lagerfeldt Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 (edited) Some of the most repeated questions on this and other forums are questions about levels in digital audio. I've written this FAQ to address most of those questions and also some of the myths. The article requires that you already have a fairly good understanding of audio, so it doesn't deal with the most basic questions. Download "Levels in Digital Audio" PDF http://www.popmusic.dk/download/pdf/levels-in-digital-audio.pdf It can also be found on my link page here http://www.popmusic.dk/links-us.html Contents · Word Explanations · Bit Depth when Recording · A Word about Meter Values · Levels when Recording · Debunking some Myths · Levels Matter with some Plug-ins · How to Avoid Overloading a Plug-in · How to Avoid Overloading a Bus or Master · Levels when Processing with Plug-ins · Levels when Outputting from a D/A Converter · Mix Output Levels · Normalizing · Related Articles Edited May 1, 2010 by lagerfeldt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lagerfeldt Posted April 30, 2010 Author Share Posted April 30, 2010 (edited) I'm going to add a word about why levels can change after bouncing, to the Normalizing section. EDIT: Added now Edited April 30, 2010 by lagerfeldt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iFish Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 Just in time Thank you very much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizozland Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 I'm going to add a word about why levels can change after bouncing, to the Normalizing section, later tonight when I'm back from the studio. fantastic work cheers Wiz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Jackson Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 Thanks Lagerfeldt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olisidecar Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 I've said it before, and I'll say it again...you're a special guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lagerfeldt Posted April 30, 2010 Author Share Posted April 30, 2010 "Special" = obsessive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Mac Donald Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 You are a shiny God Mr Lagerfeldt - THANKS VERY MUCH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
logicfan11 Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 Thank you lagerfeldt you help me (and others too i'm sure ) out a lot! If you ever decide to publish a (online) magazine about audio and recording, i will be the first to buy/read. Keep up the great work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allsound Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 great info, lots of help thanks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Nahmani Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 Thanks Holger, great article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eardamage Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Very useful, thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eardamage Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Very useful, thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
route-electrique Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Thanks, Master! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
route-electrique Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Thanks, Master! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lagerfeldt Posted May 13, 2010 Author Share Posted May 13, 2010 Mr. Master, if you please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lagerfeldt Posted May 13, 2010 Author Share Posted May 13, 2010 Mr. Master, if you please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camillo jr Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Dang, I though it was Sir Master! Great article lagerfeldt, that fleshes out a few gray areas for me. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lagerfeldt Posted August 27, 2010 Author Share Posted August 27, 2010 You're welcome. I'm thinking of renaming my onlinemastering.dk service to mr.master.dk, The new mastering mascot will be a mix between the Monopoly guy, Mr. Pringles and Mr. Potato Head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicktem Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 this article is awesome and very helpful. thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptrickf Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 very helpful - thank you very much oh mighty Mr. Master sir Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janne Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 This is truly a helpful article and it was posted at the precise moment Thank you for posting it. Regards J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trebor99 Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 I'm a few months late on this read but as always you are very generous with your wisdom Holger.. thank you very much and cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OtherJesus Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 Thank you! Epic thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BubbaMc Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 Levels when Outputting from a D/A Converter When audio is output from the DAW to the D/A converter, the digital sample points are reconstructed as an analog waveform in the D/A. The sample points do not appear exactly on the peaks all the time which means that the actual analog waveform reproduced in the D/A can be higher in amplitude, and potentially overload the output. Interesting. I've neither heard nor thought about this before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redlogic Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 Google "intersample peak"or "intersample clipping". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lagerfeldt Posted January 28, 2011 Author Share Posted January 28, 2011 Levels when Outputting from a D/A ConverterWhen audio is output from the DAW to the D/A converter, the digital sample points are reconstructed as an analog waveform in the D/A. The sample points do not appear exactly on the peaks all the time which means that the actual analog waveform reproduced in the D/A can be higher in amplitude, and potentially overload the output. Interesting. I've neither heard nor thought about this before. Also try making a perfect low frequency (e.g. 50 Hz) square wave, using the test osciallator (with no anti-aliasing). Check the peak level. Bounce it in/out of your AD/DA converter. Check the level and waveform again. You'll see it's peaking 3-4 dB higher now due to the Gibbs effect (overshoot/ringing). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syllogism Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 Very useful information in the docs! Thank you for all the effort! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karp47 Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Great article, thanks a lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephwoebeus Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 Hello Mr. Lagerfeldt, I have been reading these forums quite a bit and especially your comments and they have been very helpful. I've also read your pdf's on levels and I know you've often said that putting a gain plug-in at the top of the master bus chain is the most effective way up reducing levels of a song (if there are other plug-ins on the master bus). My songs have the following plug-ins on the master bus... UpStereo, Multipressor, and Averb... Now, my songs don't clip at all, but they reach above -3dB once the multipressor is active. Is it still advised to use the gain-plug in to regulate the levels (without compromising sound quality?). Thank you for your time, I'm just super paranoid and want to make sure my songs are the best they can be! THANKS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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