Clipping question

[bryced87]

I know this is probably a stupid question but I'm new to this software so I want to know. When reading the levels in the mix window is the clipping meter when the volume meter get's to orange? The reason I ask this is because when I don't have the master fader up past it going into the yellow the whole rest of the mix is very quiet after bouncing to disk but if I raise the master fader into the orange it's the same volume as other songs that I bought on iTunes.

[albee1952]

Clipping is indicated by red at the very top of the meters. Don't try to relate or equate the level of your mixes to commercial releases. Those have been mastered and the process often adds volume. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, and sometimes just way too much, crushing with limiters to the point that the file is very loud, but has no dynamics at all. Have your stuff mastered, or read up and experiment on your own if budget doesn't allow for the real thing.

[bryced87]

Okay is there a reason why I never get a red signal? Even if I have the volume slider all the way up no red signal happens.

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by bryced87

Okay is there a reason why I never get a red signal? Even if I have the volume slider all the way up no red signal happens.

Your meters are likely set to Pre-Fader(so the fader has no effect on the metering). Watch you master track meter and try your meters in Post-Fader. Or put a plugin on a track and crank the plugin level and you will see clipping. The important thing here is; don't get too hung up on metering. Just remember 2 things; red is bad, and mastering engineers want a mixed file that peaks at no higher than -6(middle of the yellow). Since most of my projects are lower budget and self-mastered, I go hotter(-2) as I am going for volume(and it still takes mastering to get that. I just prefer to do it as a separate step/process).

[bryced87]

Okay thanks.