| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
richgates
Guest
|
 Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 10:01 pm Post subject: Monitoring DB Levels in Pro Tools |
 |
|
Hey Guys,
I'm trying to determine the level of ambient noise in my environment. Even when I'm completely quiet I'm getting a fair amount of volume in my recording. Does Pro Tools have a means to know how many db's that little green bar is? I've checked the manual and does some Google searches and nothing obvious has come back thus far.
Thanks |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
donrandall
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 10:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Record your room and then use a noisegate to determine the point at which the gate shuts down all ambient noise. It may take some trial and error to zoom in on the precise point, but you should be able to pin it down by that method. Just be sure that you don't make any noise, no breath noise, no coughing, don't clear your throat, don't burp, don't scratch your...... or make any other noises of any kind - any of that kinda stuff will ruin the test. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
richgates
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 10:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I think I figured out how to do it without using a gate. It isn't precise but close enough. I just basically moved the fader down to match where the peak is for the ambient noise. Looks like I'm at -68.4db. I'm thinking that's pretty poor. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jeffrey Kafer
Assistant Zookeeper
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 4931
Location: Location, Location!
|
| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 11:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I wouldn't worry about it, Rich. There's no usable sound in that low a range, so you should be able to simply gate it out.
As well, don't worry about the number by itself. Do the recording sounds ok?
_________________
Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
donrandall
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 11:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | I just basically moved the fader down to match where the peak is for the ambient noise. Looks like I'm at -68.4db. I'm thinking that's pretty poor. |
That's about where my ambient noise level is. I don't worry about it, it has never been a problem - at least, not as far as I am aware.
I record with no processing of any kind, so that means I must record at a low level to avoid clipping that would occur if I tried to record at an ideal average.
Recording at that very low level means that I have a relatively low level signal that will need to be boosted once the stray peaks are knocked down (if I will be doing the production rather than sending raw audio to be produced by someone else). I will generally use around 6db of boost, approximately doubling the original. Sometimes I will set a limiter and then boost by 8db or maybe even 9db. Even at that, the ambient noise is not a problem, and that is without using a noisegate. Why? Because I have a Noise Filter that works. It works very well. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
richgates
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 11:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Jeff:
I don't think it sounds ok. I can definitely hear the background noise. I have a preset in Ozone that kills the background noise, but overall I think it is producing a lousy recording.
I will revisit this when I get settled in Oregon, but it seems when I gate the recordings they have an almost robotic sound. They certainly don't sound right to me. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jeffrey Kafer
Assistant Zookeeper
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 4931
Location: Location, Location!
|
| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 11:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
That's quite surprising that you're hearing noise at 69db without cranking your speakers LOUD. I have roughly the same noise bed and the only reason I know it's there is cause the meter says so.
hey here's another thought. Are you sure the nosie you're hearing is in the file and not in the playback chain somewhere? Perhaps your speakers? Just a thought....
post a sample and the rest of us can take a look... er listen.
_________________
Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bill Campbell
DC
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
Posts: 621
|
| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 6:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
Rich. I think -68 with no processing is excellent. You'd have to use a gate
or expander to do better.
_________________
www.asapaudio.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
richgates
Guest
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dave
Lucky 700
Joined: 11 Nov 2004
Posts: 727
Location: Houston, Texas
|
| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 12:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
First of all, I have to say my ears are old and damaged from clevite headphones back in the day. With that in mind Rich, I can't say that I hear anything distracting from either of your samples. Perhaps Jeff is right and it is something in the playback as the culprit. (Or my hearing is even worse than I suspected)
_________________
. If at first you don't succeed, then bomb disposal probably isn't for you. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sdelgo
Contributor IV
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 143
Location: Milwaukee
|
| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 1:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
It sound just like regular room ambient noise with a few bird chirps towards the end of the 2nd clip. A hardware gate set properly would help out quite a bit.
Steve
_________________
you'll always have something on your plate... if you keep your bearings straight.
www.steviedproductions.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
richgates
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 1:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Birds aside, in a proper environment you shouldn't have to gate with either software or hardware, right? My issue is that when I do it gives the recording an unnatural sound. I would rather be able to send auditions and jobs with no processing whatsoever. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jeffrey Kafer
Assistant Zookeeper
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 4931
Location: Location, Location!
|
| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 1:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I didn't hear any birds, but I did pick up a VERY slight low frequency hum. But I wouldn't have noticed it if I didn't crank up the volume.
I assume you're in a closet recording? perhaps you're picking up computer fan noise or something? I found I have to turn off the heat/AC in the house so as not to pick up a low frequency rumble. Something to look into anyway.
_________________
Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
richgates
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 1:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| No, I'm in a room. The mic is in the Port-a-Booth and I think that helps some but mostly to deaden the sound than the rid it of ambient noise. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jeffrey Kafer
Assistant Zookeeper
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 4931
Location: Location, Location!
|
| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 2:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
ok, so it sounds like the weak link is the porta-booth. Are you asking for ideas on how to reduce the ambient noise?
_________________
Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
