Into the red

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bulls Hit
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Bulls Hit

Well-known member
So what's the deal with the red zone?

Like on the final mix, trying to squeeze out a few more db, it doesn't seem to matter that the meters are hitting the reds (GT3). I'm not hearing any clipping. Am I really in the red zone or do I still have a few db up my sleeve b4 it starts sounding nasty?
 
Although you don't hear crackles or anything that sounds like distortion, I think mixes sound better (more open, less squashed) when they don't (soft) clip in Sonar/HS2004.

You can better use a mastering tool to get a loud mix than by clipping in Sonar.

My humble opinion of course... :)
 
Thanks, Qwerty.

But I'm like Coco the Chimp at the console.

Maybe I should stop comparing myself with good friend and übermixnerd SLuiCE. LOL :D
 
Pedullist said:
...and übermixnerd SLuiCE. LOL :D

That damn übermixnerd appears in my dreams prancing around with my old Behringer gear telling me he used it to record his latest CD... I hear this incredibly detailed song and then that recurring nightmare ends with 'Hey Jude' - "Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah-nyah-nyah NYAH!"



But you two certainly do make beautiful music together...



Fare Thee Well - I am off to mourn the loss of The Ashes.

:D Q.
 
...apologies for the hijack...

FWIW B.H. - I agree with the nerd's friend.

:D Q.
 
Bulls Hit said:
So what's the deal with the red zone?

Like on the final mix, trying to squeeze out a few more db, it doesn't seem to matter that the meters are hitting the reds (GT3). I'm not hearing any clipping. Am I really in the red zone or do I still have a few db up my sleeve b4 it starts sounding nasty?
I'm not a professonal engineer, but I play one on the internet...

I recall reading somewhere that the technical definition of a clip was when 3 successive samples reached 0db or higher. As such, a single sample over 0db is technically not a clip, but it might be enough to trigger the meter.

Going even further, you can also have a clip that isn't audible.

However, if you are simply trying to push a few more db's out, why not just slap a limiter on the master?
 
AGCurry said:
A little bit of red is harmless.
I'm trying to tell the kids in the neighborhood that. "Always run with scissors..."

As long as the sum of every track is belov 0 dB, you're usually OK. ;)
 
dachay2tnr said:
However, if you are simply trying to push a few more db's out, why not just slap a limiter on the master?

The limiter that comes with GT3 lets things thru, plus I've never been able to figure out how to use it
 
I have the same problem with the Sonitus Compressor when trying to use it as a peak limiter. The UAD-1 Peak limiter just works when set up with the same settings...

I don't get it.

Q.
 
Qwerty said:
That damn übermixnerd appears in my dreams prancing around with my old Behringer gear telling me he used it to record his latest CD... I hear this incredibly detailed song and then that recurring nightmare ends with 'Hey Jude' - "Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah-nyah-nyah NYAH!"



But you two certainly do make beautiful music together...



Fare Thee Well - I am off to mourn the loss of The Ashes.

:D Q.

Just jokes Tjarko...

OK, jokes AND envy...

:D Q.
 
Bulls Hit said:
The limiter that comes with GT3 lets things thru, plus I've never been able to figure out how to use it
Is there a brick wall setting on it?

Generally a limiter work the same as a compressor, but the ratio is infinite. The higher you go, the harder it will clamp down. If you set it to "brick wall," however, it should not let anything through above that setting.
 
Well what is wrong with this picture for use as a limiter? TCR either way...

Ciao,

Q.
 

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Qwerty said:
Well what is wrong with this picture for use as a limiter? TCR either way...

Ciao,

Q.
If I'm understanding the issue correctly, i.e; it's not stopping peaks, the program has to be exceeding zero' to hit this limiter. What I have been asking for on this one is an actual limiter threshold. As is, you have to raise the gain' to drive any normal level signal into limiting (which is ok and sounds just fine on drums and such) but then you have to lower your track level to compensate... makes A/B with the bypassed version a PITA but I still like it. ;)
Wayne
 
I just noticed the comp ratio is Inf:1. I've never used the 'compressor' section like that (didn't know it went past 20 or so..).
Wayne
 
A slight return...

With a bit of quick poking around with the Sonitus 'compressor section-as a limiter' on a drum bus, it does indeed chop brickwall style. It may not be not be look-ahead but pure crewcut', and the attack setting goes to zero which I hadn't noticed in a while.
So guys and girls, what was wrong with that picture? :D
Wayne
 
Attack at 0.1 not 0.0?

Apologies for being thick - but I don't get it.

Am I about to discover there is a difference between the operation of a 'peak limiter' compared to a 'limiter'? I thought a limiter was just a compressor with damn quick attack times and really aggressive ratio settings...

Or not?

Q.
 
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