Subject:clipping at -6 db

Posted by: PRMartinVOTalent

Date:1/12/2008 10:35:58 PM

I use SF 8 to record VO and for some reason the peaks are getting clipped off at -6 db. How do I set SF 8 so that it won't do that?

Subject:RE: clipping at -6 db

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:1/13/2008 3:05:01 AM

SF cannot do this. Either your soundcard (or driver) is faulty, or you have hardware clipping somewhere.

What is your soundcard ?
geoff

Subject:RE: clipping at -6 db

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:1/13/2008 3:06:35 AM

SF cannot do this. Either your soundcard (or driver) is fauty, or you have hardware clipping somewhere.

What is your soundcard ?
geoff

Subject:RE: clipping at -6 db

Reply by: PRMartinVOTalent

Date:1/13/2008 8:25:00 AM

I plug my mic into an M-Audio Fast Pro which is connected to the computer through a USB plug in from the front of the computer.

The computer is running an Audacity sound card that is installed though.

Subject:RE: clipping at -6 db

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:1/13/2008 11:48:08 AM

If you have clipping, then the audio level into the M-Audio is too high ( or clipping somewhere earlier in the analogue chain), or the driver is broken.

I guess you have a mic running striaght into the Fast Pro ? Try turning the input 'gain' down, or engage the Pad. but why the clipping is showing at -6dB must be related to the driver.

There are no setting in SF that can affect the incoming waveform.

geoff

Subject:RE: clipping at -6 db

Reply by: PRMartinVOTalent

Date:1/13/2008 12:43:07 PM

Thanks, I will have to check the soundcard or computer settings for this then.

Basically what I see in the project window is a recording that should have peaks that go above -6db but are getting cut off when ever the recording gets that loud.

Generally, I record a little quieter and then bring up the volume since I am recording in a home basement studio and the isolation/treatment isn't necessarily ideal. But, when the levels do get cut off at -6, it sounds crackled.

I appreciate the feedback. I wil follow up when I get some results.

Paul

Subject:RE: clipping at -6 db

Reply by: musicvid10

Date:1/13/2008 7:32:35 PM

If you set the average recording volume for about -18db and the loudest peaks at <=6db, it will be fine.
Don't know how your cards are set up for reference (and there are many), but a rule of thumb is 0db analog ~= -6db digital

Subject:RE: clipping at -6 db

Reply by: PRMartinVOTalent

Date:2/12/2008 9:30:50 AM

Well, I went into my computer settings and found that the computer, even with the M-Audio Fasttrack Pro plugged in, was using the default sound card instead of the the ...Pro as I wanted. That was the source of the clipping.

Now that i know why I went in and manually set it to use the M-Audio and no more problems.

I will still use some of the info that was presented here for levels and such, so thanks a lot.

Subject:RE: clipping at -6 db

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:2/12/2008 11:50:57 AM

So you were using MS Sound Mapper as the device, and have reset the MS Sound Devices selection to M-Audio ?

You could of course (and should, to get rid of the extra 'layer') set the M-Audio directly in SF, if not already.


geoff

Subject:RE: clipping at -6 db

Reply by: PRMartinVOTalent

Date:2/15/2008 11:50:11 PM

I will check to see if I need to do that. Thanks for the info.

I also found this info from the Digifon website that is doable if it is 'bundled' for the price. I'm just not sure about the equiptment quality for VO/Audiobook narration, given all the talk here.

http://www.digifon.com/homestudio.html

Subject:RE: clipping at -6 db

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:2/16/2008 4:27:12 AM

"found that the computer, even with the M-Audio Fasttrack Pro plugged in, was using the default sound card instead of the the ...Pro"

Ummm, didn't you say you had the input connected to the M-Audio device? If so then the computer was recording through that. If the computer had been recording through the default sound card then you wouldn't have recorded anything.

Subject:RE: clipping at -6 db

Reply by: PRMartinVOTalent

Date:2/17/2008 9:49:46 PM

When I check the SF8 preferences settings, Mapper kept showing up as the default. now, I don't know how or why, all I know is that once I manualy changed the settings so that they all were ASIO M-Audio and specified the mic input I was using, all clipping went away.