Headphone levels cubase????

[simbo]

Hey guys,

Please help!!!!! I am using cubse 5 and have a fast track pro as my interface. I don't have monitors so I am listening to what I write through Beyer 150's connected to the ftp. When I get my music sounding good (Vsti's mainly) I export mixdown but the mixdown sounds really quiet and not as clear as when I play it in cubase.
I've tried to find more info on the a/b button on the fast track as when i push it, it makes the music really quiet which is what I suspect is getting recorded.

I've read the manuals and am still stuck.
Any help would be great.

[Tony Ramone]

What are your export settings?

[simbo]

Hey Tony,

44.1 32bit float. I export realtime too. I have a feeling it might be something to do with vst connections and monitor setup? I could be wrong though> It's driving me daft

[Tony Ramone]

Have you tried exporting a standard 44.1kHz/16bit stereo interleaved wav? I've never heard of anyone exporting 32bit float (but then, I've not been at this very long either...)

[simbo]

I haven't. I think 32bit float was the default setting. I'll try 16bit and let you know how it goes

[Tony Ramone]

make sure you tick stereo interleaved as well - there's some alternative settings, but I can't remember what they do...

[simbo]

cheers Tony I really appreciate you taking time to help me. Just out of interest, in vst output, should I use line 1/2 or 3/4. I played around with these foe ages last night. Also the a/b button is a bit of a mystery. When its pushed in it sounds great but when out it sounds like the final mixdown, at a lower level?

[Tony Ramone]

What do you mean by vst output? You mean the main outputs?
You can use either one - 1/2 would be the default for a stereo output to monitors, and then 3/4 might be used for an auxiliary headphone mix or something...
As for the A/B button, I assume you mean the "headphone A/B source switch for DJ-style cueing"... I'm not really sure what that is - it probably drops the level of the output playback so you can listen to whats coming in from the inputs or something... This would explain why you don't hear the output as well when you play with it.
Actually, if you're using your headphones for mixing, it might be worth your while to plug them into the main monitor outputs as opposed to the headphone outs (if there is a 3.5mm stereo out). Then you'd have a much better idea of what the final mix is gonna sound like (maybe)

[simbo]

Cheers Tony I'll try that when I get home. Also had a thought. My headphones are plugged into the ftp but it has an amplified headphone socket so maybe its turned up higher than what cubase is actually playing? This would account for the louder sound when listening in cubase. But not sure though

[Electriclight]

Originally Posted by simbo

cheers Tony I really appreciate you taking time to help me. Just out of interest, in vst output, should I use line 1/2 or 3/4. I played around with these foe ages last night. Also the a/b button is a bit of a mystery. When its pushed in it sounds great but when out it sounds like the final mixdown, at a lower level?

I thinkthe a/b switches between two different inputs for DJing like from a CD player to a MP3 ore whatever inputs you have coming in. for recording pick a or b and that's that. It won't affect what's beign recorded. You need to rely on meters for recording levels, not your ears.