Clipping sound problems ... pls help... thx.

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cychan7570
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2012/04/08 21:31:29 (permalink)

Clipping sound problems ... pls help... thx.

I am using sonar x1 producer. Problem is there is quite little headroom in my Roland Quad Capture. Whenever I sing the high notes with volume, the clipping sounds will occur. I have tried reducing the input of the mic into my audio interface by turning the knob on my quad capture (SENS 1L) to the left. However, the recording of the vocal quality is not very clear, when I reduce the input of the mic. So, I have tried boosting the sound using Sonitus:fx compressor and play around with EQ. However, when I use the compressor, it is still not very clear, and if I boost the dcB a bit more, the vocals started to sound squeaky. I have tried Auto-Sens in my Quad-Capture audio interface, but it is not working either. The Auto-Sens button did turn on but I still hear clipping when I sing on high notes into the mic. So, can anyone share with me please, how I can have avoid clipping sound when I sing into the mic, and at the same time, I wan the vocal recordings to be clear.
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    tlw
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    Re:Clipping sound problems ... pls help... thx. 2012/04/08 22:02:51 (permalink)
    Try backing off from the mic a bit in case you're overloading it?

    What mic is it?

    You should be fine (recording at 24 bit) with levels peaking at around -12dB in Sonar while recording (or even lower). There are plenty of tools in Sonar for adding gain without involving a compressor - e.g. the channel gain pot or the channel fader.

    Another way is to simply boost the gain of the track/clip by normalising it. It might be a good idea to gate the track/"remove silence" first to get rid of any background noise if the vocal needs a considerable gain increase.

    It would be useful to know what kind of recording level you;re seeing in Sonar and what the mic is though.

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    #2
    cychan7570
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    Re:Clipping sound problems ... pls help... thx. 2012/04/09 23:00:41 (permalink)
    I am using a DR-80C Roland condenser mic. At the moment, I am outside my studio. Once I am back, I will do more research on channel gain pot and channel fader, and other advice that you have given me. Thanks.
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    Cactus Music
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    Re:Clipping sound problems ... pls help... thx. 2012/04/09 23:42:36 (permalink)
    You either need a hardware compressor on the front end or use vocal mike technique. If you have ever noticed your vocal power can be over a huge dynamic range. We have our POWER notes, On those you have to back away from the mike and then return for the less powerful ones. Hook up a meter and practice singing paying attention to the levels as you sing. After 40 years of singing I don't need a compressor ( well, almost ) I can keep a very steady level with just my mike technique. As a sound person I often notice amateur singers will either eat the mike through the whole song netting a awful muddy, distorted sound, or stand 12" away and complain they want you to turn it up. This also depends on the mike, but I hope you see what I'm getting at. Set the input levels for peaking when you give it your most powerful note at 8", then work your way in and out as you sing. It becomes natural if you practice.

    Johnny V  
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