All files were normalized in Logic. This is automated so I would think they are perfectly level matched.
Hmmm... Level matching should generally be done not on peaks (like normalization does) but on rms level (by ear, really).
All files were normalized in Logic. This is automated so I would think they are perfectly level matched.
Hmmm... Level matching should generally be done not on peaks (like normalization does) but on rms level (by ear, really).
If there is a automated way to do it by RMS please advise and I will adjust. I personally would think by ear would be iffy.
With as close as each sample sounds I would say they are very close in level.
If there is a automated way to do it by RMS please advise and I will adjust. I personally would think by ear would be iffy.
With as close as each sample sounds I would say they are very close in level.
I don't think there is an automated way, no... Not reliably anyway. But if the normalization method worked in this case, then no problem
Possibly it only worked because it was a distorted guitar signal only.
You mentioning this made me curious. I found this article if anyone has interest:
http://www.learndigitalaudio.com/blog/normalize-audio
Explains pros and cons of peak, RMS and EBU R-128 volume detection.
I'm monitoring on a pair of old Yorkville YSM-1i, and have a backup pair of Lev Solutions LS-6.5.
The way to properly automate the level-matching is via RMS, no doubt. Any loudness meter will do - standard RMS leveling is 300ms, which is appropriate for most acoustic (meaning non-electronic) music.
I might go for 150ms for just a single, heavily overdriven guitar, though.
IMO there is no big difference, but i might the last part is the best for my little ears. In a mix i think your hear no difference.
trouble is, the Kemper only does digital signal in 44.1 and my band insists on recording in 48
[Blocked Image: http://www.kemper-amps.com/forum/index.php/Attachment/971-DSC-0373-jpg/?]
but kemper team doesn't like this picture...
After a nice long holiday weekend zoo trip with the kids here is the wav file:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/w665fymby4m4…Kemper.wav?dl=0
Curious to hear thoughts on how it compares to the soundcloud upload as well.
I've just quickly listened to the wav in my studio at work (well treated room, Genelec 1030A with 1092A sub) and can hear.... absolutely no difference!
The differences I hear are small. This could be due to being distorted guitar only and hence not very dynamic. I intend to test a clean signal as well as my initial thought of the Mytek being superior was with a clean signal.
@Quitty are your interpretations the same with the wav file?
Haven't had the chance to try yet, i'll give 'em a go tomorrow.
OK, gave them a run.
I don't remember which is which, and i didn't visit Soundcloud to remind myself yet because i wanted to try and give as objective an opinion as possible. I do remember i liked the Profiler's S/Pdif least, and that it was the last clip of the bunch.
First clip sounds worst now. Not bad, but slightly harsher and more dithered, maybe? Sounds like more background stuff and less 'body'.
Second clip is way smoother. Perhaps a tad too smooth.
Third and fourth are very close, but i'll take the fourth as my favorite. Very 'meaty' sounding midrange and the transients sound just a tad smeared, making them sound 'bigger'.
The Profiler's S/Pdif sounds better than on Soundcloud. It's actually very close to the third and fourth clip, but the transients sound slightly quieter and shorter.
It might be great with other sounds, but this is so over-gained it needs some help with note separation.
To Sambrox:
They are damn close, i agree.
The thing is, it's not that my monitors are that good, it's that i know them so well. I've been mixing on them and listening to my music almost solely on them for the past, what, six? seven years now?
I am also hyper-sensitive to high frequencies, but i don't think that has as much bearing.
I'm not sure i could tell the difference on a pair of speakers i didn't know as well.
Thanks Quitty!
I could only hear subtle differences nothing that I perceived to sound better or worse, your observations are useful for reevaluation.
Apologies for the amount of gain as I am a metal player and wanted to play a riff that wouldn't kill non-metal listeners though I should have not used my metal rig. Next test will be a clean rig.
Here is clean comparison. First is analog out to Focusrite preamp, second is spdif direct.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/33q1adqcetlm0b6/cleantest.wav?dl=0
I was hoping for more of an obvious difference here.
Apologies but files are only level balanced via normalize in Logic. Seems to work well though for this purpose.
Great post and info!
I like the 2nd and 3rd pass. 1st one is a bit harsh and 4th seems to have too much of something...idk.
been reading this great discussion! Thanks for all the info. I use the main outs to record at 48 with either mic pres or the my UAD interface
Actually, the differences are quite apparent to me.
2nd clip is slightly compressed and has some low-end resonance. 1st clip has the infamous Profiler transient overshoots
Thing is, i can't say if the resonance is caused by analog or some of it is lost in capacitance -
just like i can't say if the transients are originally there or caused by saturating this or that op-amp.
This is nitpicking, but the difference is definitely there.
We should do another one as a blind test, and maybe a poll
Here is a mid gain blind test. One is Kemper Spdif direct the other is analog to Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 built in pre.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/w6y78gk8cvvx…intest.wav?dl=0
A poll is a good idea if only I could figure out how to do it!!! Assistance would be great on this.
Tried making a poll, but it doesn't seem to work, dammit...
Don't think we can open up polls on the new board.
I guess we'll just have to vote on here, then.
I would ask people to not discuss why they chose what and what they hear in each sample. Let's keep it as unbiased as possible.