Nysthi Stereo Recorder saturates even if master bus doesn't

Plugins & Modules
#1

I do not understand how do I deal with it. I push Bogaudio’s LMTR to just the output volume I need, vu-meters say I’m fine, I record and it’s clipping hard.

I’m used to my DAW, when the master vu-meter says -1db, it outputs -1db and exports nicely, but in VCV I can’t get it right, I have to lower the output volume.

Currently I’m trying to see how far I can go with only free VCV plugins in terms of mixing, mastering and overall audio quality, I’m a curious nerd.

With LMTR, it seems it is limiting without clipping but Stereo Recorder is clipping, so am I missing something ?

#2

Right-click on Stereo Recorder and select -6dB pad.

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#3

Yeah, but it ruins the point of master bus leveling if I output -7db instead of -1

The recorder not saturating with a sub-zero value and the limiter actually limiting these peaks would be expected behavior

#4

So. If I am at -2/-1 db on Bogaudio’s vu-meter, the resulting audio file (recorded with Nysthi’s Master Recorder) is hard clipping at 0. If I set up to -6db, I get a -3db .wav file.

However, if I select a -6db pad on Master Recorder, for a -7 value on the vu-meter, I output a -5 dB wav file.

I still don’t understand what exactly is happening, but this is a beginning. Maybe it has to do with Peak or RMS measurement ? I’ll look for a more in-depth vu-meter inside VCV.

#5

Do some tests with constant level sine waves.

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#6

Okay, nevermind, I found the issue ! It was not the recorder, it was the Vu-meter.

BGA VU says something like -2dB, Analyzer records a constant 0.80dB peak.

Now I know, life will be easier, it’s driving me mad since yesterday

dirtybastard
dirtybastard1291×963 221 KB

#7

Yeah, problem solved, I just did that, thanks !

I will use Nysthi’s Vumeter now, no numbers but way more precise than Bogaudio’s

Edit : Found it, all good

#8

I was about to say that “0 db” is maybe not a standard in VCV, but It seems I am wrong. Here is what the manual says: Absolute decibel measurements (e.g. for VU meters) should be relative to 10V amplitude. For example, a ±10V signal is 0 dB, and a ±5V signal is approximately -6 dB. You may alternatively use dBV for measurements relative to 1V amplitude."

btw, Squinky Labs Comp is a really nice compressor, imao. But the Bogaudio one is good, too.

#9

Thanks for the info. So the volt is king, duly noted.

Yeah I’m already using your two comps in… mostly every patch. But for the limiting part I have to use something else than Squinky Labs * sad emoji *

Edit : nevermind. I just read the manual. x)

#10

oh, ok. Yeah, the limiter is for sure not the most sophisticated buss mastering limiter.

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#11

I meant; I had absolutely no idea it was a compressor/limiter

I stand corrected

#12

well, it’s a great compressor. The limit part is pretty basic.

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#13

As long as it deals with incoming peaks, suits me, I’m not very sophisticated either

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#14

It is super aggressive about smashing incoming peaks.

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