KVR Audio

Trixtan · Post by **Trixtan** » Sat Nov 22, 2014 3:37 pm

Hi, I hope this is the right forum for this.

I am learning how to synthesize my own sounds and I challenged myself into doing a little reef using only a MFB Nanozwerg and Bitwig (just compressor, eq and few effects, no sound generators).
Bassline, "kick", everything is generated with the Nanozwerg.
My plan is to learn how to control a single oscillator, and then moving on to more complicate devices.

Anyway, now I am facing a huge problem. It sounds stupid I know, but It seems I can't find a way to raise the volume of my piece. If I raise the volume or gain of a track even just a bit, the master volume clips and turns red.
How should this work? How should I decide if a track must be -10db or -20db or something else?

Here the link to my exercises. It's just an exercise and my very first attempt.
https://soundcloud.com/trixtan-at/nanosymph
Thanks!

Mushy Mushy · Post by **Mushy Mushy** » Sat Nov 22, 2014 4:01 pm

Whether it should be -10db or -20db is simply down to your ears and taste.

To raise the volume without clipping you need to compress it. Essentially compressing turns the loud bits down and the low bits up.

Check out compression tutorials on youtube. If you can find the FabFilter Dan Worrel one you'll learn lots.

Good luck :8

ImNotDedYet · Post by **ImNotDedYet** » Fri Dec 12, 2014 4:05 pm

Put a limiter on your master channel with a limit set to -1db or something. This will avoid clipping, but will also "squash" the sound anytime your master goes above -1db. So use with caution. This is usually the last step in the song generation/mastering process.

So, if you're having problems clipping with any kind of additional volume on your lines, you already have a mixing problem. Gain stage all your stuff before setting volumes will probably help.

DJ Warmonger · Post by **DJ Warmonger** » Fri Dec 12, 2014 9:29 pm

For rising volume there are limiters, which are basically compressors dedicated to that sole purpose.

Still, you can't do that to a track which is already completely flat and lacks dynamics. Improve sidechain (if there's any) and shorten notes (or their envelopes) to begin with. This way you'll get some movement and improve dynamics.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Fri Dec 12, 2014 9:40 pm

If it's clipping TURN IT DOWN. Turn every track down, then reset all the volumes so the master doesn't clip. Once the tune is mixed, only then add a compressor to the master to 'pump up the volume' if needed.

Tricky-Loops · Post by **Tricky-Loops** » Fri Dec 12, 2014 9:53 pm

I listened to it 10 times and...fell asleep...

Maybe it needs more variation, dunno...

First production exercise, need opinions!