I often watch the master bus with no FX on the bus (pro channel off) to ensure that my input levels to the bus don't clip before I switch the bus PC on and make tweaks. Maybe tho... while working on the master FX I realize I need a little more vocal... I touch up the vocal bypass the master bus FX and notice that I'm clipping on the input to the master bus.
 
Ways to fix...
1. Route master bus to another bus... route the vocal directly to master2. Import PC into Master2 and turn off PC in Master. Turn down master a touch so I don't clip enabling me to adjust the vocal separately from the rest of the mix.
2. Turn down the gain on the input to the master bus (I can't hear degradation but...)
3. Adjust the output level of all the tracks feeding the master bus to try to prevent the clip (notching).
 
Really, I want to know how much I can trust that gain nob on the bus. If I duck it a little, does that avoid the clipping if the clipping only occurs due to the summing of the tracks? Obviously if you clip the output of the track, you get the clip indicator on the track itself and that can't be fixed with the bus gain.

Though I frown on using the input gain to fix this sort of thing it will do the job without issues. 
 
The way I prefer is to lower all the other tracks. I have a CS so that is very easy to do for me. 

While working in the pre-mix and mixing stage its best to adjust gain staging so that the master bus hits no higher than -6 to -12db, IMHO. That will not only prevent the prevent the project from clipping but also leave you plenty of headroom for pre-mastering and mastering.
 
SP

Seth, theoretically, you could master to 0 allowing the red lines in the wave form preview guide you for peaks so you could use volume automation for some leveling. then if you want to make room for mastering you could just lower the gain on the master input.
 
I think this is exactly what I'm asking, and John says it works fine, but he isn't so sure about it.
 
John, this morning I can't think of what a CS might be. Console? I can lower all the gains on the tracks too just by changing the routing as I describe in step 1 or by selecting all nodes for volume automation on all tracks and pulling them down. but this is a gross change and tricky to fine tune. I'd rather go with the routing change described in step 1 for dialing this in.

CS = Cal Script. It's a scripting language that's been in CW ever since I can remember. If you know how to use it, it's a fantastic tool to do things like what John does. He runs this script and it lowers the volumes on all his trks by a preset amount. Am I correct John?

Or it could be a Control Surface, which John also has.

Double Post

Thatsastrat
Or it could be a Control Surface, which John also has.

And this allows lowering the volume on "all" tracks? That would be sweet! Wonder if I can get my VS100 to do that? : )

Grem

Thatsastrat
Or it could be a Control Surface, which John also has.

And this allows lowering the volume on "all" tracks? That would be sweet! Wonder if I can get my VS100 to do that? : )

Grem,
Why not do a quick group of all your tracks ,then pull down the audio by one or two db, or what ever you need, and use the mouse, control surface, what ever, and still maintain the balance of the mix, but lowering the whole thing to stop clipping and gain the headroom.
(edit for spelling)

Yep its a control Surface. Also Seth is right. Thats why I prefer lowering faders.
 
Its unintuitive but it is the best way to begin a mix. Lower all faders and bring up the one you want to be louder or leave it be. The point is that in a multi mix each track adds volume. That cumulative loudness needs to be compensated for. Turning the gain down will work but it is not a good way to mix. 
 
Think about it as gain staging. If you need to use the gain control in the input something is wrong.