You can adjust the output gain, both for Analog Out and USB out:

While the levels of the guitar/vocal track could be matched with the drum track in the recording process, I am finding it difficult to match the volume coming out of the keyboard with the 2 tracks laid down already.

We are sure you mean that you are finding it difficult to match the record levels with the tracks you have already laid down.

Volume and Record Level are two Separate Things
Volume is subjective and is a result of turning up the playback control labeled “volume”.
_Volume always involves speakers, always involves human ears.
Record Level, while related to volume, is different. This is not semantics. Record level, when properly documented, allows you turn the ‘volume’ up. Low (or poor) Record Levels result in you not easily matching your other tracks.
_Record level does not require speakers, does not require human ears.

Clearly, we know exactly what you are talking about… but until you really appreciate this “Volume/Record Level” difference you may continue to have this same issue.

What’s the difference: Record Level (also referred to as Record GAIN) is not subjective, it is a measurable entity by your DAW Meters. It can take place in the absence of speakers or ears.
You will notice that when routing signal from the synth to the DAW (Cubase) the signal arriving on the Audio Track is not affected, at all, by the front panel MODX Main Volume slider. Recording to Cubase could take place without any Volume. You are routing the MODX via digital outputs. (Oh yeah, Volume is always analog!)

Listening while recording is referred to as “monitoring” — how loud you monitor is strictly based on how much signal you send to the speakers. Itis a separate thing — it is subjective which means you “set to taste”.
Record Level (Gain) is scientific. It is the critical amount, the amount of signal that gets printed to your DAW (Cubase) Audio Track.
Obviously, the better the Record Level, the more you will be able to turn up (or down) the Volume.
And naturally, the poorer the Record Gain, the more difficult it will be to turn up the Volume.

Okay… that may all seem unnecessary, but it’s very important to understand.
Zen thought for today: If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there, is their any sound?
There is measurable level, but with no brain/ear to interpret it, there is no volume

Why the low output?
The MODX is designed so that when you are Sequencing you can use it as a 16-Part multi-timbral Tone Generator. This is like having a 16 piece band. In order to accommodate 16 instruments simultaneously, through the Stereo Outputs, most of the individual instruments are conservatively voiced as to Volume. They must all share the same Dynamic Range.

Say you want to do Bass and Keys… if you set the Bass level too high, you will have no room to add the Keys… now add 14 more instruments. If you were sending them all to a Stereo Output to play “live” you would have to “mix” the output levels so they all could share the same space.

Unlike your junior high school band everyone cannot be set to maximum output — they must share the same acoustic limits.

There is a ceiling, go above that ceiling and you get DISTORTION (and not the good kind). The reason the slide controls on a mixer are called FADERs, is because they are used to mixdown the output levels so every can fit under the ceiling.

That’s “live”… “recording” is a situation where, you can take each instrument, and route it to its own discreet audio bus output and to its own Audio Track. It now can have its own destiny, it now has its own room, with its own ceiling. Now you can turn the Output Level up because it does not have *share* the space with anyone else — it is being directed to its own Audio Track.

That’s the Background: Here’s how to influence MODX Record Gain
There are two methods we will give you here:
__ USB Gain: Each of the MODX digital outputs via USB has a Gain setting. [UTILITY] > “Settings” > “Audio I/O” > here you will see the “USB Main” and “USB 1-8” — Determines the output gain of the Main L&R and the 1-8 channels of the [USB TO HOST] terminal, respectively.
Settings: -6dB, +0dB, +6dB, +12dB
__Individual Part Gain: Each MODX Part has its own Output Gain. This is used to recover “poor record” levels. Typically, when a keyboard player approaches recording MIDI data to a sequencer, they are oblivious to their Audio Record Level. They are recording MIDI.

Here’s the scenario: they have eight or ten tracks recorded as MIDI. They decide that backing strings would be perfect behind the song’s Bridge section. Because they are *working/mixing in MIDI* they appropriately play the backing strings with a soft, light touch. The MIDI Velocities never exceed 40 or 50, tops. Later, when they attempt to output this string Part to a separate Audio Track… they discover the output is way too low. They desperately try to raise the fader to 127 to get more “volume” (trying to affect record level) but naturally it is not going to be enough.

