HX Stomp - DI Dry Guitar Level?

[Kovie]

Hi all, I'm using the HX Stomp as my audio interface and am recording to daw (Mixcraft) using input 5 to record only the dry, unprocess di guitar input signal so I can reamp it via Helix Native once in the daw.   I'm wondering if I'm getting appropriate dry guitar level in the daw, or if I need to adjust the input of my guitar going into the Helix.

 

I've attached an image of a single coil take at full volume on my guitar (passive pickups), and it looks like my dry guitar DI tends to peak out around -12db when recorded this way.  Is this similar to what your dry guitar takes look like?  Is it about right, too hot, not hot enough?  Is there a preferred level the Helix prefers for it's input, or does it adjust automatically.  (This has probably been addressed, but I couldn't find anything on a brief search of the forum)

 

Appreciate  comments,  (recorded dry di waveform attached showing single coil peaks at around -12db)

[silverhead]

That looks fine to me. It may even be a bit hot. Best way to find out is to download the trial version of Helix Native and experiment. 

[datacommando]

On 6/9/2022 at 2:30 AM, Kovie said:

it looks like my dry guitar DI tends to peak out around -12db when recorded this way.

Hi,

 

If that represents you DI signal, then it should be good enough, in fact anywhere in the region of -36 to -12db is fine.

 

I think many people don’t get a signal as hot as you have on the DI. There are many threads on here where people have said the their USB dry input is very low.

 

I use my Helix floor and Native for re-amping and always thought the DI was way down but in my experience it works just fine - the trick is to avoid the noise floor and avoid digital clipping.
 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

[soundog]

The Stomp is much more forgiving of guitar input levels than Native. Your level looks fine for typical DAW usage, but do listen closely for any unwanted distortion when reamping with Native. I usually keep my dry guitar levels at -18 dbFS in a DAW track so its visible when doing any waveform edits. But I adjust with a plugin (TheNormalizer) down to -24 dbFS right before it hits Native if I am reamping. Here's more info from a Native thread:

 

 

[Kovie]

On 6/9/2022 at 11:45 AM, soundog said:

The Stomp is much more forgiving of guitar input levels than Native. Your level looks fine for typical DAW usage, but do listen closely for any unwanted distortion when reamping with Native. I usually keep my dry guitar levels at -18 dbFS in a DAW track so its visible when doing any waveform edits. But I adjust with a plugin (TheNormalizer) down to -24 dbFS right before it hits Native if I am reamping. Here's more info from a Native thread:

 

 

Thanks.  That's very good info - including in the link.  Maybe I need to experiment with lower levels going into Native and other amp sims.  I feel like the JTM45 amp is extremely sensitive to my input (seems like it distorts the input easily) and kindof wonder if this might be a source.

 

For reamping, do you think putting a gain plugin (like khs gain) in front of the native or other amp sims to control input level of the di signal would function similarly to Hornet's TheNormalizer plug you mention (at least for practical uses) or would The Normalizer have advantages?

 

[soundog]

I find that a lot of amp sims benefit from low level inputs. You don't need anything special to adjust levels ... just use anything that doesn't do other tricks (eq, distortion, etc). I like TheNormalizer because i like Hornet's stuff, and because it is accurate, repeatable and automatic. Of course, you can simply use Native's input level adjust, but the meter is fussy.