Noise floor and proper gain staging question.....

[ClintB]

Pictures are below...

I'm working on understanding how to record vocals properly. I'm using a Golden Age MKlll preamp,Pro 24 interface, a Shure sm7b dynamic mic, and a Blue condenser mic.

My situation is that I know that as far as gain staging goes, I know I don't need/want to get my signal too hot or close to 0dbfs.
The safe zone varies but I'm thinking RMS around -18 to -12 dbfs. When I'm getting ready to record, I make sure I'm getting a good signal going into my DAW. I check the interface too to make sure my levels are good.

But as I'm turning up my preamp to get the level that I need, before I do any recording, the noise floor signal is already high I think. A lot of times when I'm recording, I'm picking up extra noise in my vocal recording
from turning up the gain on my preamp or interface to get the necessary gain and level going into Ableton. I can turn down the gain to remove the noise floor but then I won't have proper gain levels and my
recordings will be too low. I have to say.... this noise is from turning up my amp. It's not anything in my home,trains,or anything external. Just wanted to throw that out there so you guys will have a clearer picture.

So I was wondering if someone could look at my attachment and see if that noise floor level is ok? It might not be nothing but you guys have always helped me so I figured I'd asked.

Also, when recording vocals how to can I balance the level needed to get a quality recording as I turn up the gain on my amp/interface and the noise that will be introduced from turning up the gain on my amp/interface?

I attached two pictures. One of the noise floor before I'm doing any recording.
The other is from my interface. i try to make sure my signal is staying at -18dbfs. I try not to have it going -6dbfs or above.


https://www.dropbox.com/s/3sjmfb54vpqnw ... r.png?dl=0


https://www.dropbox.com/s/zw1o2q18ig1k7 ... e.jpg?dl=0

[Razzkazz]

If you have to turn up your pre-amp to get -18dB rms either you are singing too quietly, are too far from the mic or your microphone is not very sensitive, what are you using?

[fishmonkey]

If you have to turn up your pre-amp to get -18dB rms either you are singing too quietly, are too far from the mic or your microphone is not very sensitive, what are you using?

we discussed this in another thread. the Shure SM7B is a very insensitive dynamic mic.

[Stromkraft]

I'm working on understanding how to record vocals properly. I'm using a Golden Age MKlll preamp, Pro 24 interface, a Shure sm7b dynamic mic, and a Blue condenser mic.

Also, when recording vocals how to can I balance the level needed to get a quality recording as I turn up the gain on my amp/interface and the noise that will be introduced from turning up the gain on my amp/interface?

Well, except examining the inherent noise in your microphones, cables and preamp — of which the first two might be easier to control like making sure the shielded cables you use are of the best quality and are not broken —  you could possibly minimize background noise floor with expander/gate/compression treatment if there indeed is a problem and you've done what you can with the first steps of your signal chain. Not that this treatment is problem free.

I'm not sure what you could do with any noise inherent to the Pro 24 that I'd assume actually has low internal noise of its own. Any noise likely would come from the steps before that.