Does Recorded Mixes with "Unity Gain" mean no audio loss ?

[iwaiwa]

In theory:

If I keep all the Mixer Deck Volume Levels (faders) and Gain at "Unity" and don't use any EQ or FX, I should be able to RECORD a "Remix" of a Song (using Locators / Hot Cues") from the Master Channel into a WAV file.

I can re-arrange the Intros, Outros, extend the Breaks, add in some Synced Sample Deck percussion, change the order of the Song, etc.

Now that I have a new Remixed Song, will the sound quality be identical to the original as long as I have no EQ and "Unity" fader / gain levels?

In theory I should be able to Remix (to a Recording WAV) a couple of times without any audio signal degradation. This allows me to focus (during a DJ gig / performance) on the FX, the crowd and adding more Sample Loops live.

Thus, I am totally looking at MixVibes Cross as a Re-Mix "Production" Tool to make my own WAVs. (Song Remixes with same / orig sound quality)

Later I can bring the Recorded Remixes back into the Collection and mark new Locators for the Gig.

-- Just letting you know this is how I am approaching MixVibes.

Does this sound like a good idea ?

(In theory) should the (same orig) sound quality remain the same as long as I have the Fader / Gain levels correct and no EQ (when recording).

Lastly, I guess all WAV recordings are 44K 16bit (not 24 bit?)

Recordings don't go through the Sound Card (no Audio / Digital /Audio conversions) but are done 100% internally on the Computer ?

Thanks again !

[daniel clark]

where are you getting the term ,,UNITY,,,,,dont understand what you mean by this,, are you letting the software set te auto gain,, are are you adjusting the gain levels by sight/ear ,,,,,everthing else i follow , and seems plausable...

[iwaiwa]

oops, I meant:

Recordings don't go through the Sound Card (no Analog / Digital /Analog conversions) but are done 100% internally on the Computer ?

[daniel clark]

In theory:

If I keep all the Mixer Deck Volume Levels (faders) and Gain at "Unity" and don't use any EQ or FX, I should be able to RECORD a "Remix" of a Song (using Locators / Hot Cues") from the Master Channel into a WAV file.


Now that I have a new Remixed Song, will the sound quality be identical to the original as long as I have no EQ and "Unity" fader / gain levels?

UNITY

[iwaiwa]

Hi Daniel,

Many years ago (in the 80s) I was a professional analog recording engineer in NYC (24 track analog 2" tape).

"Unity" used to mean that all the Fader and Gain Levels are such that: whatever signal "comes in" equals the signal that "comes out" (of a fader or knob).

Thus if we take a test tone of 1K, 100Hz or 10KHz at "OVu" Level as the source audio and run it through a mixer, the end result will still be 0Vu. (and also in theory a "reverse phase" of the signal combined with the original "non-reverse-phase" will cancel all audio and everything will be silent). This is very doable in Ableton with test tones.

I agree to allow the AutoGain and let the (applicable) Deck Faders be open (100%) in MixVibes Cross. Just need to make sure the Master Volume level is correct. Test tones of 0VU are a perfect way to test for this.

Basically I wanted to see if MixVibes Support and Dev teams had any thoughts about using Cross DJ as a Production Re-mix Tool to create / remake songs for Gigs, plus their opinion on if there is any "audio quality data loss" by running a sound through the Cross DJ internal Mixer to the Recordings (WAV) a couple of times (like Remixing a song once and then "Remix the Remix"). If data loss in zero or minimal, this is a great Fun way to do production (IMHO).

[sfronti]

What is your files type? Mp3, wave, flac?

Stelios, Greece

[iwaiwa]

Basically, I'm not intending to do a "DJ Remix" when Recording. I'm looking to ReArrange Songs (Production) using Locators to a WAV and then use the new Recording as my New Song (in the Collection) so that I can focus on other things during a Gig.

Even though Locators are great, I don't want to remember all the Locator sequences during a gig. I'd like to get most of that "Cue Point Juggling" out of the way beforehand and focus on adding Sample Deck accompaniments and different grooves (xfade) from Deck B.


Reference on the term: "Unity Gain"
http://homerecording.about.com/od/homestudiobasics/f/unity_gain.htm

[iwaiwa]

What is your files type? Mp3, wave, flac?

Stelios, Greece

I tend to use MP3 320kps for purchased songs. Loops (packs) are usually WAV.

Whatever the orig source file type is, my goal is to find out: if the "end result" of Record into a WAV (from the Master Channel) in MixVibes Cross DJ will result in any known sonic quality loss meaning: no "audible" (what we hear) data loss.

I believe that CrossDJ has to convert an MP3 into a WAV anyway (in the "audio buffer" background ).

I am aware that we can never make (source audio file) sound quality better than the original source.

-- Just want to make sure there isn't any known degredation by running tracks / sounds through the CrossDJ Internal Mixer into CrossDJ Record and there is no Analog/Digital/Digital/Analog conversion taking place when a source audio is Recorded again to a new WAV file.

Thanks for your input.

[sfronti]

I believe that using: internal mixing mode (or a mixer with good sound quality but you'll have to pay more money), 320 bitrate of mp3s and a really good sound card you'll get what you want "no audible (what we hear) data loss".

*Have you tried flac files?

Stelios, Greece

[iwaiwa]

Hi Stelios,

Thanks. I do have good sound quality. My file formats are fine.

The question I pose doesn't have anything to do with the Source File Format. My question is purely 100% to do with what is called: Unity Gain in the Mixer section and Recording technology of CrossDJ.

We have all seen 30 pages of Blog talk (on other websites) about the thorny issue on sound quality and formats. Those discussions are just as much a never ending "open wound" as PC vs Mac topics/discussions .

My question has nothing to do with Source Formats.

I just want to make sure whatever goes In comes out 100% the same (if I keep everything at "unity gain").

I know that WAV is "loosless" and I will keep all my recorded and final tracks in WAV format.

Hopefully the Support and Devs will clarify with their response when they have time.

I use a Native Instruments Audio 10 which sounds great with low latency, no dropouts, no crackles ($499 US) and I use Allen Heath Xone 92 when mixing External so I am good on sound quality.

Thanks for the advice though. I know FLAC rocks