CQ12 T vs DAW (RECORDING THE VOICE IN LOGIC PRO)

CQ CQ Troubleshooting
1

Hi,
recording the voice with Logic Pro I get a very different result from when I record directly on the mixer with a USB stick. Not only is the input gain very low (the waveform is barely visible), but sometimes the sound is metallic, almost robotic. Recording on a USB stick is normal, as is listening with headphones; the problem is, very obviously, in the transition to DAW. I tried changing settings, and even microphone (DPA De Facto, condenser, and Shure SM58, dynamic), but the result is the same. Nothing like this happens when recorded with Apogee Element 24, also on Logic.
Another problem sometimes encountered (not always) is that of a barely perceptible noise when reciting or singing in front of the microphone, which can also be heard in the recorded file; it has the same tone as my voice, and in fact I can’t hear it if I’m silent. I turn the mixer off and on again and the sound stops appearing, as if by magic.
Can anyone help me understand?
Thank you

Nevio

2

Hi. I’ve not done any stereo usb stick recording, only multitrack recording onto a SD card, which was fine. I’m assuming the stereo recording will come from the main left/right output bus so is it the channel levels were a bit low or the gains not quite high enough.

Also look at your recording sample rate settings, were they 48k or 96k and is your logic project running at the same sample rate.

Interested to hear more if you have found any issues.

3

Apologies for the late reply, I was busy on a snorkeling tour… Yes, the problem was in the different Sample Rate of Logic and CQ12. I solved the problem by trying different settings between track volume and gain, until I obtained a more than satisfactory recording. Overall, the result is much more satisfactory than when I record with the Apogee Element 24 card, especially due to the possibility that I have of acting directly on the microphone with EQ, Compressor, etc… Thanks anyway for the reference.
Nevio

4

Yes the CQ only has 48 and 96 sample rates and 24bit audio wav files.

Also when you switch the sample rates on the CQ you will only see the files recorded at that rate as selectable on the SD card recordings list for playback.

5

hi Nevio, How did you manage to solve your problem of gain? Sample rate was indeed make ing everything sounding bad but nothing to do with level of recordind in the daw. Thanks for your help.

6

@JeromeFilippi
There is an article here which explains the differences in metering on the mixer and metering in (most) DAW’s -
https://support.allen-heath.com/hc/en-gb/articles/4403616287889-General-Levels-and-Metering-in-A-H-Digital-Consoles
In short, there is 18dB of headroom in the CQ (above 0dB on the meter), whereas 0dBFS is the maximum digital level and therefore at the top of a meter in a DAW.
Hence, a signal showing at 0dB on the mixer will meter at around -18dBFS on the computer.

7

I also noticed the relative low level of recording into my DAW (reaper).
But inside reaper I just have to raise the volume of the take (item volume) afterward and all is good, very good.
It add absolutely no unwanted noise, all is crisp and clear (very good CQ preamp).
I also record my voice post compressor (HPF ON, Gate Off and EQ Off) and I have a very good voice take to start working on Reaper with FX plugins.

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