Audition track clipping/peaking in Multitrack

patrickj85776599  wrote Hi. I'm having sudden issues with my Audition in multitrack view. When adding a edited clip which is limited to -0.1dB to Multitrack, it is clipping above 0.0dB.

Problem number one here is that multi track can't clip at that level! Assuming that you are using it in its native 32-bit Floating Point mode, then it has a massive dynamic range - around about 1500dB (no that's not a misprint), and that any file put into it can be increased to that sort of level and then decreased again - without loss. Yes it sounds like magic, but in fact that's what Floating Point systems do inherently; they have a built-in scaling system, which is what the extra 8 bits are for (except that actually, it's 24 bits of signal information - the mantissa - and 7 bits of scaling - the exponent - and one sign bit).

That said, if you try to play back any sounds that go above 0dB in multi track, then yes they may sound clipped. The reason for that is that your sound device is inherently an integer-based system, so the Floating Point signals have to be converted to something 'finite' in order for you to hear them - and that of course can clip. But simply reducing the level of the signal with prevent you from hearing it.

I suspect that what you need to do is look carefully at the track controls and the mixer, and make sure that no additional gain either from trims or faders has made it into your settings; if I insert 0dB tone into multitrack with the panning set to -3dB center mode, then this comes back at exactly -3dB, as it should.