I Need A Mentor

fredclark · Post by **fredclark** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:01 pm

I am using ableton 6 with the m-audio fast track pro. I am recording simple vocal with acoustic guitar demos. I am having trouble getting an acceptable volume level on the vocals. I am wanting to learn how to effectively use the fast track pro, because I don't really fully understand all the knobs, and learn how to use the different features on ableton. I need a mentor. Can you help? I really need to start with some basic stuff.
Thanks,
Fred

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:14 pm

Welcome to the forum.

Can't help you with Fast Track, but we can certainly help with Live. But before I get started, I have to ask if you bought Live 6 or if it's a "demo" copy.

Patch · Post by **Patch** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:20 pm

Why do YOU/ANYBODY have to ask him that?

soundtechdan · Post by **soundtechdan** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:21 pm

Well I don't know about mentor but I can always give tips and trick to anyone who needs it.

So basic controls of your audio interface. Gain is one of the top on the list. This controls the volume of the channel. This should sort out the problem you have with vocals being quiet.

The Inst/line button. Basicly tells the machine whether the input is a microphone or instrument, again this should help sort out volume.

Pad button. Knock the volume level of the channel down usually 20dB but wouldn't worry if you don't understand how much that is. I would recommend turning that off to being with.

So the way I would do it was set all the buttons and everything to zero. So pad off, inst/line on the correct one and gain turned down to zero. Load up ableton live. Setup the channel you want to use, Arm the channel using the red button at the bottom of the channel. Then plug in what ever you want to use. Then slowly raise the gain on each channel individually until you get a good level. NEVER go into the red. Roughly half way is best.

Then press play and record.

Hope this helps

cheers

dan

Patch · Post by **Patch** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:21 pm

Why do YOU/does ANYBODY have to ask him that?

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:23 pm

Patch wrote:Why do YOU/does ANYBODY have to ask him that?

because I won't help him if it's not paid for. let's not digress this thread into some moral argument. it's my policy, take it or leave it.

Geebag · Post by **Geebag** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:44 pm

Oops, Sorry I thought you wanted a Mentaler!

WAAAAA!!!

Geebag · Post by **Geebag** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:46 pm

Took a locket last nite.

It was Menthol!

Duck there's a shoe!

WAAAAAAA!

P.S. Drunk as fuck. (sorry)

fredclark · Post by **fredclark** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:11 pm

The Live 6 came with Fast Track Pro.

I will be spending some time working on demos tomorrow. (I am in Louisiana, USA)

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:15 pm

Ok, so you've probably have a lite version of Live, which is good enough to record a guitar and vocals.

So let's get specific...what kind of trouble are you having?

To address your original post, you can make your vocal louder by adding a compressor to your recording.

knotkranky · Post by **knotkranky** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:21 pm

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:29 pm

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:31 pm

nebulae wrote:
Patch wrote:Why do YOU/does ANYBODY have to ask him that?
because I won't help him if it's not paid for. let's not digress this thread into some moral argument. it's my policy, take it or leave it.

i am not surprised about your day job your having, being such a nasty piece of person.

back on topic, sorry did not read the whole thread got to pissed of with that nonsense, only helping people when money is involved, damn!

did you tried to raise the gain knobs on your soundcard?
also, some mics do have a pad switch (reducing the gain), check it if it is switched on

get your singer to be not to far away from the mic, approx. 20 cm if it is a large diaphragm mic. and to sing with a certain "power / presence"

i should read first the other answers, to know what was covered already, just still angry and sorry, that with all respect for doms and this forums code of behaviour, i have to call a member of this forum who is like: "I won't help him if it's not paid for" an utter a-hole.

keep on asking, paid or not!

<< that's NOT for the questioner / question.

pixelbox · Post by **pixelbox** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:35 pm

SubFunk wrote:
nebulae wrote:
Patch wrote:Why do YOU/does ANYBODY have to ask him that?
because I won't help him if it's not paid for. let's not digress this thread into some moral argument. it's my policy, take it or leave it.
i am not surprised about your day job your having, being such a nasty piece of person.

back on topic, sorry did not read the whole thread got to pissed of with that nonsense, only helping people when money is involved, damn!

did you tried to raise the gain knobs on your soundcard?
also, some mics do have a pad switch (reducing the gain), check it if it is switched on

get your singer to be not to far away from the mic, approx. 20 cm if it is a large diaphragm mic. and to sing with a certain "power / presence"

i should read first the other answers, to know what was covered already, just still angry and sorry, that with all respect for doms and this forums code of behaviour, i have to call a member of this forum who is like: "I won't help him if it's not paid for" an utter a-hole.

keep on asking, paid or not!

So you're just gonna take a piss at someone because they want to take a stand for what they believe to be the right thing to do? You're the fucking a-hole, not the other guy.

"The worker is worth their wages".

In other words, Ableton deserves to be paid for the software they've created, and Nebulae is just trying to help in his own small way.

Blimey, you can certainly tell it's the holiday season...bunch a dicks trolling the forum.

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:49 pm

pixelbox wrote:
SubFunk wrote:
nebulae wrote: because I won't help him if it's not paid for. let's not digress this thread into some moral argument. it's my policy, take it or leave it.
i am not surprised about your day job your having, being such a nasty piece of person.

back on topic, sorry did not read the whole thread got to pissed of with that nonsense, only helping people when money is involved, damn!

did you tried to raise the gain knobs on your soundcard?
also, some mics do have a pad switch (reducing the gain), check it if it is switched on

get your singer to be not to far away from the mic, approx. 20 cm if it is a large diaphragm mic. and to sing with a certain "power / presence"

i should read first the other answers, to know what was covered already, just still angry and sorry, that with all respect for doms and this forums code of behaviour, i have to call a member of this forum who is like: "I won't help him if it's not paid for" an utter a-hole.

keep on asking, paid or not!

So you're just gonna take a piss at someone because they want to take a stand for what they believe to be the right thing to do? You're the fucking a-hole, not the other guy.

"The worker is worth their wages".

In other words, Ableton deserves to be paid for the software they've created, and Nebulae is just trying to help in his own small way.

Blimey, you can certainly tell it's the holiday season...bunch a dicks trolling the forum.

your are certainly right with the holiday season and things getting funny,
dom should implement " ARE YOU A LEGAL OWNER OF ALL THE SOFTWARE YOU USE? " question as a major part of the code of GOOD behaviour.

bless you that you are so clean!

so all just ask that question every forum newcomer. great idea!

jeeez...

maybe i am just an inocent idiot, because my personality does not remotely allow me to even think and assume something that nasty to ask someone such a question in the first place, who only asks for a little help.

there is that saying: that you need to be a thief in order to catch one.

so true, so to ask such a question you need to be.... well.