Clipping

  • Thread starter Thread starter Diffusion
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Diffusion

Future Astrophysicist
Can someone tell me how to get rid of constant clipping when recording vocals? I know your prolly just gonna say use compression, but im not good at it. I only just started using the Dynamics Processor on Cool Edit Pro and everytime i try to eliminate clipping all it does is reduce the volume of the vocals but keeps the distortion at the peaks, just at a lower volume. Should I be doing something else? Am I too close to the mic? Should I compress while recording rather than during mixing?
This is my "setup":
MXL v63m > behringer mic200 > Cool edit.

Help...
 
Just turn the gain down. Are you recording at 24-bit? If so then you don't need to peg the meter.
 
i do turn the gain down but then it gets too soft... it seems the gain switch on the mic200 is REAL sensitive... unless im goin crazy
 
How about moving farther from the mic when you sing really loudly?
 
i thought that might work too.. but then again i dont see why that should be the problem coz i use a pop filter and im a foot away from the mic... about compressing though... does it make a difference if i compress while tracking rather than during mixing?
 
A pop filter isn't going to decrease the intensity during the loud parts. It's only there to diffuse plosives. And yes a compressor while tracking can really help. It can help tame some of the higher peaks. Good mic technique is key, though.
 
maybe i should be looking into a compressor to run my vocals through before it goes to my PC?
 
the compressor is a good idea if you find nothing ealse is working, if you record peaks - thats it, there staying! so using a compressor in mixdown wont get rid of them. Id say ideally, work of your vocal control, then set your input gain with plenty of headroom.

Hope that helps.
 
When you sing loudly, you should back off the mic. When you sing quietly, you should get up on it. If you are recording in 24 bit, you should just make sure that the loud stuff doesn't clip. You can turn the quiet stuff up in your computer. If there is a HUGE difference between loud and soft, you aren't singing properly.
 
Diffusion said:
I know your prolly just gonna say use compression, but im not good at it.
Click to expand...

Don't mean to sound shitty, but just because you're not good at it, doesn't mean it's not still the best thing for you to do!
Do some experimenting, with a little bit of work you'll get it right. And yes, doing it during tracking is the way to go, maybe even doing it more when mixing. And like MadAudio said, if you're recording at 24 bit you don't need to even aproach peaking during tracking.
 
OK, so when you say the quiet parts are too quiet, what levels are they at? -20db?
 
Thanks everyone... ill look into getting a separate compressor... and farview, i couldnt agree with you more but the thing is i do rap vocals... it doesnt have soft and loud parts, its all loud... but how do i know if im recording to 24-bit or not?
 
If it is all loud, just turn down the gain on the preamp until it doesn't clip any more. If you are doing rap, you will need to learn to use a compressor.

The manual for your interface will tell you if you have 24 bit converters or not. The software you are using will have settings for 16bit, 24 bit, and maybe 32 bit float.
 
If you're not good at compression you need to learn or quit recording. That's an *elementary* and essential skill. No better time than the present.

In the long run you'll be glad you did. Poorly set compression is one of the major reasons a lot of hobbyist stuff sounds awful.
 
i never said im not trying at it... i been working on this compressor shit like crazy since i first figured out what threshold, attack, and release mean... which was only 5 days ago but hey i gotta start somewhere...
 
Diffusion said:
i never said im not trying at it... i been working on this compressor shit like crazy since i first figured out what threshold, attack, and release mean... which was only 5 days ago but hey i gotta start somewhere...
Click to expand...

That's cool man... I didn't mean to sound like I was biting off heads. :)
 
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