Well, of course not. The low velocity naturally translates to low Audio record level. What to do?
Each Part in the MODX has its own Output Level control specifically for this reason.

Select the Part
Press [EDIT] > tap “Effects” > “EQ”
Each MODX normal Part has a “3-Band EQ” pre-Insertion Effects, a “2-Band EQ” post-Insertion Effects… and just before the audio bus output you have the OUTPUT LEVEL control.

Tap the “2-Band EQ” to recall it. The “Output Level” is found on the “2-Band EQ” screen
In the lower right hand corner, find the Part “Output Level”
This gives +/-12.0dB of Gain for this Part.
More than enough to recover from ‘low level’ playing.
Set this while looking at the Audio Meter in your DAW (Cubase) — if you simply raise it to +12.0dB, then you have learned nothing. Always when increasing or decreasing GAIN (record levels) you should do so by looking at a Meter. You don’t go to the gas station and tell them give me 12 gallons of gas unless you know there is room for 12 gallons of gas (I know it’s a no-brainer, but I mention it because I’ve been doing this for many years and if I don’t someone will be boosting everything). Use your record metering — that’s why it’s there.

…Very useful when sending Parts to a DAW, like Cubase. When recording Audio you want to have sufficient signal level. The object of this whole exercise (Audio Recording) is to have sufficient amounts of every instruments so that you can mixDOWN their levels so they all fit into the same room under the same ceiling! If your mix is simply every Track as loud as it can go (you’re back in junior high school). The object of mixing is with excellent record levels you can use just the amount (the right amount) of each. I can’t tell you how many mixes I’ve listened to where it sounds like an argument rather than an ensemble.

“They call them Faders, not Boostersl— that was maybe the most important lesson I learned in the recording studio.

Hope that helps.

Thanks Bad Mister 🙂

I do have some understanding of the difference between recording levels and volume - so the info regarding gain settings is very helpful.

But actually part of my question is about volume or monitoring.

If I follow your instructions I can set my record levels appropriately.

However while recording or playing live I (want to) hear myself at a louder volume than what is heard on the recording or by the audience.

So I am just wondering the best way to set my monitoring volume while recording. Should I be doing this via the faders in Cubase? If I understand you correctly if I have 2 audio tracks (guitar and drums) already and adding the MODX bass/keys split at a correct recording level, the faders do not affect the recorded level?

Also just noting that I am doing this straight to audio at this stage, not using MIDI.

thanks again.

So I am just wondering the best way to set my monitoring volume while recording. Should I be doing this via the faders in Cubase? If I understand you correctly if I have 2 audio tracks (guitar and drums) already and adding the MODX bass/keys split at a correct recording level, the faders do not affect the recorded level?

No, to be clear. I said the Main Volume of the MODX, which is analog, does not affect your digital (USB) Output. You can turn the Main Volume to minimum (I realize now the MODX has a Volume Knob not a slider like MONTAGE). But the point I’m trying to get across to you is: the Analog Output is separate from the Digital Output.
Digital Audio Recording is not going to be affected by how LOUD your speakers are playing. (Of course, it is more fun to play when you can hear yourself — but HOW LOUD you like to listen (Monitor) does not affect your recording levels.

Analog Output goes to your speakers
The Digital Output (USB) goes to Cubase, gets recorded, then returns from Cubase and is converted to Analog and finally sent to your speakers. Everything post getting recorded is subjective.

The only things that affect the Digital output level are those things that are PART parameters, including the Part sliders, Part Knobs, the Parts Insertion Effects, etc. these are all pre the signal being recorded.

While you are recording MODX (I’m assuming you are *overdubbing*…) you set your monitoring ‘to taste’.
In a recording studio, the engineer has a Monitor Mix… which is created to keep the musicians happy. This has nothing to do with what is being recorded as far as how much of this compared to how much of that. Every musician wants “MORE ME”. The monitor mix is a subjective combination of instruments to make a comfortable balance.

You realize a multi track audio recording — is a musical argument. Every input is set to optimal record level… this should sound like a band where no one is listening to each other. If you make those backing strings that I used in the example, as loud as the bass or drums, it will defeat the reason you recorded them — to be in the background.

MONITORING levels are subjective, set to taste.
RECORDING levels are scientific, set with Meters.

