Ableton Forum

Hi

I've been struggling with the master track peaking. All individual tracks are playing in the green but the master starts going crazy when several tracks are played together. I'm new to this and I'm looking for a way to compress the sounds that are causing peaking without having to lower the overall sound of the song.

Any tips?

I found a thread that tone deft quoted tarekith in, you might find it handy, read this;

http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 429#659429

brianv_00 wrote:Hi

I've been struggling with the master track peaking. All individual tracks are playing in the green but the master starts going crazy when several tracks are played together. I'm new to this and I'm looking for a way to compress the sounds that are causing peaking without having to lower the overall sound of the song.

Any tips?

I wouldnt jump straight on compression if i were you. Compression alters the overall sound and feel of the tune, and if used incorrectly makes it sound worse.

The master output is the sum of all your individual tracks.. so if you have for example two tracks that are peaking at 0db then summing them will cause clipping on the master.

I would recommend working at much lower levels, this will give you much greater headroom. You can easily turn up the level on your monitors to compensate

When I am doing a mix my master output is peaking around -4db. When you have completed the mix you can render it at 24 bit then you can start worrying about making it louder... or even better send it to someone else

I was told to keep each track at -7db's and to leave the master track at zero at all times. Ableton apparently looses bit rate when the master track is below zero.

This totally solved my clipping problem, and help my mixes. It also leaves room for cranking up levels during mastering.

Lower all your track volumes until you are around -6db on the master fader. You should be leaving some head room. (or not)

ashtonron wrote:
I wouldnt jump straight on compression if i were you. Compression alters the overall sound and feel of the tune, and if used incorrectly makes it sound worse.

The master output is the sum of all your individual tracks.. so if you have for example two tracks that are peaking at 0db then summing them will cause clipping on the master.

I would recommend working at much lower levels, this will give you much greater headroom. You can easily turn up the level on your monitors to compensate

When I am doing a mix my master output is peaking around -4db. When you have completed the mix you can render it at 24 bit then you can start worrying about making it louder... or even better send it to someone else

TRUE.

Mix at a fixed high gain level on your monitors. You will mix everything way lower and you'll also have enough headroom to put very defined percusion in there. keep an average headroom of untouched 6 or 4 dB where no sounds get into. Render in 24 bit and master or send to mastering to someone more experienced and carefull about this crucial step.

Make sure you are following clear priorities on your process, do you want it to sound good or to sound loud?

If you want it to sound good, don't use many compression, if you want it to sound loud, then limit everything and squash the mix, both are valid aproaches depending on the sound you want to get in your track.

cheers!

use the limiter