Hi.

Using sonar 7 SE

I find it very frustrating when I begin to record duplicate tracks of say bass lines and synths in sonar. When I set up a bass synth, and play it, I notice the synth limits the maximum volume(on the gauge), so I turn it down, to prevent clipping. However, when I set up another synth, say a ballad piano in DLE, I notice that when played alongside one another they cause a horrible distortion, so I'm forced to turn down the piano's volume as well, to prevent clipping.
When I do this, they become increasingly more quiet, and it makes the song sound weak and useless, so it's pointless to export.
Using the console I'm forced to turn down the volume on each track to prevent this, every single time. And it happens a lot when I record using bass and drums, very irritating.

Any suggestions? I would be most grateful...


Thanks

when I set up another synth, say a ballad piano in DLE, I notice that when played alongside one another they cause a horrible distortion, so I'm forced to turn down the piano's volume as well, to prevent clipping.
When I do this, they become increasingly more quiet, and it makes the song sound weak and useless, so it's pointless to export.

Its called mixing and its an art. Learn about Eqing and cutting out the stuff you dont need for the instruments Its called complimentary EQ. . Read about dynamic controlled processing, like compressors and limiters also.
There is allot to learn on these things and be careful, a compressor can do more damage than good if you set it up wrong
Cj

These clipping and limiting effects are only workable with audio data, no? So how would I work with MIDI data independently?

Master bus or even the audio track your midi is outputed to. Your midi turn into audio at some point. Also, you need to know that the sum of 2 tracks at equal volume will be grater than the sum of 1 track and the sum of 10 tracks at equal volume will be greater than the sum of 9 tracks at equal volume.
Cj

"Your midi turn into audio at some point" So are you saying I should convert it to edit it independently, or that sonar coverts the midi into audio anyway, when I hear it?. Obviously it does, but that doesn't allow me to edit parameters that might prevent clipping on MIDI data, without turning it down. Additionally, I do understand the basics of how loud the volume will be, depending on the track quantity, that's fairly obvious. The whole thing is, I would like to create a song, were during I can reduce clipping on the tracks, without having to turn the whole master down, or tracks down, to compensate. This is because it sounds quiet, and poor, like I stated above...

It should not be clipping. You can lower the volume at three places. The MIDI channel's volume the synth's volume and the audio track's volume. With these places you have complete control of the volume in your project. You may need to look at your velocity settings as well. You can then output all your audio tracks to a bus where you can control total volume.

Midi is a language which instructs softsynths or hardware synths what pitch and controller movements to ocurr.

So your midi track is controlling a software instrument...the software instrument will have an have at least one audio track and a midi track....use the audio track effects bin to put in EQ etc etc .

Or if you are happy with the track then bounce it to audio and use that tracks effects bin

I am having a huge problem with clipping myself. Its annoying.
 
I have a solo kick drum and its output isnt very high. its clipping and its useless. I can bring it down in volume but its way to quiet. It shouldnt be clipping. I also notice distortion and clipping when I introduce a compressor and side chain it. I really need to fix this.
 
I am not interested in stupid responses but I am interested in fixing this with someone that knows what they are doing

If its clipping and its still too low in volume the way to deal with that is lower all the other tracks until its sits well with the others. But I must ask what makes you think we would answer with stupid suggestions? That is rather insulting. 
 
Quote from MikeReal
"I am not interested in stupid responses but I am interested in fixing this with someone that knows what they are doing"
 
Normally I would welcome you to the forum and try to be forgiving of any typo. That statement is not very helpful.
You also need to tell us where it is clipping. Is it a synth? Is it recorded live drums?
 
What have you done about gain staging?  
 

Ya , not a very good way to say" hello I need help, but please don't answer if your stupid! " 
Yet another drive by posting with a count of 1. 
 
This issue is usually resolved by turning up your studio monitors to the correct level. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-system
 
 The funniest version of this issue was the dude with the on board card and the Windows level turned way down.