Hello all;

I just today noticed the "clipping LEDs" in Pro Channel.  I'm using the Pro Channel in this case on the master bus.  I find that I can't get them to run "safely" in the green or yellow without running the various tracks at a very low volume, and then the level at the master bus' output is pretty low too, averaging below -12.  I don't hear any problems when getting flashing red clip lights, but I really couldn't find any info on how to interpret these lights.  Anyone know how I ought to consider them?

thanks
d'2

Consider them useless.

mike_mccue


Consider them useless.

Why?
 
Q.

I don't think they are clipping lights. I think they are activity lights. If the meter on the channel isn't clipping why would PC clip?

I didn't think so either, John, but that's what the help file calls them:

"Clipping LED. Shows if the input signal to the Compressor module is clipping. If there is any distortion in the ProChannel signal chain, the clipping LEDs let you identify where the clipping occurs."

dwcaldwell


I didn't think so either, John, but that's what the help file calls them:

"Clipping LED. Shows if the input signal to the Compressor module is clipping. If there is any distortion in the ProChannel signal chain, the clipping LEDs let you identify where the clipping occurs."

Then it has a very low tolerance for clipping. Shouldn't it be red to be clipping?

Maybe Pro Channel users have a high propensity for not noticing the effect of clipping?

The only actual meter I've seen on Pro Channel is a Gain Reduction meter... which is fairly useless even on my hardware compressors.

The Pro Channel clipping LEDs are also about as useless as clipping LEDs on a hardware unit.

They just don't provide enough information.

What I would do is use:

1) the ProChannel on your track with only the EQ stage and set up a low cut and any fix-it EQ you may need before compression.

2) Send the track to a bus for another instance of ProChannel and use that for your compressor.

3) Send the bus to another bus and use that for the ProChannel EQ for musical tailoring.

4) Send that bus to a submix or master bus for the "mix"

The good news is... the Saturation stage is so useless you don't need to set up a bus for it... just leave it turned off.

The benefit of this method of patching is that you get a full set of meters... and you can even insert specialty meters in your FX bin in between the stages of ProChannel... plus you get to make great use of the EQ before the compressor so you don't compress and bring up stuff you don't want to make it to the mix and then you get to make use of ProChannel's compressor and then you get to have some EQ for actual mixing.

There you go.




< - post is posted - >

+1 to this question. I don't find the ProChannel LEDs' or the metering too helpful compared with Sonitus, for example or Ozone where the input and output levels and any clipping in either are crystal clear.

+1

I asked something similar a few days ago:
http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=2263968

I've stopped looking at the "LED"s and rely on my ears (dangerous at my age, I know...) 

The good news is... the Saturation stage is so useless you don't need to set up a bus for it... just leave it turned off.

I agree, I haven't found it useful at all, sorry to say.