Audio 101: How to Fix Mix Clipping

So you've created to perfect mix, but it's just a bit too hot and is clipping the main output. You're getting the nasty clipping red light....

Instead of starting over and trying again, there are some easy ways to address this and not destroy the sound of your mix!

Have a question about Presonus Studio One? Ask in the comments and I'll make your question into a video for everyone else to learn from!

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#Presonus #StudioOne

[devotedfusionband]

The Mixtool idea in Studio One was an absolute lifesaver for me. Was able to get my clipped mix down to a peak of -4db overall with using the Mixtool on each of the instruments so that each of them peak at about -10 to -12 db each. The mastering process became so much easier because of this. Even though it's an old video, I want to thank you SO much for this helpful video and keep up the great work!
-Sean

[stintza]

At any point this man could've unmuted all the tracks and blew our ears off. Thank you for not doing that. Also thank you for the information. Very helpful.

[mcneillmama]

Thanks for this information. If I had the money I would enroll in our local community college's Recording and Production program, but I'm a senior citizen on a fixed income. Recording and music production is a hobby I engaged in during the pandemic to keep from going crazy. I do simple recordings. Just a few tracks (vocal, background vocal (both me as I don't have a back up singer) guitar, keyboard and keyboard presets (flute, jazz guitar, cello) and a live dejembe or bongos. I never could figure out how to stop clipping in the mixdown process. I read on one site that clipping of less than 3db could be over looked. I didn't know what the level meter was for until I saw this. I inserted a level meter on all my tracks and the bus. I only add a limiter to my final mix bus and maybe some small studio reverb. I just made a recording of What Are You Doing New Year's Eve using the level meter and compression. It sounds great. No distortion. No clipping at all.

[lamonteasterjr]

I don’t know why you’re the only one I’ve heard mention about putting a gain plugin on the master when that’s such an easy fix for random peaks after gain staging and processing!

[LoveNjustice]

Very informative and helpful.
What's the difference between putting the limiter or mixtool on the master output bus under 'inserts' vs the 'post' section?

[BladesMusic]

Thanks for sharing this. I definitely prefer the option to just reduce the level going to the bus (using a mixtool or whatever) rather than putting a limiter on the bus (which will change the sound of the mix) or just shift-selecting all of the channels (or busses) and pulling their faders down, since that will really change the mix, especially if you have a decent amount of compression inserted on any of those channels/busses. Hard to conceptualize so many of these things with actual mixes, so using noise or pure waves surely makes it easier to SEE what's going on so you can understand to apply to the real-world sounds of a mix.

[MichaelsPaintingChannel]

So Tim, the main advise is to don't work with the limiter but with the volumes either of the single busses stages or at the mix bus, right?
Because, with the limiter of Studio One to -1db I still got bad noises in my car every time I check and that is horrible..

[the_deadofwinterofficial]

At the end you said to turn your headphones up...Is that because if you have them too low, you might accidentally be raising the gain levels on your channels in an effort to hear the mix better???? Ultimately losing all the headroom to mix with???? This helped me so much. No extra dialogue and very specific. Thank you!

[TheGothicKratos]

I have been struggling with balancing audio for game recordings I have been doing, been causing clipping before I even bring the files to the DAW, the part about using a limiter has been a great help and even prompted me to experiment with the compressor before adding a limiter, didn't do it the way you did because I haven't figured out how to properly side chain my audio to a channel dedicated to plug ins, so I added the built in compressor to both game and commentary channels to boost the audio within both Limited the top end within that within that ( by reducing the threshold) got nice clear audio on the loudest parts of both channels then added the limiter to both to completely eliminate clipping. the mix sounds great, all I have to do is split the commentary channel where the audio recorded at much lower volumes (where I mumbled or inadvertently moved away from the mic.)

Now I have those presets saved I should never have to sit there for hours on end splitting every inconsistent part of the audio channels.

You sir have just made my post production job ten times easier and so much quicker for future projects, thank you SO DAMN MUCH for this video, you my friend are a freakin' LEGEND.

Edit: I imagine I will need many more lessons in the future, but even if I don't I am subbing for today alone, I amfreakin' elated right now.

[shutup]

Tried this with a bunch of my songs. I adjust the mix tool to where the song is just under clipping so I can export it fine. But there’s a problem. Every time I do this it feels like the song is way too quiet. I don’t get it. Anyone have advice?

[mokiloke]

Any reason you dont use the Mixbus fader or the Main bus fader? to bring it under?

[darinz]

I'm looking forward to watching this whole thing. I've had a couple of times where I couldn't figure out where my clipping was coming from. I figured it was coming from my inserts but couldn't nail it down. More than once I've mixdowned (is that a word? I vote yes, it is) a track with inserts so I could deal with an unencumbered audio track. That didn't work out well..

[valonvinter]

I did exactly what you said but I still have clipping yellow warning on my mixing process...( metal sessions here) please help!

[DAVIDJCARON]

Why not just turn down master fader until it's not clipping?

[FreakishPreacher]

Thanks dude. Do you have a recording Edrums quantizing video?

[jpswerve]

WHAT IS an alternative to mixtool if you are using a DAW like cubase. Thanks

[deanjones]

Could I use a track stack of the loudest part of the crescendo that's peaking and use a gain plugin to bring it down?

I was thinking of having the song almost two halfs and mixing down the song as two wavs then automating for those two sections, is this ok too?

Thanks for the great video

[SayntMisfit]

I was wondering what that mi tool was for!! Thank you 🙏 I knew it was important

[leerossemanuel]

mine quit when I try to export the mix down !!! even so I reduce the clipping..and I don't have mistook to do as you did.

[Ebonylong]

your great thank you so so so much i even took notes, your a genius I was having so much trouble thannnnk youu