Volume Fader versus Clip Game

[snowplaysmusic]

Hi, I am tracking an electric bass. It's quite hot, which I like. Peaking around -5dbFS. To give myself more headroom during mixing, I need to drop the track by about 10dBFS.I don't want to do it on the source side, because I like driving the tube amp. On Pro Tools side, I thought I clip gain. Seems like a great solution. But then I noticed the Volume fader on the mix window. I have to admit, I don't know precisely how it works. What would be the difference from removing 10dbFS with clip gain versus dropping the volume fader on the mix window?

[Wizzoboy]

You can use a Trim plug-in on the track to lower its' level.

[Sardi]

Clip gain is pre insert. Fader volume/level is post insert.

Also, driving your tube amp for colour is fine, but you don’t need to run it into your interface hot. Back off the input gain, record at 24bit and give yourself a bit of headroom.


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[Ben Jenssen]

Don't overthink it.

If you like the sound, whether it's the source (the bass) plugged directly (DI) into your interface, or your bass amp with a microphone in front of it, just see to it that it's not clipping, and record it. If you're talking about a bass amp plugin insert on the track, then know that it's effect is not recorded and you can change it later.

Like my friends stated, there are more ways than one to adjust the level when the track is recorded; Clip Gain, Trim insert, and track volume fader. The fader the most important because it adjusts the volume after inserts, like on a analog mixing desk.

So: record tracks without going into the red, and adjust the track faders so it sounds like a mix. Pan and maybe effects. Simple.

[snowplaysmusic]

Originally Posted by Sardi

Clip gain is pre insert. Fader volume/level is post insert.

Also, driving your tube amp for colour is fine, but you don’t need to run it into your interface hot. Back off the input gain, record at 24bit and give yourself a bit of headroom.


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Thank you. Yes, I like the color tube. I do record at 24bit. How do I back off the input gain? My pre-amp has a gain (color tube) stage and an output level stage (clean/trim). You mean dial back the trim all the way?