If you are overdubbing the MODX, turn down the already recorded tracks so that you can hear yourself.
This is the equivalent of *your monitor mix*… your “More Me”.

Turning down the playback of the prerecorded tracks doesn’t affect anything but your ability to hear yourself.
Once you set your incoming signal — using Cubase Metering — how much you choose to monitor is up to you.

You will notice in Cubase there is a channel fader for INCOMING Audio data (that is the scientific) this affects your recording.
You’ll also notice each Track that is already recorded has a Fader that affects playback volume. Where you place these is completely subjective… set to taste.

Cubase places you Inputs in one area, and your Tracks in another.
The INPUT shows signals BEFORE they get recorded (scientific).
The TRACK shows signal AFTER they are recorded (subjective).

Thanks Bad Mister - getting there with my understanding, but if I may ask one more question:_

The Bass/Keys audio from the MODX goes into Cubase via USB audio and then comes back to the MODX as USB audio together with the other 2 tracks which I am overdubbing.

Once these 3 tracks of USB audio come back to the MODX they then go through to the Analog Main Outs and to my speakers.

When all 3 tracks have come back to the MODX as USB audio (2 being prerecorded and one "live" - being played) I cannot then alter that mix at the MODX - I need to use the faders in Cubase to adjust to my "More Me" mix that goes to my speakers?

thanks again.

I also noted yes - there is a separate fader on the left with a red slider for Audio In.

I guess the fader to the right for my bass/keys track is a monitoring level fader only and so could be used also to give more or less me as necessary?

Sorry one more - If I am doing an export audio mixdown, do the Cubase faders affect the mix, or is that only by adjusting on the audio track itself - grabbing and dragging on the box in the top centre of the track?

Excellent questions…

When all 3 tracks have come back to the MODX as USB audio (2 being prerecorded and one "live" - being played) I cannot then alter that mix at the MODX - I need to use the faders in Cubase to adjust to my "More Me" mix that goes to my speakers?

Correct.
To state this a bit clearer. When all 3 tracks come back to the MODX acting as D-to-A audio interface, you need to use the Track Faders in Cubase to adjust your monitor mix that goes to your speakers. If you adjust anything at the MODX, although this will rebalance the mix, it will adversely affect what gets recorded (which is NOT what you want to happen).

I guess the fader to the right for my bass/keys track is a monitoring level fader only and so could be used also to give more or less me as necessary?

Exactly!

Sorry one more - If I am doing an export audio mixdown, do the Cubase faders affect the mix

Yes. Mixdown is the recording studio term for the one “perfect” playback. The one that will be preserved for all time as the final mix. It’s just like a monitor mix but this time it’s the one that get distributed.

All stereo mixes prior to the “mixdown” are practice runs for the one that will be the FINISHED PRODUCT.
This is why, when using DAW software to mix, you use the Read/Write automation functions to create and reproduce any changes in level or panning, etc. As you may have figured out, I’m an old-school audio engineer… the software Mixdown is not about riding faders. It’s all about creating automation ahead of executing Audio Mixdown.

Computer based recording allows you to automate all changes to the mix. You can then sit back and listen to them, tweak them, get them “perfect”… and once you have it playing back exactly as you like… you can Export Audio Mixdown.

The EXPORT AUDIO MIXDOWN routine when processing just Audio Tracks or VSTi software plugins, is the computer calculating a .wav based on all of the settings you’ve made. A 7-minute composition can be rendered in seconds.
Back in the day, we had automation but audio was mixed down in real time, A 7-minute composition took 7 minutes to mix.

Please feel free to ask as many questions as you need — it is the reason this site exists. You learn by actually doing. Theory is great but you really learn when you actually get into it. And the more projects you do, the better you’ll get. Experience is the best teacher.

Hope that helps. I mentioned the “perfect” mix — it’s in quotes because as a recording/mix engineer, perfection is never achieved… you always will find something else you could do better.

I remember as a young engineer being told: You never really finish a mix, you just stop working on it.
Humbling, but the more I got into, the more I realized it’s true (especially as a musician - you always have a feeling that you could have played it better - engineers have the same affliction.

Do several versions… live with each mix for a while. Have fun!

Thanks Again Bad Mister!

I haven't got into the RW automation side of things but hope to get into that soon!

Looking forward to learning and asking more questions!