How to Set Recording Levels at Home

Setting record levels in your home studio takes a bit of experimenting, but after a few sessions you'll instinctively know what's right for your guitar, bass and other instruments. Here's how to set levels for your studio.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Isolate each instrument. Adjust the levels on your mixer until you get just the right sound for guitar, drums, bass, amps and vocal microphone. This may take awhile, depending on your expertise, but it'll save you time during recording and mixing. Once you've set each instrument to a clear, medium or medium-loud level, begin your session.
2. Check the power outlets before launching into a recording session to eliminate buzz. Use a power strip or avoid plugging too many instruments into one wall outlet. Play guitars and bass a safe distance from your computer to reduce instrument buzz.
3. Use an expander to prevent unwanted noise. An expander cleans up and controls the signal, giving the notes a more natural sound and it keeps levels steady.
4. Select the best microphone you can afford. Cheap setups cause unnecessary feedback, so look into low noise mikes like the Shure-SM57 or Studio Project C1.
5. Plug in MIDI interfaces securely. Any weak computer connections will dilute the quality of your sound or cause jarring shifts in your levels. Double-check computer audio settings before finalizing levels and recording.
6. Consider a wireless remote control unit. If you move around a lot in your home studio, and don't have time to move back and forth from the workstation, invest in a remote. Only certain software packages offer this option. Talk to your music store salesman for information.

Tips & Warnings

• Overcrowding chords into an outlet causes buzz and reduces power.