Hello All,
 
Just wondering if the clipping indicators are accurate in the Prochannel (the little yellow or red light above each module.   I have a strings sound that is PEAKING at -8db yet its hot red into the first module (EQ)...
 
Thank You,
Alewgro

Yes they are. But think of those as more like overload indicators. 

John
Yes they are. But think of those as more like overload indicators. 

ok cool but how am i overloading at -7db strings?
 

alewgro

John
Yes they are. But think of those as more like overload indicators. 

ok cool but how am i overloading at -7db strings?
 

Say you boost a frequency a few dB see what could happen? Clipping is very difficult to do in Sonar with floating point math but an effect can be overloaded by its own gain structure internally.  If things sound strange but it doesn't sound like its clipping this could be the reason. Back off a little. All in all I wouldn't worry about it unless it stays on and seems to get brighter.   
 
BTW if they are strings with contrabass there's a lot of low frequency energy there.  

John

alewgro

John
Yes they are. But think of those as more like overload indicators. 

ok cool but how am i overloading at -7db strings?
 

Say you boost a frequency a few dB see what could happen? Clipping is very difficult to do in Sonar with floating point math but an effect can be overloaded by its own gain structure internally.  If things sound strange but it doesn't sound like its clipping this could be the reason. Back off a little. All in all I wouldn't worry about it unless it stays on and seems to get brighter.   
 
BTW if they are strings with contrabass there's a lot of low frequency energy there.  

 
Thanks John, but how can I back off, I'm peaking at -7db RMS around -15db for strings.  Not sure I get it.. it sounds OK i think.   Why would sonar think its overloaded?

alewgro
Not sure I get it.

FWIW I have wondered the same thing.  I have had times where the light flash, but I haven't been able to discern any distortion from clipping. Likewise, if I run material into Izotope RX4 (which has a cool function to repair clipping), I can see cases that sure look like they are clipped, but I can't hear any distortion.
 
I have just attributed this to:
 
1) the software saving a little headroom before clipping actually occurs
 
2) light clipping being hard to hear.
 
If you want to be really safe, put the Concrete Limiter on each track.

When you say you're peaking at -8dB isn't that the level of the signal AFTER the ProChannel? Presuming of course you don't have post-fader enabled. If so, then the signal going into the ProChannel might well be hot enough to clip it. What's happening after the EQ? It's quite possible that you are clipping going into the ProChannel but that some other module is attenuating the signal to the point where it's coming out of the ProChannel at -8dB. 
 
What happens if you turn off the ProChannel and put the fader at unity gain? It it clipping the meters? If so, cool it down a few dB with the gain pot (or if it's a synth, turn the volume down on the synth itself). 

sharke
When you say you're peaking at -8dB isn't that the level of the signal AFTER the ProChannel? Presuming of course you don't have post-fader enabled. If so, then the signal going into the ProChannel might well be hot enough to clip it. What's happening after the EQ? It's quite possible that you are clipping going into the ProChannel but that some other module is attenuating the signal to the point where it's coming out of the ProChannel at -8dB. 
 
What happens if you turn off the ProChannel and put the fader at unity gain? It it clipping the meters? If so, cool it down a few dB with the gain pot (or if it's a synth, turn the volume down on the synth itself). 

Hi Sharke,

Well in this isntance, it is the same as i have no FX in my prochannel.  I simply just turned the EQ on (but it's flat).  So whatever it is showing IS what is going into the Prochannel as well.
 
Not sure what you mean putting the fader at unity gain.
 
Thanks,
Alewgro

Back off means lower the signal. Unity is where a fader is place and there is no boost or attenuation. Zero gain or reduction. Double clicking on a fader will put it at unity. 

John
Back off means lower the signal. Unity is where a fader is place and there is no boost or attenuation. Zero gain or reduction. Double clicking on a fader will put it at unity. 

Hi John,
 
Well, not sure WHY it wants me to back off though.  Forgive me, I am not a true audio expert yet.  The input on this string section peaks no higher than -7db.    I thought only if you are nearing the clipping point should this go red.
 
Thank You,
Alewgro