Audition CC Sound Help

Question

I get a little more background noise with my mic (AKG C214) than I would like, I am running off a Presonus 2x2 Audiobox USB preamp.
Basically my question is:
I've heard from other people to go to Control Panel > Sound > Recording ..... and then adjust my recording level to 1. I have it currently set to 50.
Then they tell me to turn my levels up on my mixer..? But all I have is Mic 1, which I can turn up on my preamp, and then I have "Mixer" which I can set to Input and Payback.. any ideas?

Answer 1

I can see why you're getting confused with all that conflicting advice you're getting.
First off, the best place to adjust your levels is on your Presonus (better called an "Audio Interface by the way--it's a box that combines you mic pre amps and an analogue to digital interface with USB out).  This is adjusting levels while the signal is still analogue (raw out of the mic) and, once right there, you know you're not going to get any digital clipping.  The software level control on your computer is best left as "set and forget"--it's working on the digital signal after the A to D conversion..  In my case I just leave it at 100 (i.e. full up).  The only reason I'd change it would be if I found I was working  with my interface always turned down really low but normally the full up position works for most interfaces.  You want to adjust the levels on the Presonus so you recordings are peaking at around -6dB on Audition's meters (and averaging somewhat lower--note that this is just arbitrary and you can play with this recommendation depending on the dynamic range of the stuff you're recording).
The "mixer" thing is a complete red herring by the way.  Mixer in the context of the Presonus is purely to set up your monitoring to be a good mix of what you're recording and what's already recorded on your computer.
When you say "background noise" are you referring to a general background hiss or to general room noise?  If it's a hiss, turning the software fader in the audio control panel all the way up then turning things down on the Presonus should help a lot.  Many pre amps get noisy when turned up to high levels and, by having your computer at 50% level you're compensating by needlessly turning up the Presonus.
If, however, I'm guessing wrong and it's general room noise you're worried about, changing the levels you record won't help--the ratio between programme material and the background stays the same whatever level you record at.  The solution there would be to get closer to the mic and/or get the mic farther from the noise source.  Also, make sure the back of the mic is directly towards the noise source--there's far less pick up from the back.
Hope some of this helps!