how do i get rid of clipping?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dumass
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dumass

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hey, i'm currently using a Shure SM57 to record my distorted guitars...but the problem is, especially when i theres a palm mute part, it tends to clip a lot. my recoridng levels are at or under -12, but after i bring the volume up by limiting, compressing, or simply jus moving faders up, it tends to clip like crazy. i'm recording with the sm57 right on the grille of a cabinet, right at the middle of the speaker......should i back it off a little? i also will be trying the SM57 close miking and a oktava mk012 about 2 feet back from the cabinet...hopefully this solves the problem...but for now, is there any way i can fix this?
 
Where (which part of the chain) is it clipping? If it's in the mix, maybe bring everything else down instead of pushing that track up, and get back into your nominal operating range.
Wayne
 
well heres my chain...(i think this is a chain)hahah... umm sm57 >behringer mx2004 mixer>M-audio delta 1010>cakewalk
 
mixsit said:
maybe bring everything else down instead of pushing that track up, and get back into your nominal operating range.
Wayne
Click to expand...

thats jus the thing...i want my mixes to be as loud as like cd's on the market and stuff....i kno i sound really dum with this but im sitll kinda new..
 
What you need to do is bring everything down so that nothing is clipping. If there's a track you want to bring out more, like guitar, then bring all the other tracks down and keep doing this untill you have a satisfactory balance between the tracks.

Then, in order to bring the overall volume back up to a good, healthy level, you're going to want to use a peak limiter accross the entire mix. If you're using cakewalk, I believe they have some sort of "Loudness Maximizer" or something to that effect, don't they? If not, then you need to go and download the demo for this:

http://www.sonictimeworks.com/p_masteringcomp.php?PHPSESSID=10b06b112a5afc981d30924ee34503c6

Good luck, and have fun with your loud mixes. :D
 
It's very easy to have transient peaks that don't show on the meters, yet are blowing your headroom.

Bring the levels down as chessrock suggests...
 
thanks man...that helped a bunch.....i dont kno where the loudness maximizer thingy is....does any one kno where it is?
 
thanks man...that helped a bunch.....i dont kno where the loudness maximizer thingy is....does any one kno where it is?
 
Also look for compression and or limiting for the peaky seperate tracks. That gets you a head start on how much you have to compress the mix, lets that final stage not work so hard.
:)
Wayne
 
dumass said:
hey, i'm currently using a Shure SM57 to record my distorted guitars...but the problem is, especially when i theres a palm mute part, it tends to clip a lot. my recoridng levels are at or under -12, but after i bring the volume up by limiting, compressing, or simply jus moving faders up, it tends to clip like crazy. i'm recording with the sm57 right on the grille of a cabinet, right at the middle of the speaker......should i back it off a little? i also will be trying the SM57 close miking and a oktava mk012 about 2 feet back from the cabinet...hopefully this solves the problem...but for now, is there any way i can fix this?
Click to expand...
It's been quite a few years since I mic'ed a guitar cabinet... but I seem to remember that your mic placement is off.

If memory serves me correctly, you should mic the speaker OFF center, and towards the center, but not AT the center...

Then again, I'm on my first cup of coffee. :D
 
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