Ableton Forum

So I've noticed my master VU meter stays in the red although it really shouldn't, especially when I'm only playing one clip in one track.

As an example, loading any notoriously loud clip (think La Roux) into a track (set at 0dB) will cause the master VU meter (master at 0dB too) to immediately jump into red with peak level value quickly going into 5 or 6dB. However with everything set at 0dB all Live is doing is playing back the clip exactly as it was published, no? How can there be any clipping when Live is basically doing nothing to the clip?

Which warp mode?

effects?

Khazul wrote:Which warp mode?

I have it on complex.

(I just tried turning warp off completely and now it sits nicely in the green bordering on the 0dB line but never reaching it. So I guess now my question is why warping is affecting my volume levels at all...)

jestermgee wrote:effects?

None at all...

louietyj wrote:

Khazul wrote:Which warp mode?

I have it on complex.

(I just tried turning warp off completely and now it sits nicely in the green bordering on the 0dB line but never reaching it. So I guess now my question is why warping is affecting my volume levels at all...)

It probably isn't effecting the volme (VU) level in any significant way. The problem comes from the original waveform probably being clipped by a limiter and the complex algorithm in it processing probably reconstructs some of the pre-clipped waveform where it is clipped. However in doing so, ths will mean that some samples will now be above 0dB. To avoid this you would need to re-limit it again.

I have found the same problem as well with some warp modes. Just toss a limiter on the track. If you feel this effects the sound, use utility to back off the gain by -3db, then limit.