Removing DC Offset

[dachay2tnr]

I have gotten into a habit of automatically removing any DC offset from my wave files as a part of the "mastering" process. However, lately I'm wondering whether I am doing more damage than good if the amount of DC offset is quite small (1-2%).

In other words, is the damage done by running the signal through another process not worth the small gain in additional headroom?

Thoughts? And if you think I should avoid this step on small levels of offset, at what level would you bother to remove the offset?

(And boy this site sucks lately!)

 

[TexRoadkill]

The main problem with DC offset is that it eats up your headroom. If you don't remove the offset then you risk clipping just to get the track up to a good level. Which is worse is up to you and your ears.

The cause of DC offset is poor convertors. If you are really concerned with it then that would be the place to fix it.

 

[5c0tt]

Sorry to take this slightly off-thread guys but could one of you take a minute to give me a basic understanding of what DC offset is.
I've 'heard about it' but I'm not too sure of the cause/effect & how it may affect my recordings in general.
Thanks
S

 

[dachay2tnr]

The main problem with DC offset is that it eats up your headroom.

I understand. But I doubt I'm losing a whole lot of headroom with a 1% offset. However, I don't seem to hear any difference when I process it out, and therefore why not recapture it? I was just looking for other opinions on when and where people remove offset.

P.S. I doubt it's the converters, since some of the stuff recorded through these same converters has absolutely no offset.

Scott, dc offset is when your waveform doesn't cross from positive to negative at exactly the 0 point. Therefore the entire wave is slightly favored to the positive (or negative) side. In a "normal" wave the positive and negative amplitude are equal. If you were to normalize a signal with offset, the side that is being favored would bump up against the 0 db digital limit before the other side, thus leaving some extra headroom on the table. It can be quite significant if there is a lot of dc offset in the sample.

 

[5c0tt]

Thanks dachay2tnr, very well described......I'm off to investigate.

 

[TexRoadkill]

P.S. I doubt it's the converters, since some of the stuff recorded through these same converters has absolutely no offset.

Yeah, it couldn't be the convertors it must be the DC offset fairy

 

[dachay2tnr]

Who you calling a fairy??

And who gave this thread one star? The star fairy??

 

[sonusman]

Actually, the device right before the A/D converter could be responsible for DC Offset too!

I agree, I would try to solve the problem where it originates from. I have seen crappy preamps create DC Offset. I have seen crappy A/D converters do it too.

Usually, I live with whatever small amount I might see (haven't seen any on my audio lately....)

Ed

 

[dachay2tnr]

Usually, I live with whatever small amount I might see

Ed

Actually, that's my question. I am only getting small amounts of DC offset. So I was wondering if I should process it out, or simply leave it as is? It doesn't seem to be a problem either way. Just was curious what other people are doing. Thanks for the answer, Ed.

 

[donkeystyle]

you said u couldn't hear a difference when u removed it........to me it sounds like you shouldn't be compromising your signal if your not making it better..........i think answered your own question. just my opinion on things.

 

[Teacher]

has anyone noticed the introduction of DC offset after processing? t his happens to me all the time...i'll transfer the file from sonar to wavelab check for offset ZERO...i do my "ghetto" mastering which consists of psp vintage, timeworks EQ, psp stereoenhancer, TC Reverb, and Waves L2 process DC offset is there then i'll reduce it to 16 and more DC offset...has anyone else experience this with any or all these plug-ins?

 

[HangDawg]

No. But I use Ozone.

 

[donkeystyle]

i downloaded this plugin called tube warmer and it did the same thing to me.........it sounded like crap to......totally not worth whatever money they want for the full version.

 

[Teacher]

then its probably the psp vintage warmer with its attempt at recreating analog harmonics causing this?