distortion in mixdown

[unkapaulie]

i have two sources that i input my sound files from, one is a mp3 instrumental, and the other is a prerecorded vocal that goes with the instrumental. when i line up the 2 tracks so the vocals is on the beat, and i mix down, i get a serious distortion because the amplitude increases and makes the final wave peak too high. i tried hard limiting the parts, but that gave it a kind of reverb that i didnt like. i dont know what are the effects of the other amplitude filters

whats the best way to set the volume or amplitude of the parts so that the final mix is at a just right amplitude?

 

[despised7]

What version are you using?

Click "View > Show Mixers Window" and then lower the master volume slider.

 

[unkapaulie]

i got audition 1.1. i skipped the hard limiter completely, and tried controling the quality with the volume and eq manually. the final mix came out much quieter, and i had to turn up the speakers to hear it clearly. normally other music i can hear just fine without that much volume. what other features can improve the boost of the sound without reaching distortion levels?

 

[chrisharris]

You have to turn down the master fader, like despised said. Watch it as it plays, and make sure it doesn't peak at any point over 0db.

Then, when you mix it down, yeah...it'll be quieter, but it won't be clipped. THEN you use the hard limiter to get the overall volume up. If you hard limit a file that was already clipped on mixdown, all you're gonna' get is a louder version of a horrible sounding file. You can't "undo" clipping. You can sort of repair some clips sometimes with varying results, but the ONLY time you need to do do that is when you don't have the unclipped source tracks.

Bottom line is, if neither of the 2 files you're working with are clipped, then there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to get a non-distorted mix, and then make it as loud as you want....(within reason )