Question about Mastering with Waves C4 and peaks..

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Username300

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I'm mastering with waves C4. Before using C4 there were no peaks (no red) on the master fader or the track output at all.
As soon as I open C4 on a track, it will occasionally peak (go into the red) both on the track and the master fader. I can't hear any distortion (pops or clicks) and I'm not boosting anything with C4 but rather compressing the lows and highs.
When I bounce the track in pro tools and import it to a new session there is no clipping or going in to the red at all on master fader or track output.
So my questions are -
1. Why is this happening with C4 when I'm only compressing not boosting any frequencies?
2. Is it really distorting of some kind of 'ghost distortion' (if there is such a thing) and is it a problem if I can't hear any distortion?

thanks.
 
Welcome to the site

Sometimes compressors have an 'auto make-up gain feature that presumes to boost the level to compensate for the compression. If it has that, try turning it off?
Just a guess...
 
I have noticed that some Waves stuff tends to show clipping a bit before you see any clipping in the DAW. Their way of helping you not abuse the stuff perhaps? Also, I would recommend putting a limiter after c-4 with the output set at -.1db just to make sure nothing gets past (Waves L1, L2, L3...whatever you have) and if you are working with high resolution files (24bit, 32bit) that you plan to put on CD's I highly recommend some kind of dithering at the end of your chain (Waves IDR for instance, unless you actually have one of Waves limiters as they already have dithering built in). I wouldn't personally use C-4 as the last step in my plugin chain.
 
Ok thanks guys.
I couldn't see any auto make up gain. I might try the limiter idea. Just get worried that limiters may colour the audio (I'm suspicious of most plug ins that way!) But i spose it's better than risking distorion even though I can't hear any.
 
The C4 is a Multiband Parametric Processor which exhibits qualities of both a multiband compressor and a dynamic EQ. It is not a "louder maker" per say, insomuch as it can be set to help ease troublesome frequency ranges in a given source [dynamically] and thus provide a more consistent frequency balance. A proper frequency balance is crucial if your goal is a loud master.

It is for this reason that I believe that all processing should be done at the same perceived level as the original, which can easily be accomplished by either simply using your ears or using a dedicated RMS meter.

Going back to the C4, you may want to ask yourself whether this is the correct tool for what you are trying to accomplish. If it is, I would recommend keeping the output at the same level as the input (which hopefully is not clipping) and use something like the L2 afterwards in the chain. Set your output ceiling to -0.1dB as suggested and pull the threshold down until you are seeing one or two dB's of gain reduction.

I wouldn't go much more than 3dB of gain reduction at any time on the L2.

Cheers :)
 
I often have the same setup, however I always use the L2 as the final thing in the chain, "Hi Res CD Master" setting, even if it's not compressing anything with input at 0 (compression off) and the output at-0.3 (safety margin as some CD players don't handle 0 very well and you can't hear-0.3dB) the L2 in this setting has a good 16 bit rendering for CD production. If you do want to kick the volume up a bit more (without over doing it) you can use the L2 for that as well.

Cheers
Alan.
 
It's worth mixing down a stereo file, putting it on a track and then zoom in to look for the biggest peaks, then manually draw in automation on these peaks. The automation will happen so quickly you wont see the fader move but it will allow give you a bit more volume overall as the compressor/limiter is not dealing with these rogue peaks. :-)
 
Username300 said:
I'm mastering
Click to expand...
Are you sure? I'm not 100% convinced you're talking about "Mastering" here. I have a feeling you're still "Mixing".

Here's why:
As soon as I open C4 on a track,
Click to expand...
By "track", do you mean a "song", or an actual track in the mix of the song?
it will occasionally peak (go into the red) both on the track and the master fader.
Click to expand...
This statement is the main reason I think you're still mixing, not mastering. But it might just be a confusion in the terms used.
 
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