pro' and not so pro recording levels (?), it bumps the input gain +10dB or +4dB. It's something like that, I might have the number wrong but basically the sound card has two different gain settings, there might be a misunderstanding between the default signals levels with the Pod, your soundcard and Live. I'm too lazy on a sunday night to go look up the specifics.

Ska_Mike · Post by **Ska_Mike** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:29 am

There is no volume spikes, or clipping occuring. I record the tracks with plenty of headroom to spare, so that is not the issue. This is why it is so confusing. It's kinda like Live is adding a subtle harsh muddiness to my guitar tracks.

DeadlyKungFu · Post by **DeadlyKungFu** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:48 am

check your tracks, are there any FX you forgot about in a track or in the master output? Can you do an experiment and record at a low level and get a clean signal? Can you playback other stuff and have them come out clean?

Know what I mean? Divide and conquer your signal chain.

I love ska, it goes against the laws of nature to go to a ska show and not have a great time, I dig your signature.

ace_musicdj · Post by **ace_musicdj** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:35 am

May be you haven't unticked the 'reset rate when idle' chk box in the firewire card's patchbay page...just a thought