Export track volume issue

[roland rat]

I’m running wavs out from SD3 to my desktop to send on to a 3rd party (mixing engineer). I was under the impression that SD runs these wavs out at a volume the program selects (i.e. 0 db) and does this pre-mixer (so any fx or vols are ignored — I’m using the black metal preset as a guide for the kind of sound I’m looking for). However I notice that if I increase (or decrease) vols in the drums screen, in the dialogue boxes on the right-hand side, then the particular instrument will run out louder.

I think I am very inexperienced with mixers and so on, but if anyone knows a better way to do this please say. I am running stuff out by the basic and advanced drop-downs in export track, but the vols seem to respond the same in both. I want to avoid running out too hot or too low, for obvious reasons.

TIA Rat.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.5
Operating system: Windows 10

• This post was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by roland rat.

Topic

[Bear-Faced Cow]

How are you bouncing the tracks? Are you bouncing through the mixer outputs, or the individual kit pieces? Either way, you don’t want to be near 0db  as you will risk transient distortion. It is always best to provide around 10 DB of headroom as mixes are cumulative.

jord

---

Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

• This post was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Bear-Faced Cow.

1

Thanked by: roland rat

[roland rat]

Hi BFC

I’m using: track tab in the UI > export song as audio files > advanced > bounce microphone channels (no splits on mics).

I’d been thinking that S3 runs stuff out regardless of preset (i.e. ‘pre-mixer’ with levels automatic) but that doesn’t seem to be the case. I’ve been using the black metal preset, and my volumes are the same as that with a tweak here and there. The wavs look okay in my DAW, i.e. not out to the edges, and they sound undistorted and fx-free, but this is really the crucial question: how should I set S3 up to export safely? Your expertise would be a great help.

Cheers

Rat.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.5
Operating system: Windows 10

• The post has been modified 2 times, last modified 4 years, 6 months ago by roland rat.

[Bear-Faced Cow]

What is the peak output of your loudest kit piece? If you have a couple of DB of headroom, I wouldn’t worry too much. You can gain stage through your channel strip faders. From what you stated above, I think your waveforms are most likely good.

jord

---

Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

1

Thanked by: roland rat

[roland rat]

Hi Jord/BFC

Thanks for your support. I was thinking that too (I think), i.e. if the fader in SD3 for each wav to be run out is below threshold, so not yellow or red, the export should be okay. It’s harder to tell with some pieces just by ear, as for example the hi-hat (15 inch Paiste one) can sound pretty rough anyway when it’s being bashed at Open 3 or 4. I must admit I didn’t think to look at the meter, because I’d been assuming (wrongly) that SD3 was taking care of peaks automatically. So I will now do that for all tracks and make sure.

Cheers

Rat

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.5
Operating system: Windows 10

[Author]

Replies