Nothing is ever the same song-to-song.

[nightflameauto]

Those of you that have heard my clips and tunes know I'm pretty straight-forward similar with what I play most of the time. I'm a big fan of getting a basic mix nailed down, creating a template from that mix, and using that template to record a whole bunch of stuff in short order. Then I'll sit down and hammer out details on individual mixes later.

While that usually works OK for me, I hit a stumbling block here with my latest template.

I recorded and mixed a tune over the last couple weeks. Several of you helped me out with mix ideas on the vocals. And thanks, they're sounding a ton better after all the advice.

So, this weekend I transfered that mix to a template, started a new project from the template, cross-checked to make sure things transfered correctly, and recorded a new tune. A quick mix-down and sitting and listening to them back to back with my eyes closed so I don't get dissuaded from good decisions by seeing monitor/EQ graphs, the new one has the bass waaaaaaaaay too high, and the guitars sound distant and muddy.

So, I start by checking mic positions as that's literally the only thing that could have changed. (Damn cats.) Measurements come out to less than a milimeter different in any direction from where they were the first time. All the same cables, all the same settings, same instruments, even the same strings.

So I check with the eyeballs since the ears were telling me things were way different. Sure enough. Bass is pegging 3db higher, guitars approximately 4db lower than on the previous track. How the fuckety fuck is that possible?

It's a simple enough fix to slap utility gain on and tweak until the levels are right then listen to it again. Sure enough, back to perfect.

I've run into this before and can't figure out for the life of me what's going on. Literally every single factor that could be the same is the same. Sitting in the same place playing the same way through all the same gear. End result = different.

Anybody else run into this with their recordings?

Fucking ghosts and gremlins and shit.

[ajaxlepinski]

Humidity?
I have a ton of hours on analog recording but only a total of 40 hours on digital. If the Mic moves off access by a fer millimeters it will alter tone and volume more so than a few mm's closer or further away on axis.
Computers do weird things on their own.. very weird things... good luck bro!

[nightflameauto]

Humidity?
I have a ton of hours on analog recording but only a total of 40 hours on digital. If the Mic moves off access by a fer millimeters it will alter tone and volume more so than a few mm's closer or further away.
Computers do weird things on their own.. very weird things... gridlock bro!

I wondered about barometric pressure. We've had WILDLY fluctuating weather lately. There've been days where the door feels like it's being vacuumed back shut and other days where it practically blows you off your feet when you open it. I'd suppose those sorts of pressure changes would affect sound a little, but I wouldn't think much.

Unless my rulers are fluctuating a lot, the mics are pretty well dead set in the same spot. And the one ruler is a big hunk of stainless steel. Temps and humidity stay about the same in the recording room thanks to the air condititioner.

Can't even beging to describe my hatred for computers. Too many years in IT.

[ajaxlepinski]

Ha! I was kidding about the humidity
I was on my Android when I posted that... I don't have access to smileys on the cell phone. I should have added one of these : O )

On my old, 12 channel, Sound Workshop Series 30 mixing board, each channel sounded a bit different.
Same mic, same cable, everthing identicle but, if I routed to a different channel, boom! It either louder, quieter or, had a slight tonal difference.

What program are you using? Using any analog gear (sub mixers, preamps) before or after the converter?

[nightflameauto]

Ha! I was kidding about the humidity
I was on my Android when I posted that... I don't have access to smileys on the cell phone. I should have added one of these : O )

On my old, 12 channel, Sound Workshop Series 30 mixing board, each channel sounded a bit different.
Same mic, same cable, everthing identicle but, if I routed to a different channel, boom! It either louder, quieter or, had a slight tonal difference.

What program are you using? Using any analog gear (sub mixers, preamps) before or after the converter?

Logic Pro.

Signal chain on guitar: Thunderhorse->Boss DS-1->8100->4x12->e609->Saffire Pro 24 Channel 1 (setting written down so it's always the same level)
Signal chain on bass: SR506->Saffire Pro 24 Channel 2 (setting written down so it's always the same)

Processing on the bass is all in Logic.

It's freaky. Recorded something else last night, still different levels. Utility gain them back to the same level and it sounds fine. Sense nun make.

[ajaxlepinski]

Cheese whiz... Nothing makes sense. Something is being reset between the converter and the DAW. I have no idea what it could be. This is interesting enough to keep the wood in by head burning...

[Loins of Fire]

I know exactly what you mean. I just recorded a song today and Im trying to figure out why it sounds worse than my last mix even though all my settings are the exact same. The only thing I can come up with is that the riffing style is a little different so it might need a different mix treatment. I also noticed that where you place your hand when palm muting makes a huge difference in guitar tone. Ive heard Andy Sneap say that he tells his clients to put their hand farther back on the bridge when palm muting. I have to agree with him.

[ajaxlepinski]

Palm muting closer to the bridge let's the strings vibrate more. The further away, the more muting and the more percussive it sounds. A millimeter in either direction makes a huge difference in tone.

Are the volume controls an your converter digital or analog pots?