Levels..to clip or not to clip? -Sound Forge - PC - MAGIX Community Forums Archive

Subject:Levels..to clip or not to clip? Posted by: geetarboy Date:9/17/2002 8:26:25 AM I have always tried to keep to the rule that all level should be set below 0db. In other words, when working with Acid 3.0, all the tracks will be set no higher than 0. Now that I am at the mix down-mastering stage, I have noticed that what sounds great by itself and sounds way to quiet compared to professional tracks. I have tried importing a similar song (ex. I will load a song from coldplay into my Acid project) into my mix-keeping it muted-and only using it to compare levels. I can get the levels to match but I am clipping. My mix will still sound good..but if I am clipping; am I shooting myself in the foot? Should I fix this problem in mastering? I wish there was an industry standard db level. Thanks
Subject:RE: Levels..to clip or not to clip? Reply by: rraud Date:9/17/2002 11:55:47 AM You should not exceed "0" dbfs. Pro level meters like the Dourgough are more accurate than your computers, if you can, maybe check your levels on something like them. SF Wave Hammer or Wave's Mastering plug-ins can help get your apparent levels hotter. There is a standard db level, but there is no standard "apparent" loudness level. That's one of the reasons good mastering engineers and labs are sought after and get the big bucks.

Subject:Levels..to clip or not to clip?

Posted by: geetarboy

Date:9/17/2002 8:26:25 AM

I have always tried to keep to the rule that all level should be set below 0db. In other words, when working with Acid 3.0, all the tracks will be set no higher than 0.
Now that I am at the mix down-mastering stage, I have noticed that what sounds great by itself and sounds way to quiet compared to professional tracks.

I have tried importing a similar song (ex. I will load a song from coldplay into my Acid project) into my mix-keeping it muted-and only using it to compare levels. I can get the levels to match but I am clipping.

My mix will still sound good..but if I am clipping; am I shooting myself in the foot?

Should I fix this problem in mastering? I wish there was an industry standard db level.
Thanks

Subject:RE: Levels..to clip or not to clip?

Reply by: rraud

Date:9/17/2002 11:55:47 AM

You should not exceed "0" dbfs. Pro level meters like the Dourgough are more accurate than your computers, if you can, maybe check your levels on something like them. SF Wave Hammer or Wave's Mastering plug-ins can help get your apparent levels hotter. There is a standard db level, but there is no standard "apparent" loudness level. That's one of the reasons good mastering engineers and labs are sought after and get the big bucks.