2 responses to “About”

1. Hi Geoff

   I’d be enormously grateful if you could weigh in on this.
   I’m experiencing annoying static/distortion whilst recording
   with a quality upright. I’m recording vocals too, both live.
   My kit consists of:
   focusrite scarlett 2i2
   Audio Technica AT2020 Mic,
   RODE NT1-A
   Macbook with GarageBand

   I am getting distortion on both mics on playback, even when
   I turn the gain down on the Scarlett. Have tried different
   positions on the AT2020. No distortion though on the voice.

   I realize I may have to buy more gear, more DAW equipment,
   but I should be able to do this on the laptop from what I read.
   2 or 3 mics for the piano is of course better, which would mean
   I’d have to set aside the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. Still the challenge
   is the distortion/static I’m getting from the instrument.

   Can you shed any light on the distortion?
   If I need 3 inputs rather than 2, what pre-amp should I go for?
   Would you have any tips for avoiding the same piano distortion bleeding
   into the vocal (Rode NT1-A) Mic?
   Is there software for vocals/piano that is to be preferred above Garageband?
   Ideally I don’t want to spend a lot of software, as I just need a very clean and
   simple recording, with a bit of mastering-reverb.

   Many thanks, Gerard

2. @GerardV
   Hi Gerard,
   The biggest cause I find of distortion, is called “clipping”. That is where the audio signal maxes out and the digital information is lost. Try turning down the gain on the Scarlett to a really low level. You can always increase the gain in the mastering/mixing stage. Try to make the peaks max out at around -12db when recording, to give you enough headroom.

   Geoff