When I record to a usb drive (QDrive) and play back the voices is way louder than the original mix.
I am recording L+R, should it not sound exactly the same?
Is there anything I can change to get it exactly the same as my mix?
No. If you record L+R, the mix can differ significantly from LR, depending on your sources.
All (mono) sources located in the center of your stereo image (like your vocals, probably) will be summed and thus slightly louder, while sources present only in the left channel, for example, will not be summed.
The levels of stereo sources (also from poorly planned stereo microphone setups) can change even more dramatically if out-of-phase components are reduced or even canceled out by the summing process.
This can also particularly affect stereo effects, which would then be significantly quieter in the L+R mix.
Such an LR mix is then also called “not mono-compatible”.
(Incidentally, this would apply equally to mono monitor mixes.)
Thanks, that explain a lot.
I am trying to record a session so I can play back to the band what it sound like in the main auditorium. Is there any way to do it?
If you record your stereo main LR mix instead of L+R, you’ll at least get what you sent to your main PA.
Of course, this mix will lack the elements that are acoustically present in the live sound mix, such as drum components or instrument amps in the case of a band.
If you have a high-quality PA system, a microphone recording from the venue can also sound quite good and will most authentically reflect your performance.
Thanks for the input!
I forgot about the amps etc. will try next time
Okay - this might actually be the main reason for your problem.
I originally assumed you had listened to and compared your Main LR mix and the recording of it - for example, using (closed-back) headphones.
But if you actually compared the live performance in the hall with playing back your PA recording, the significant differences you’re noticing are likely due to the fact that you ignored everything the band itself already created (electro-) acoustically on stage.
A proper live recording usually requires a separate mix independent of the Main LR, where you can adjust for exactly these kinds of things.
You are 100% right. I forgot/ ignored all the live components, i just focused on the recording and wanted it to be exactly as I hear…. It was not realistic
. I am fairly new to this and am still trying to get my head into taking all factors into consideration. Everytime I think I have it under control something like this just shows me again…. We are in a live environment, things change and everything have an influence on one another.
Still a good lesson