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Hitting the yellow / red in Ableton ok?
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| BradMiller |
Dumb question time - but whenever I load up a new track the gain goes way into the yellow on the audio channel it's on, and the master hits red. Is there clipping going on here or is the master channel just messing with my head? All my track volume levels are set to zero, and the gain on the track itself is set to zero. Traditionally I thought the answer was yes, but if so why would it clip when all my levels are zero?
I'm on Ableton 6 btw - CHECK THE PIC HERE |
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| Polt |
| quote: | Originally posted by BradMiller
All my track volume levels are set to zero, and the gain on the track itself is set to zero. Traditionally I thought the answer was yes, but if so why would it clip when all my levels are zero? |
0db does not mean silent. You should think of volume as -inf to 0 being the normal scale, and everything above 0 as going into the red. |
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| BradMiller |
| But in this case nothing is above zero and things are still in the red.. :conf: |
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| DJ_Rafnel |
| quote: | Originally posted by BradMiller
But in this case nothing is above zero and things are still in the red.. :conf: |
Brad you using any plugins on those channels? EQ? |
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| BradMiller |
| Nothing - completey fresh template. |
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| DJ_Rafnel |
| quote: | Originally posted by BradMiller
Nothing - completey fresh template. |
hmm...I noticed it does this on mine too. Techincally yeah its clipping. I notice it on the monitors at home if i really listen carefully.
2 possible solutions:
1. Lower all your faders by like -3db, or until you no longer are peaking over 0db.
2. Maybe try a limiter...but that might screw with the dynamics of the tracks so id proceed with caution.
Solution 1 seems better, then just up the volume on the mixer to compensate if need be. |
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| BradMiller |
| That's always what I've done, but people have been complaining that it sounds too quiet when I play (especially since I don't have access to the speaker amps and I don't want to put the mixer deep into the red). |
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| DJ_Rafnel |
Hmm, honestly, I wouldn't worry to much. Sometimes that clipping is a product of bad mastering, but it can't be avoided to much.
I would just be cautious of adding anything plugin wise to the chain, like an EQ or anything on the master channel that would boost the signal anymore.
I've never noticed a level problem with your sets though. Maybe it's the DJ beforehand putting the mixer in the red ya know? Common mistake a lot of guys make. |
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| Polt |
| Even if you have your channel volume at 0db, that doesn't mean that a track isn't going to clip. Your best bet is to lower the individual track volumes and raise the overall master output. |
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| BradMiller |
| Do you think I'm ok putting either / both the track or master into the yellow a little bit or should I stick to green only? |
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| DJ_Rafnel |
I think youll be alright if it hits the yellow a bit as long as your not boosting the signal to much. It's prob just stray peaks here and there that are clipping.
The yellow on the tracks meter is the same as what is being sent to the master, the master just turns red because it means your peaking on the master channel. Either way it's the same thing. I wouldn't worry to much unless your peaking well above 0db a lot.
Prob one of the best things to do would be to listen for any clipping, if it sounds fine to you, it should be ok.
EDIT:
I may have figured it out...ill attach some pics so u can follow along.
Here is a track in regular re-pitch warp mode, at it's native BPM 138:
Your in complex warp mode...when i switch that on even without changing the tempo...this is what happens:
I think the problem is Lives algorithms for the warping in other modes, such as complex. I tested it on all the other warp modes...beats, tones, etc...the only ones that had this problem were complex and complex pro *live 8* (which was worse actually by about 1db)
Hopefully this sheds some light on the problem, i honestly didnt even realize it myself until i tested it, kept bugging me so i had to get down to it. |
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| Stu Cox |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ_Rafnel
I think the problem is Lives algorithms for the warping in other modes, such as complex. I tested it on all the other warp modes...beats, tones, etc...the only ones that had this problem were complex and complex pro *live 8* (which was worse actually by about 1db)
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Great find.
If I were you I'd just slap a limiter on the master channel ;)
If it's just peaks shooting up from the pitch correction algorithm, I doubt you're going to lose much of the dynamics by hard limiting the top 2-3dB off. |
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