Protecting Hearing while recording

Playguitar · #1 07-23-2022, 02:44 PM

I want to record myself playing and singing and be able to add tracks of myself playing other instruments. I have a DAW and some mics and some decent headphones. I have audacity to record with. I am just recording for fun.

My question is, is there some sort of attenuator that I can plug my headphones into that will prevent any feedback or other loud noises above a settable db threshold from going to the headphones and at the same time not alter the sound below that threshold?

DupleMeter · #2 07-23-2022, 06:31 PM

That would be a limiter that you want.

I would put it on your output bus (2-bus) set to kick in if the level exceeds -0.3dBFS.

Rudy4 · #3 07-23-2022, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DupleMeter

That would be a limiter that you want.

I would put it on your output bus (2-bus) set to kick in if the level exceeds -0.3dBFS.

You could use a limiter on the output buss, but DO remember your limiter setting is only as good as setting your headphone amp volume control to a reasonable level.

Sasquatchian · #4 07-23-2022, 07:13 PM

Are these open back headphones? If yes, then get a good pair of closed back cans so they're not broadcasting right into your mic. Really, you should have some sort of Digital Recording Interface where you control the mic gain through a pre-amp gain control that sets the level going to your DAW. Any halfway decent interface will also have headphone jacks with separate volume controls. That's all you need. Don't make this more complicated than it needs to be.

Playguitar · #5 07-23-2022, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Any halfway decent interface will also have headphone jacks with separate volume controls. That's all you need. Don't make this more complicated than it needs to be.

Yes the interface has a seperate headphone jack with separate volume control, but last time iI used it somehow it started to feedback and I got a very loud high pitch in the closed back headphones.

Just trying to prevent this from happening again.

jim1960 · #6 07-23-2022, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Playguitar

Yes the interface has a seperate headphone jack with separate volume control, but last time iI used it somehow it started to feedback and I got a very loud high pitch in the closed back headphones.

Just trying to prevent this from happening again.

That's not typical so you must have done something to make that happen. Figure out what that thing was and don't do it anymore.

Playguitar · #7 07-23-2022, 09:54 PM

Jim1960, I am not sure what I did, but I certainly want to avoid doing it again. The only thing I can think of is that my guitar was on an input with it's under saddle pick-up and my voice was on a mic. I may have moved the guitar too close to the vocal mic so it was getting a strong signal from both the pick-up and the vocal mic.

Chipotle · #8 07-23-2022, 11:04 PM

Did you accidentally leave your monitor speakers on when you armed things for recording? I've done that in the past.

If not, or if you don't even have speakers hooked up to the interface, your headphones would have to be awfully loud to feed back through the mic. Perhaps just turn your headphone volume down?

And if it's not that, maybe the noise you heard isn't actually feedback, but something else going on.

Playguitar · #9 07-24-2022, 12:01 AM

Chipotle, That is likely what happened. It has been over a year since I setup my recording equipment and I was remembering that I had the issue last time. Thanks for your insight.

KevWind · #10 07-24-2022, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Playguitar

Yes the interface has a seperate headphone jack with separate volume control, but last time iI used it somehow it started to feedback and I got a very loud high pitch in the closed back headphones.

Just trying to prevent this from happening again.

That definitely should not be happening) and is either a malfunction in the interface , an analog routing issue (like having your speakers on while mic'ing) , or routing issue inside your DAW (like having a track output be its input ? etc.)

DupleMeter · #11 07-24-2022, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Playguitar

Yes the interface has a seperate headphone jack with separate volume control, but last time iI used it somehow it started to feedback and I got a very loud high pitch in the closed back headphones.

Just trying to prevent this from happening again.

Sounds like you left the speakers on.

Playguitar · #12 07-25-2022, 01:33 AM

I think that is what must of happened. It has been a while and I just want to avoid it happening going forward.

DupleMeter · #13 07-25-2022, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Playguitar

I think that is what must of happened. It has been a while and I just want to avoid it happening going forward.

If you’re interface has a monitor controller section, just use it to mute the mains or bring the output volume all the way down when you record. If it doesn’t, you will have to turn your mains off when recording.

Playguitar · #14 07-26-2022, 08:29 PM

I must have forgot to turn of the mains when I went to record. Too many things going on at once. So now that I know what happened, is there a limiter that I can put inline with my headphones to protect my hearing if I accidently forget to turn off the monitors when recording?

runamuck · #15 07-26-2022, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Playguitar

I must have forgot to turn of the mains when I went to record. Too many things going on at once. So now that I know what happened, is there a limiter that I can put inline with my headphones to protect my hearing if I accidently forget to turn off the monitors when recording?

Most DAWS will have a limiter that comes as a plugin. Put that as an insert in your stereo output buss. If your DAW doesn't have one search online. I'm sure there's a free one out there somewhere.