Hello, so bad bad mister I took your advice and I am using SPDIF to record entire arrangements as two track stereos into cubase. One question I have is about levels. It seems I am not getting that hard of a signal from the motif. Have a look at this wave form that I just recorded. I am recording through a focusrite saffire 40.  should I be recording it hotter levels?  if so, how can I get hotter levels short of adding a pre amp?

Unfortunately the image won’t upload. At any rate my input level is about -12db

Also what sample rate should I set in my Saffire to capture Motif SPDIF

Hi CommandingMotifAuthor,

I think I gave you the S/PDIF advice. I’m not Bad Mister.

To improve the overall output level of a mix digitally, it is often a good idea to increase the level of each individual track in your song by the same amount in MIXING.  You must adjust every track in your mix and be consistent. This way, you maintain your musical balance and your overall digital output level will be louder.

If that isn’t working because you can’t push them all up any further, you may also need to adjust the output of the voices used in your song, by editing them and storing them to user locations in VOICE mode, first.

Your output level doesn’t need to be super loud either, healthy is fine. Aim for around two thirds to about three quarters level if you possibly can.

Once you’ve recorded your level, you can adjust the fader in Cubase to aim for a precise and commercially viable output level when you come to bounce your audio down to it’s final format.

16 or 24 bit would be absolutely fine at 44.1kHz, there’s no point in recording at 48kHz unless you are working in broadcast, because 48kHz is the standard for broadcast. I don’t think the Motif does 48k anyway, but I may be wrong..

I would personally use 24 bit 44.1kHz and align yourself with the music industry.

There’s also no kind of preamp that will help you increase a digital audio signal. 

Digital audio is just data.

Yes it was you Phil, and I appreciate the insights. Yeah after I sent that I was like wait, there is no way to increase digital levels ha ha

Thanks again I’m on it

CommandingMotifAuthor - 15 September 2017 04:23 PM

Yes it was you Phil, and I appreciate the insights. Yeah after I sent that I was like wait, there is no way to increase digital levels ha ha

Thanks again I’m on it

Of course, once the recording is in the digital domain, it can be normalized.