Headphone volume too low when tracking, what is the solution?

Get that song on tape! Errr... disk?
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Jan Deal
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Headphone volume too low when tracking, what is the solution?

Post by Jan Deal » Thu Feb 06, 2020 12:14 am

Hey folks,

My band have recently changed rehearsal rooms and this has lead to change in how I record ourselves. Previously, I would just track the band live, aiming to get a good drum take. The room was big enough where I didn't have to worry about microphone bleed. Now I am in a smaller room and I know that this approach will not work.

The recording interface I'm using is a pretty historic Tascam device. It belongs to my bass player and I'm using simply because it has more inputs than my Presonus I have at home. The challenge I have is that the headphones out is way too quiet to track anything live, especially a drummer! What is the solution to this? Do I buy and external microphone pre-amp? Is there another solution I've not thought about?
Seas, Starry : Fuzz / Pop / Noises

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soggy mittens
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Re: Headphone volume too low when tracking, what is the solution?

Post by soggy mittens » Thu Feb 06, 2020 2:02 am

Headphone outs are generally designed for home use, you will need a headphone amp for sure. I use a mackie hm400 for live monitoring, it is cheap and I've noticed the cheaper units can get a bit ear fatiguing in the treble range but it gets the job done. for more monies you can get more pleasurable amps. :)

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marqueemoon
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Re: Headphone volume too low when tracking, what is the solution?

Post by marqueemoon » Thu Feb 06, 2020 6:12 am

Maybe a dumb question, but if tracking live what are you listening to?

If it’s a click track can you change the tone of it?

Otherwise better isolation headphones.

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Jan Deal
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Re: Headphone volume too low when tracking, what is the solution?

Post by Jan Deal » Fri Feb 07, 2020 2:48 am

marqueemoon wrote:
Thu Feb 06, 2020 6:12 am
Maybe a dumb question, but if tracking live what are you listening to?

If it’s a click track can you change the tone of it?

Otherwise better isolation headphones.
When we track live, we just listen to each other. No need for a click.
soggy mittens wrote:
Thu Feb 06, 2020 2:02 am
Headphone outs are generally designed for home use, you will need a headphone amp for sure. I use a mackie hm400 for live monitoring, it is cheap and I've noticed the cheaper units can get a bit ear fatiguing in the treble range but it gets the job done. for more monies you can get more pleasurable amps. :)

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Thanks, this is pretty much what I thought, but I wanted confirmation.
Seas, Starry : Fuzz / Pop / Noises

"Gorgeous, soaring waves of guitars which feedback and squall deliriously with fluid and organic rhythms”

www.seasstarry.bandcamp.com

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