Audio Clipping/Meter in Cubase

[x3rmlygood]

Hello guys, i have always had this problem in Cubase with the meter. When i add an instrument track, doesn't matter which one, they always come off too loud for cubase. They sound fine to me (no distortion) but the meter in cubase keeps hitting red. Although compared to other tracks (ex. midi tracks i use kontakt withalways sound fine and never cause the red meter thingy), they are significantly louder. For example, i just finished recording a bunch of midi tracks for my drums, i then add an instrument track for some melodies and BOOM! its a lot louder that my drums but does not distort. Here is a picture if it helps. I am using Cubase 7 btw.

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[kip4]

Did i miss something here?

 

[kip4]

oh i see the meters are in the red.
Are you using samples?

 

[x3rmlygood]

oh i see the meters are in the red.
Are you using samples?

No, that's just an instrument track with toxic bioharzard loaded. But it happens with pretty much any vst i use with an instrument track.

 

[Mo Facta]

This happens because almost all virtual instruments are precooked TOO LOUD.

In fact, this has been a constant pet peeve of mine for many years as I can't understand why virtual instrument developers insist on making their patches so damn hot. I almost always have to turn down my VSTi's AT LEAST 6dB for them to be usable and integrate into my typical gain structure. Some of them have to be attenuated much more.

Don't worry. It's not unusual and nothing is wrong. It's just simply that most VSTi's are engineered to be too hot.

Can anyone tell me why this is?

The only thing I can think of is that because they are digital instruments (thus bypassing the issue of analog distortion and clipping), the developers take the stance that by maximizing level you maximize resolution. This, as we know, is silly, especially if your instrument operates in 32 or 64-bit precision.

The other thing is simply to be louder than the competition. I don't know... either way it's annoying.

Cheers