Please help. I’m recording on a Tascam D32, good mic’s. Genelec monitors. I record to minus 12db to be safe. Today I exported the files to Audacity (for editing) BEFORE any editing I then hit “play” to hear them. The tracks are peaking from the word go! Red bar! WAY over the minus 12db I work to. They do not distort on my Taacam, either through headphones or the lovely Genelecs. Why is Audacity boosting the signal like this?? The track volumes in Audacity are the default, i.e. neutral, no cut ot boost. Is this all not “industry standard”? Please can someone explain? Sorry, but days of work to re-record at minus 30 db so that Audacity only boosts it all to minus 12! Thanks folks!
That’s very unusual…
The only thing I can think of is, are you importing separate tracks or a mix? Mixing is summation so the mix can clip even if the input separate channels don’t. (And you can apply gain during mixing).
Hi DVD doug, thank you for replying. I’m new here; 1st post. I imported the separate tracks, 3 of them. Hence my confusion. You are right of course, gain can increase in the mix, but sadly I don’t have that excuse. Obviously if you spent a week recording in any studio; on cubase/garageband/whatever, to - 12db, and then sent files (maybe across the world) to whoever you were working with…it’s heart breaking to think that they might Peak at their end when “re-interpreted”. Jeeez. There must surely be some standards like the “red Book” within the industry. So I need to find the reason to avoid it ever happening again. This song is afirst step, but I have maybe 30 0r more to work on, and I feel chained now but the very technology that is meant to jhelp us “get it out there”. I can perform these songs, just my lyrics, voice and guitar (it’s not over complicated) and get a nice reaction. In it’s pure form it “works”. Having invested so much in technology (genelecs!) its so frustrating to find yet another obstacle. I am MORE than happy to be told I have been an idiot, and should have changed a setting, but I’m pretty aware of “how to proceed”, hence the minus 12 db; acoustically treated room. investment in good mics, and monitors. Its so upsetting to do a week’'s work, and then get to this stage and go back “down the snake”, as so often with tech. Im reaching out for a ladder! 
Thanks for your response, and good luck in all you do for yourself of course. Steve.
There are standards. This is an unusual problem…
0dBFS (0dB Full Scale) is the highest you can “count to” with a given number of bits.
Or with floating-point a numerical value of 1.0 represents 0dBFS and for practical-audio purposes there are no upper or lower limits. But your ADC and DAC are (usually) integer based and hard-limited to 0dB and 0dB should be treated as the digital maximum.
When the file is played everything is scaled to match the bit-depth of the DAC so a 24-bit file isn’t louder than an 8-bit file.
There is a chance that your files are in a format that can go over 0dB without clipping. Run the Amplify effect. Audacity has pre-scanned your file and it knows the peak level. Amplify will default to whatever change is needed for 0B peaks. and if it defaults to a negative dB change (attenuation instead of amplification), go ahead and apply the effect to bring down the peaks and everything might be OK. (But it doesn’t explain why this is happening.)
If it’s clipped at 0dB like we think, Amplify will default to 0dB of Amplification (no change) and you can either cancel or apply the effect.
When the file is played everything is scaled to match the bit-depth of the DAC so a 24-bit file isn’t louder than an 8-bit file.
You can try GoldWave. It’s a commercial “competitor” to Audacity and there is a fully-functional free trial.
Dear DVD Dave. I am simultaneously (and at the same time) blown away by your kindness in taking to time to help me with your thorough reply…whilst at the same time feeling humbled and embarassed at my ignorance of the language you use. Clearly having Genelecs is not enough! I will have to look up “ADC” and DAC" etc, BUT please let me say how grateful I am for this. Even if we do not speak the same language you do inspire me to LEARN a few phrases of this technology, the better I can raise my own game. I will try the “amplify” effect that you refer to, and see what that does. I REALLY do appreciate your response, and your expertise. ( I still think “compression” is a type of bandage for people’s legs…) . Thank you also for the reference to Goldwave ( I’ve never heard of it; I will check that out too) . Most of all, thank you for being prepared to try to help someone along the way. Always special. I will try what you suggest tomorrow as I am off out this evening, but am very grateful. All the best, Steve
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