Maintaining constant volume levels with a synth rig

[amv]

I've recently switched from using DAWs and MIDI for everything to going truly old school and recording all my non-drum tracks as live audio (guitar, bass, synth, etc.). It's a lot of fun and a very satisfying way to build up a track that feels especially "real".

The only issue I've had with this so far is no longer having clear control over volume levels. For instance, I have:

1) Two keyboards, each with their own volume levels
2) Multiple patches used on each keyboard, of course, each of which may warrant volume changes
3) An outboard effects unit, with its own level
4) An 8-channel hardware mixer, with its own volume levels

As a total newbie to this very raw, manual approach to recording, am I missing some obvious way to keep track of this? I worry about recording tracks with a given array of volume levels across these devices, then going back to record an edit or redo later on and having to match the volume by ear.

Anyone else experienced/solved this problem?

[meatballfulton]

The simplest way to deal with it is to keep the volume knobs on everything plugged into the mixer at a fixed level (perhaps volume on maximum) and then adjust levels as needed at the mixer. If not at maximum, use some masking tape or an erasable marker to mark the setting you are using. If your mixer has gain adjustments for each input, set these so that with the channel faders at equal settings the relative volumes are similar.

For more information on this try googling gain staging.

If the synths have a parameter for individual patch volume (many do and many do not) you can program louder patches with a lower volume and quieter patches with a higher volume. Read the manual for your hardware if you are not sure whether you can do this.

[gcoudert]

I use an 8-input Yamaha 01X mixer (£120 second hand), which has patch memories and motorised faders. Patches are quickly recalled. The built-in effects allow me to compress the drums.