Having issues with patch clipping :(

[Seventh7]

Does anyone have any tips for how to avoid clipping with the attached pluck patch for Zebra 2.5?

I'm hitting 3-note chords with it and getting clipping. Specifically, I'm hitting c3, e2, a1, just for example.

The patch is here: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MA9PWT1V

If I turn down the output volume or the master volume in Cubase I don't get clipping anymore, but the problem is that then everything is so quiet.. I can't get a reasonable volume while still avoiding clipping. I either have to turn it way down or make it way less bass-y.. hollow-sounding basically.

Basically running at 60% master volume in Cubase, and still clipping until I get down to like 40%.

The patch has an FMO in one channel, and a Comb into a Shaper in a second channel. Post effects include reverb, delay, then EQ boosting the bass.

Any tips for situations like this?

[paterpeter]

You're boosting the low-end insanely hard. +24db is perceived as more than 5 times the loudness (or ~16 times the sound pressure). Of course this causes clipping, especially if you play such a low chord. Your sound is basically the Bass Armageddon So, first of all, massively reduce the bass. It should not sound hollow even then. Maybe you've reduced the bass somewhere on the way from Cubase to your speakers. Make sure to check that. Finally, you can try to tweak the dynamics with compressors/limiters.

[mcnoone]

You can use a compressor to limit (with the right settings), and EQ in the Global/FX section to fix peaking problems.
You should also keep the feedback settings within your comb filter low, or the shape module HiOut settings turned lower.
I'll check out the patch once I get back home tomorrow.

[Seventh7]

You're boosting the low-end insanely hard. +24db is perceived as more than 5 times the loudness (or ~16 times the sound pressure). Of course this causes clipping, especially if you play such a low chord. Your sound is basically the Bass Armageddon So, first of all, massively reduce the bass. It should not sound hollow even then. Maybe you've reduced the bass somewhere on the way from Cubase to your speakers. Make sure to check that. Finally, you can try to tweak the dynamics with compressors/limiters.

Hey thanks for taking a look. I was hoping to not have to do that Reducing the bass definitely makes it not sound as warm. Maybe I can find a happy medium where it's still good sounding and not clipping.

You might be right.. when I first got this PC350 Sennheiser headset (I use it for gaming) I noticed everything sounded really tinny.. no bass. Googling around I found everyone complaining about the same thing. I was going to buy a quality pair of HD600s or something but then a few weeks in I got used to it and liked the sound just fine (in that I didn't notice the lack of bass anymore). But maybe now I'm trying to compensate for the crappy bass and add too much bass to the patch I'm using a Headroom amp but it doesn't do anything for the crappy drivers in this headset vs. my normal soundcard. They will probably do much better for something with higher impedence.

Do most people use neutral studio-style headphones for making tracks to avoid this type of situation? I'm thinking of getting some HD600s or HD650s though I know they are not neutral either.

[Seventh7]

You can use a compressor to limit (with the right settings), and EQ in the Global/FX section to fix peaking problems.
You should also keep the feedback settings within your comb filter low, or the shape module HiOut settings turned lower.
I'll check out the patch once I get back home tomorrow.

Thanks.. how should I be using the compressor in this circumstance? I'm curious how I would configure the settings for that. I tried it out and it seemed to take the edge off of some of the velocity of the hits, making them fall back into the mix too much. What should I tweak to control this?

[mcnoone]

I really didn't have a clipping problem once I normalized the EQ settings, and lowered the output some.
To use the compressor to limit. You'll need to experiment with that.
To start though, just try the default settings, and set the mode to "smooth".
Lower (turn left) the output knob, and for extra limiting, try raising the "Thresh" knob all the way to the right, then slowly lower it until the clipping starts happening, then slightly raise it from that point, to get the peak below the red. Trying other things will help more than what I stated here though.
Good luck.
btw...I like that patch. So thanks.

[Howard]

I was hoping to not have to do that Reducing the bass definitely makes it not sound as warm. Maybe I can find a happy medium where it's still good sounding and not clipping.

Instead of boosting the bass so drastically, a good general rule is to attenuate all other frequencies. You won't have the problems you're having now.