Quick question about level peaks and tracks

TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Production Studio
-- Quick question about level peaks and tracks

Posted by Stevemarble on Nov-11-2009 10:37:

Quick question about level peaks and tracks

Should each track peak at 0DB (or just below) when the volume fader is set to 0DB?

Was just wonder whether setting the volume to taste in ultrabeat instead of making sure the instrument/sound peaks at the set track volume affects headroom.

For example, the Volume for a snare track is set to -4 DB and the snare its self has been adjusted in Ultrabeat so that it peaks at -7DB.

Does this affect the sound/production/headroom? Or is it ok to set your voulumes at any stage of the processing line of a track?

Cheers

(without checking that the snare [for example] peaks to the threshold

I've had a conversation with somerWhen using a sampler or something like ultra b

Posted by ijozef on Nov-11-2009 13:00:

if you mean the mixer's fader,it's the final output after the sound beeing processed,so it doesn't matter how loud it is,u should set it so it sounds good(usualy related to the kick)
but if you're talking about the input(pre processing),some plugins give better results before clipping,so keep the volume below 0db before you send it to an equ. for example!

Posted by johncannons1 on Nov-11-2009 21:20:

T depends on how much headroom u wantt for example I set my kick at about -9 db and when I'm done mixing the track peaks at -3db

when I use ultra I turn down the sample inside and leave that whole channel at 0db
but to be honest it never even comes close to 0
I personally have found no difference in the sound or anything from doing it this way I haven't found any problems either..
It's the easiest way IMO

I Spose u could leave all the samples at there normal level and just lower the channel volume either way should sound the same as long as none of it goes above 0 I guess

Posted by derail on Nov-12-2009 02:45:

Re: Quick question about level peaks and tracks

quote:
Originally posted by Stevemarble
Was just wonder whether setting the volume to taste in ultrabeat instead of making sure the instrument/sound peaks at the set track volume affects headroom.

Whether the level ends up at, say -10dB by turning the level down in Ultrabeat or it ends up at -10dB by turning down the instrument's fader in your sequencer, shouldn't make any difference to the end result. I can't guarantee this for every single VST, but as a general rule it shouldn't make any difference.

When you're recording sounds - vocals, external synths for example - you'd want to record with a decent level (but not so hot that clipping occurs), and turn the level down with the fader in the sequencer.

Posted by kitphillips on Nov-12-2009 06:47:

None of the levels have any impact except the master*. Generally, I like my instruments to be putting out levels of about -3 dB, but this is really just for metering conveniance. You'll probably find that most presets on VSTis will output a lot lower than this, but none of it really matters AFAIK.

*assuming all your plugins are 64 bit or 32 bit float and your DAW is using 32 bit fp internal processing. Which it probably is.

Posted by Stevemarble on Nov-13-2009 08:43:

thanks for the replies