Correcting DC Offset-when? -Sound Forge - PC - MAGIX Community Forums Archive

Subject:Correcting DC Offset-when? Posted by: larryo Date:8/31/2004 5:31:53 PM When tracking in Vegas, I habitually open the newly recorded tracks in Sound Forge and run statistics. If DC offset is present, I correct it. But I'll often do a number of edits on the way to the final take: muting, compressing, gating, etc. Each process, particularily adding compression, adds back significant DC offset which I again remove. Got me thinking, is this the best way to do this, or should I hit DC offset when I'm finally done editing the track? Is it normal for DC offset to reappear in a track that has been "cleaned" after simply muting an "a-hem" between vocal lines? I notice a great deal of DC offset after applying compression using Waves RCL. Doesn't seem to make any audible difference to these ears, but I'm just curious. Larry O
Subject:RE: Correcting DC Offset-when? Reply by: mpd Date:9/2/2004 9:56:06 AM DC offset isn't audible, but it can cause problems. The primary problem is that it adds unncecessary power to the signal, which reduces dynamic range. For example, if you have a positive DC offset, the signal has fewer positive values to traverse before it will clip. The other problem has to do with splicing clips with different DC offset. When you do this, you will hear a very noticible pop. Splicing together clips w/o DC offset makes it easier to get a smooth transition.

Subject:Correcting DC Offset-when?

Posted by: larryo

Date:8/31/2004 5:31:53 PM

When tracking in Vegas, I habitually open the newly recorded tracks in Sound Forge and run statistics. If DC offset is present, I correct it. But I'll often do a number of edits on the way to the final take: muting, compressing, gating, etc. Each process, particularily adding compression, adds back significant DC offset which I again remove. Got me thinking, is this the best way to do this, or should I hit DC offset when I'm finally done editing the track? Is it normal for DC offset to reappear in a track that has been "cleaned" after simply muting an "a-hem" between vocal lines? I notice a great deal of DC offset after applying compression using Waves RCL. Doesn't seem to make any audible difference to these ears, but I'm just curious.

Larry O

Subject:RE: Correcting DC Offset-when?

Reply by: mpd

Date:9/2/2004 9:56:06 AM

DC offset isn't audible, but it can cause problems.

The primary problem is that it adds unncecessary power to the signal, which reduces dynamic range. For example, if you have a positive DC offset, the signal has fewer positive values to traverse before it will clip.

The other problem has to do with splicing clips with different DC offset. When you do this, you will hear a very noticible pop. Splicing together clips w/o DC offset makes it easier to get a smooth transition.