Odb on Mackie but 26db in FCP. How do I correct this?

[Shane Ross]

Adjust the gain on the Mackie (top knob) until they match.

Shane

“There’s no need to fear, UNDERDOG is here!”

Shane Ross
Alokut Productions
http://www.lfhd.net

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

How are you getting the Mackie INTO the Mac?

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

BTW, Peter… WHICH Mackie?

[Shane Ross] “Adjust the gain on the Mackie (top knob) until they match.”

Shane, are you talking about “trim”?

That won’t affect the Master output level, that’s only for the pre-fader pre-amp input.

The output level “is what it is” in regard to the Mackie level meters.

The input to the device that is inputting to the Mac from the analog out of the Mackie is where the change must be made.

[Pete Sake]

Using the Makie Main Outs into AJA io – Capture input AJAlo la: YPb Pr Betacam US DV/DVCPRO.48hz
2 gigs of RAM on a G52.7 /FCP5/ Betacam 2800
Thanks
Peter

I’ll asjust the Makie to make the FCP5 levals 0 then

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

“0 dB” on the Mackie should be adjusted to read about -18 to -12 on the FCP meters.

“0 dB” in digital is absolute FULL LEVEL (all “1’s” in the digital sample).
Anything (anything) above that will distort.

You need plenty of extra “headroom” coming from the Analog source to the Digital input.

I don’t know if there’s some kind of level adjustment on the AJA (hardware or software) but there needs to be some kind of “matching” of levels so that you don’t reach only -26 dB when the Mackie is reading “0 dB”.

-26 dB, while usable, is a bit too low.

[Pete Sake]

Thanks Matte.
Peter

[Frank Nolan]

Peter,
I think from a previous post you said you have a mackie 1202 vlz. If that is the case on the back next to the main outs there is a button that says +4/mic level. Try switching that and see if that gets you closer to the correct level. To set your gain structure correctly you first want to run a tape in your beta deck with a 1k tone, if you went in ch 1-4 on the mackie adjust the trim knob to “u” ch’s 5-12 have no trim. then set your channels knob to “u” and your master fader to “u”. If your tone on the beta is at “0db” on the machines meters then you should be at 0 on the mackies meters. If not then adjust the channels gain control on the mackie until the meters read “0db”. Now depending on what bit depth you are using for your audio capture settins in FCP, you will want the meters in the clip settings tab to register -12dBFS for 16 bit or -20dBFS for 24 bit. So adjust your sliders in the clip settings capture window accordingly. As a side note it would probably pay you to read chapter 3 of volume 3 of the FCP manuals to give you a better understanding of analog Vs digital audio. Also are you aware the capture setting you have chosen in the AJA set up is only giving you DV quality not beta?

[Pete Sake]

Thanks Frank for jotting all this down. Thats a great help.
Not sure what the AJA setting for Betcam video is yet.
Peter

[Pete Sake]

I’m usingMACKIE 1202 VLZ
Peter

[Pete Sake]

Thanks everyone for your help over New Years. Were now editing on FCP now!
Best wishes
Peter