I don't understand the clip indicator -ACID Product Family

Subject:I don't understand the clip indicator Posted by: wynton Date:12/12/2006 12:13:56 PM Simple question: can someone tell me what exactly happens when recording at such a high level that the "clip" indicator is activated? I've been recording nothing other than vinyl, through a USB turntable. And I've basically assumed that the recording level is always appropriate and been ignoring that "clip" indicator that is displayed in the "record" window. But for all I know, the indicator actually has been trying to tell me to lower the input level and I haven't realized it. When I record, all I notice is that the two bars with the fluctuating levels are always below the word "clip." Does that mean everything is ok?
Subject:RE: I don't understand the clip indicator Reply by: Vocalpoint Date:12/12/2006 2:51:52 PM If you gear is even close to being "calibrated" you should never ever be near the clip zone. For transferring vinyl...peaks of -10 are plenty...any higher than that is just killing your headroom. You should never be actually seeing a clip light. If you are - you have now entered the nasty world of "digital" distortion where the incoming data cannot even be represented in digital form (0101010)....in other words - there is nothing beyond 0dbFS within the digital realm. VP

Subject:I don't understand the clip indicator

Posted by: wynton

Date:12/12/2006 12:13:56 PM

Simple question: can someone tell me what exactly happens when recording at such a high level that the "clip" indicator is activated?

I've been recording nothing other than vinyl, through a USB turntable. And I've basically assumed that the recording level is always appropriate and been ignoring that "clip" indicator that is displayed in the "record" window. But for all I know, the indicator actually has been trying to tell me to lower the input level and I haven't realized it. When I record, all I notice is that the two bars with the fluctuating levels are always below the word "clip." Does that mean everything is ok?

Subject:RE: I don't understand the clip indicator

Reply by: Vocalpoint

Date:12/12/2006 2:51:52 PM

If you gear is even close to being "calibrated" you should never ever be near the clip zone. For transferring vinyl...peaks of -10 are plenty...any higher than that is just killing your headroom.

You should never be actually seeing a clip light. If you are - you have now entered the nasty world of "digital" distortion where the incoming data cannot even be represented in digital form (0101010)....in other words - there is nothing beyond 0dbFS within the digital realm.

VP