Gain and Distortion

[mrpink89]

Have a curriours questions about Gain and Distortion. Obviously an AUdio Cliped is distorted when you notice on your recordes that your levels peak at the " Over" mark.

Going off what I have learned over the past months I have a question.

Let's say your gain is at about 7 and you are peaking at about -12db, my question is:

Because your gain is set at such a high setting, would that set your distortion mark at a level that isn't at the "Over" Mark. Does a higher gain setting cause risk for distorted audio out side of the realm of the distortion mark?

 

[Alcove Audio]

Distortion can occur at various points in the signal chain. It can distort at the mic if the mic is very sensitive or hit by a VERY loud sound. Distortion can occur if the preamp gain level is set too high. It can distort at the mic preamp if the mic preamp is hit by a extremely high levels from the mic (despite a low gain level). Distortion can occur if the mixer output level to the reorder is too high (if you are using a mixer). And distortion can occur if the volume level of the recorder is set too high. The permutations are myriad depending upon the devices and their input/output levels. So even though your record level is at, say, -12dB you can still get distortion before you get to the recorder.

This is what gain-staging is all about, finding the optimum level (gain) at each stage of the signal chain.

 

[mrpink89]

..........Fuck..........

I Can't get my good computer i am going to edit on for anothe few weeks ( I did do Gain staging. Before each take I would have the actors say their lines and I would guide them on to either talk up, or talk down, Most of the time They had to talk up, and my gain has been set at either 6 or 7 and we peak at good levels.

Just that there is no way to check to see if the audio is distorted. It all sounded clean ( I listen to the audio after each take) but there is one instant where the audio is distorted for a couple lines in another scene.


Really hope my audio isn't fucked. I mean I am almost half way done, could you imagen an entire movie with distorted audio. HA yeah, what a waste of everyone's time. really want to see these audio spikes, hurry up computer!!!!!