Severe clipping after mixdown

[wturner]

Problem: Rendered (mixdown) track contain severe clipping while original track does not.

Temporary solution: Reduce the Master Channel volume control from 0db to -7.5db before rendering and include "Process Master Channel" in the mixdown.

Scenario: I'm using compression on the file. All the input/output sliders in the compressor and the mixer are set so that there is no audible or visible clipping. The Master Channel is set to 0db. After I mixdown the track and then re-open it in N-track or any other program, the playback meter reads 0db but there is severe audible clipping. Looking at the sine wave itself one can see the clipping as well. When I apply the "Temporary Solution" the problem is solved, but I don't believe I should have to reduce the Master Channel volume before every mixdown. The mixdown file should result in the same volume as the un-rendered track without clipping. Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[hux]

>>Temporary solution: Reduce the Master Channel volume control from 0db to -7.5db before rendering and include "Process Master Channel" in the mixdown.


far as I know, that's also the permanent solution...it's the way I've been doing it for years now, if you find another way, how's about letting me know?

[wturner]

That astounds me that you do this also, because Flavio's response when I asked him this question was, "That's very strange... I'm sorry but I don't know what may be the problem." This means that this might be a common problem but that Flavio is totally unaware of it and doesn't know how to solve it. Scary.

[hux]

no, wait...I misunderstood ya...in my scenario if I put the master fader at 0 I hear clipping, and now that I've read yer post after some coffee I can see that's not yer situation....sorry bro, I'm very adept at getting my foot into my mouth

[Gidge]

before you mixdown, clear the VU meter and play the whole song...at any point does the VU meter clip?......

[wturner]

No, YOU wait. That IS my situation. When the Master Channel is set to 0db and I mixdown, I get clipping even though I didn't get clipping BEFORE the mixdown and BEFORE reducing the Master Channel.

However, if I reduce the Master Channel to -7db BEFORE mixdown and then do my mixdown, then there is no clipping.

[wturner]

Nope. No clipping BEFORE reducing the Master Channel and mixdown.

[wturner]

This only happens when I use the FA compressor. It's as if the compressor output is used for the mixdown instead of the channel fader output. Is that the case? How is the signal routed? Track > effects > aux send and receive > channel fader > mixer fader > VU meter?

Maybe that's my problem. Maybe there's no clipping because I have my channel fader set to reduce the final output at the VU meter but maybe the mixdown ignores that fader and uses the effects (compressor) output instead.

[hux]

Now I'm confused all to pieces...when you go to mix down, try clicking on "more options" and take a look, make sure it's processing all the effects during mixdown....also, try doing a "mixdown while playing" and then an "offline mixdown"...same result with both?

[wturner]

There's nothing in the mixdown dialog box for contolling the processing of effects. One thing I haven't tried though is "Mixdown while playing." I'll try it tonight.

[bdemenil]

If anything, I've encountered the opposite. The level on the final mixdown seems a bit lower than it was durring playback.

[wturner]

Wierd. I haven't yet found a fix for this.

[Pierre]

Compressor is use as an "aux"? So, it mean you double your signal no?
Can you use compressor in "insert" option somewhere? Because, as I can read, you might use compressor as an aux, so, yes, it will do some processing, but it will add it to your mix-down. Unless that you listen only the aux.

Pierre

[wturner]

Thanks for your response, however, I am already using the compressor as an insert.