Hi all, I’ve updated to the latest version of Audacity, but am having an issue with hitting a -6 dB limit with a mono source.
My interface is a Focusrite Scarlett Solo 2nd Gen and my trusty old Audio-Technica AT2020
I have the Focusrite driver installed and running fine
I set the recording input to Focusrite 1+2 in Audacity and set the recording to mono as before, but it only ever hits -6 dB when I clip on the interface, so I’m getting a quieter recording with more distortion at a lower level (if that makes sense).
If I set the recording to Stereo it clips at 0 dB only recording on the left channel as expected. But when I mix this track down to a mono track it squishes it back down, and my test 0 dB clip points are now at -6 dB again.
There’s no setting in the focusrite panel for mono/stereo, so I’m assuming there is something different in this new version of Audacity and I’m having trouble finding it or a solution online, does anyone have any ideas other than amplifying the compressed track by 6 dB and the noise floor with it?
Thank you in advance for your advice or help.
(Edited out some waffle)
When you record in mono with a stereo interface the signals are cut in half so you won’t clip with both inputs mixed.
You CAN trust the clipping indicators on your interface. It’s the analog-to-digital converter in the interface that clips at 0dB.
…Low digital levels aren’t really a problem unless they are WAY too low. You should leave some headroom anyway so you don’t accidently clip, and it’s normal to amplify/normalize later. Pros typically record around -12 to -18dB. You don’t need to leave that much headroom unless your levels are highly unpredictable.
You can Split Stereo Track which will allow you to edit left & right separately. After splitting, click the little “X” to the left of the silent track to delete it, and the remaining mono should be OK.
The signal and noise are lowered together so the signal-to-noise ratio isn’t made worse.
Except… There may be some noise from the “silent” channel if you record in mono or if you mix to mono later. That’s additional noise should be insignificant with the knob on the unused channel turned-down all the way, and of course there will be no room noise from that channel and room noise usually dominates. If you want to be a perfectionist… Record in stereo and kill the unused channel.
Also… This isn’t dynamic compression like a compressor effect or file compression like MP3… . It’s a linear volume adjustment.
Thank you so much for your detailed response, there’s so much information I didn’t know, and you know I think I’ll leave a little headroom like the pros as you suggest, there’s no coming back from clipping and it sounds terrible! This information will help me moving forward, awesome.
By the way. Much to my shame, that setting was just in control panel in windows, not something specific to the interface, would be the same for a usb or 3.5 jack mic, it’s literally a default setting that I completely noobed out on! Honestly, so embarrassed! lol.