How to avoid signal distortion when recording a demo

Setting up your gear to make a home recording is quite a different proposition to getting everything ready to go on stage.

Whereas a high volume setting can really work for your music in concert, it can easily turn it into an unlistenable mess on a CD or sound file.

While compressors can be used to balance the sound in post-production, it is obviously best to get it as close to perfect as possible during the recording process.

You will find that you will not need your guitar amp anywhere near as loud as you would on stage.

In addition, the mic channels can be set relatively low, as instruments such as bass drums could easily push the signal too high.

Your multi-tracker may be equipped with red lights that tell you when the signal is so loud that it may distort.

Set up your home recording studio so the optimum volume is somewhere in the middle of the volume range open to you.

This gives you the flexibility to record a clean and undistorted signal and then make it louder when it comes to the mixing stage.

Product category: Guitars, Drums, Home recording studio