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MarkUproar
Participant
May 25, 2017
Question

Peak meters on the effect rack

  • May 25, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 1586 views

HI everyone!

Im working on a multitrack mix, all the peak meters on each track are fine, they don't clip. But I just found out the 2 output and input peak meters under the effects racks of every track, which easily get red even though there's no effect (for example on the master track) , and I need to cut 10db or more to avoid it, losing a lot of loudness. My question is: since the sound doesn't seem to ruin when I let those 2 peak meters clip, can I just ignore them or it would influence the final result of the mastering?? Thank you!

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    1 reply

    SteveG_AudioMasters_
    Community Expert
    SteveG_AudioMasters_Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 25, 2017

    To achieve that state, you must have at least one effect in the rack, and if that's creating gain, then yes you will appear to get an overload, at least on the output. But, if you increase the volume in the track, then this increased level is reflected in the effects rack meters, and that will overload both the input and output, unless you reduce the gain.

    When it comes to a mixdown, it's relatively safe to leave an overload, as with a Floating Point mix this produces a scaled result that can be rescaled after the event to get the levels back where they should be - looks like magic, but works really well. How this plays with an internal overload though, I'm not entirely sure. It sounds to me as though you need to do a little 'gain staging' here - make sure that with the track volume fader and the master fader set to 0dB that nothing overloads, so no clipping. If it does, then reduce the level of the track so that it doesn't - you can use the volume envelope for this. Then, if nothing is added to the effects rack to increase the gain or level, you shouldn't get clipping any more.

    So in bare terms, if you have a track with a volume lift resulting in more that 0dB on the track itself, but with the fader set down so that it doesn't overload the Master, then the track will probably play fine, but the input to the effects rack will clip. And that's what you prevent with gain staging.

    I can tell you that there's absolutely nothing inherently wrong with the metering - it's all been thoroughly tested, and it represents accurately what's actually happening in your mix. So whatever's causing this is something you've done, I'm afraid...

    Paul_Ferguson
    Paul_Ferguson
    Inspiring
    August 19, 2017

    I've got pretty much an identical question to the OP, so rather than start a new thread, I decided to follow on from what's already been said here.

    II'll focus on the master bus in multitrack for now.  The peak meters for the master bus don't clip, but sometimes the Master Bus Effects Rack input meter clips, and sometimes the output meter clips.  Okay, I have a ton of questions about this, so anyone who has an idea, please weigh in.

    * How is it possible that the Effects Rack meter on the Master Bus can clip, but that clipping isn't replicated in the Master Bus output meter?  I think I know, but I'd like to hear someone explain it.

    * What does it mean to clip the input on the Effect Rack meter?  The signal's too hot for the plugin(s)?

    * What effect will it have to simply turn down the input level in the Effects Rack so that it doesn't clip?  A simple loss of overall gain and nothing else?

    * What does it mean to clip the output on the Effect Rack meter?  The signal's too hot, but too hot for what?

    * Same question for simply turning down the output level in the Effects Rack - what effect will it have?  A simple loss of overall gain?

    I really want to understand gain staging, and this is where I need to start, I think.

    SteveG_AudioMasters_
    Community Expert
    SteveG_AudioMasters_Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 20, 2017

    So, the Effects Rack meter is reliable for Audition plugins, but all bets are off for 3rd party stuff and use your ears - is that it?


    Paul_Ferguson  wrote

    So, the Effects Rack meter is reliable for Audition plugins, but all bets are off for 3rd party stuff and use your ears - is that it?

    Not quite that simple - if you mix up native and non-native effects in the rack, you still have to be careful (in theory at least). But yes, your ears are by far and away the most useful tools you have.

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