Hi everybody, thanks in advance for any help.
I have a Clavinova CLP 825 and I find that the best volume recording is in between 50 and 60%. I increase volume through effects and the result is ok. Anyone knows a better way to get the best possible sound out of a Clavinova?
How are you recording? With a microphone? A USB connection to your computer? An analog connection to you computer?
How are you adjusting the volume?
What do you mean by 50%? The meters at 50%? Peaks at 50%? Knob at %? The digital peaks are what’s important.
Digital recording levels are not critical as long as you don’t “try” to go over 0dB and clip (distort).
Audacity can Show Clipping, but beware that it’s only showing potential clipping. It’s not checking the levels, not the waveshape, and you can get false positives or false negatives.
You can run the Amplify or Normalize effect after recording to boost the volume digitally, and this process is lossless.
Effects can push the levels into potential clipping. Audacity itself uses floating-point internally so it won’t clip, but your exported file can be clipped, or you can clip your DAC while playing. It’s a good idea to run the Amplify or Normalize effect as the last step after editing/processing to bring he peaks down to a “safe level” (which will happen if you accept the defaults).
The analog can also clip or low analog levels can result in a poor signal-to-noise ratio.
I am connecting the clavinova via USB cable. The recording volume was a problem when I was recording over 68% for distorsions, that’s why I record at 50%. I am talking about the recording volume next to audio configuration
It should be fine at 100% but like I said digital levels are not critical unless you clip, or unless they are WAY too low.
Pros typically record at -12 to -18dB but you don’t need to leave that much headroom. Nothing bad happens when you get close to 0dB, only if you try to go over.
The slider position doesn’t mean anything by itself. The meters show the actual digital level. But with USB it’s the analog-to-digital converter in the piano that’s potentially clipping so if it’s clipped it’s happening before the computer ever sees it and turning down the slider doesn’t help.