Recording track output to new track: 3dB loss

Cubase
1

Hi, I recently changed my workflow and one of the things I do now, once I have a mix close to finish, is record the tracks with hardware inserts to a new track.
The way I do this: for all tracks with hardware insert:

  • create new track
  • select as input the output of the original track
  • record enable and go.

This works perfectly, especially on the latency side. And the tracks null when I test the original track with the newly recorded track. With one imperfection: the recorded track is 3dB lower.
It is not a big problem, but I have no idea where it is coming from.
It has nothing to do with mono or stereo, as it happens with both.

Anybody have any experience with this? Am I missing an obvious setting?

Many thanks!

Dirk Brouns
Studio Maasland

2

Hi,

What are the HW Inserts, please? Do they affect the volume? Is there any gain control involved in the signal path?

3

Hi Martin,

Does not really matter. What I do: the channel with the insert is recorded to a new track, so they should be exactly the same. And they actually do cancel out when I reverse phase on one of them, but on the recorded track I have to increase the gain with exactly 3dB.

Must be a setting somewhere or a bug.

4

Hi,

Is there any gain control involved in the signal path?

5

Absolutely, there are various plugins (eq/compressor/gate) and hardware inserts (compressors) involved.
That should not matter - I am recording the output of the effected channel onto a new channel.

6

Hi,

Sorry, do I understand you right, the signal flow is following:

  • Audio track A.
  • Cubase Output
  • Audio Device Output.
  • HW effect 1 Input.
  • HW process.
  • HW effect 1 Output.
  • HW effect 2 Input.
  • HW process.
  • HW effect 2 Output.
  • …
  • Audio Device Input.
  • Cubase Input.
  • Audio track B.

Especially, if any of the effect is changing the velocity of the signal, there is no wonder, the level is different.

7

Sorry, no your are misunderstanding the situation.

I am simply using hardware inserts like many do and when I consolidate the tracks for future recallability, the strange thing is Cubase introduces a gain change of 3dB. Belief me, I have tested this a bit. Everything works flawlessly (tracks null perfectly, no latency) but the 3dB difference.
Not a big thing, but would be nice if I knew whether I am missing someting in a setting (e.g. pan law) or if it is a Cubase bug.

8

PS The level is not different, it is perfectly the same, just with an offset of 3dB. Thanks for trying to help, but it is not something obvious.

9

Hi,

Could you describe this, please?