Subject:Kompakt Limiter

Posted by: danika

Date:5/2/2006 2:46:10 PM

Although it doesn't seem to be documented anywhere, there is obviously a limiter on the Kompakt output. I can push the volumes up indefinitely and never go above 0 db. Also, it doesn't look like whether or not to use the limiter is an option. Can anyone confirm that.

Subject:RE: Kompakt Limiter

Reply by: PeterWright

Date:5/2/2006 9:34:14 PM

I can definitely get a level higher than 0db, just by hitting my midi keyboard key a little harder - just got a red reading of +3.8 (this with Kompact's Grand Piano)

Maybe you have something set somewhere - a track setting? - sorry I can't help more.

Subject:RE: Kompakt Limiter

Reply by: danika

Date:5/3/2006 8:46:51 AM

The Kompakt level meter will show levels above 0 db, but not the level meter in the Acid mixer.

Subject:RE: Kompakt Limiter

Reply by: PeterWright

Date:5/3/2006 5:59:31 PM

Yes, I was talking about the Acid mixer master volume.

Subject:RE: Kompakt Limiter

Reply by: Illogical

Date:5/3/2006 7:40:31 PM

I think maybe he's talking about the meter on the synth bus.

Subject:RE: Kompakt Limiter

Reply by: PeterWright

Date:5/3/2006 9:44:04 PM

Well, I'm not quite clear what is being referred to, but even on the individual Synth bus for a Kompact instrument, I can make it go past 0 db once I push that fader to 4.4db. Hope that helps.

Subject:RE: Kompakt Limiter

Reply by: danika

Date:5/4/2006 10:05:29 AM

OK, try this experiment, and you'll see what I mean. Set the volume level of the Kompakt synth bus to 0. Load a couple of instruments into a Kompakt multi and push the Intrument Amp volumes up to the max on each one. Assign some midi to the instruments and render the project. You will never go above 0 db on the synth bus. However, if you look at the waveform of the rendered track, you will see severe limiting.

Subject:RE: Kompakt Limiter

Reply by: H2000

Date:5/4/2006 10:39:51 AM

Sounds like you're clipping in Kompakt to me.

OK. I just tried what you suggest. And it is indeed clipping the internal mixer in Kompakt. The max output level is -3dB on the synth bus in Acid (I am using Kompakt Full version - not the one that comes with Acid (I don't know if there are differences)). I don't think I would call it limiting as musch as I would just call it clipping.

Subject:RE: Kompakt Limiter

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:5/4/2006 10:53:56 AM

> Assign some midi to the instruments and render the project. You will never go above 0 db on the synth bus.

So are you saying that while it’s rendering you do not go above 0dB even though when you played it back it did? I’m confused once you added rendering into the mix. Are we talking about the render file not going above 0dB (because it can’t) or the volumes are different while you are rendering from when you were just playing the project in playback mode.

~jr

Subject:RE: Kompakt Limiter

Reply by: nlamartina

Date:5/4/2006 11:00:48 AM

Kompakt has no limiter. Most of the samples lean toward the quiet side to allow for high velocity polyphony without distorting the Kompakt amp. This is different from most instruments because Kompakt is not an instrument in practice. It's a host for instruments, and thus has its own signal flow independent of ACID. The 'limiting' you notice in the waveforms is not limiting, but the Kompakt audio bus distorting before it goes to ACID's instrument bus.

If you want more volume from your instruments, look to the upper-right of the Kompakt interface where it says, "Instrument Amp". Inside there is a knob called "Volume". :) Turn it up (this affects one instrument at a time). Keep in mind that there's a group amp that can be used to control groups of instruments together, as a bus. I have no use for this part of Kompakt, so I've never bothered figuring it out, but you can view the group controls by clicking the "Group Edit" button to the left.

- Nick