Small audio waves and Clipping at -6db

[mkuss]

Hey All,

I woke up overnight, and plugged in my interface to start recording voice over... Another day at the office. However, this time I noticed my audio waves were barely visible in the recording bar. I typically have my gain set around 12 o'clock which has me peaking around -12 - -6 at normal speaking voice. Puzzled, I tried turning up my gain on my interface (scarlett solo 3rd gen) to around 3 o'clock get some thicker (my normal) waves, when I did so, I began clipping at -6db and it seemed there was a brickwall limiter set at -6. I thought clipping was anything past 0db?

Things I have tried.
-Restarting/shutting down my computer
-Changing DAWs (happens in both audacity and adobe audition)
-Different XRL chords
-Different Interface
-Different Computer
-Different Microphone
-Playing around with sound settings
-I do not have a preamp.

Any help would be VERY much appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time
-Michael

[kozikowski]

What's the microphone and/or interface (assuming they're different)?

Can I assume this has been working for years and just this morning it started doing it?

Did all this happen right about the time of your last Zoom conference? Did Windows do an update between the two times?

The two computers are both Windows and both have typical apps and settings, right? This isn't comparing your computer and your mum's?

The dip in volume can be normal for a stereo interface mounted in the system as mono as for a voice system. The system sees a mismatch between the recording format and the interface and leaves room for the two tracks to "add up." 6dB is half and double.

I haven't been able to figure out a way around this partly because I don't have anything that works this way. If you record your voice in stereo, there's a good chance you'll get your full volume voice on the left and nothing on the right. You can then use the drop-down menu on the left to "Split Stereo To Mono" and kill [X] the dead track. Or you can continue on assuming -6dB is "normal" and make up the difference with effects later. In either event, it's not a show stopper. It's a show "inconveniencer."


Try this. Dig down into the Windows sound panels and see what they say. Right-click on the speaker icon, lower right > Properties. This is from Windows 7.



Koz

[kozikowski]

plugged in my interface to start recording voice over

One other possibility. Did you have Audacity already running when you plugged in the microphone system? Is it better if you plug the microphone system in first, wait a bit, and then start Audacity?

Koz

[DVDdoug]

I began clipping at -6db and it seemed there was a brickwall limiter set at -6. I thought clipping was anything past 0db?

The clipping indicators on your interface are telling you the truth. It's the analog-to-digital converter that clips (at exactly 0dB before the software & drives do any scaling) and the interface "knows".

It's usually not a big deal... Digital levels aren't critical as long as you avoid clipping and you're probably going to re-adjust the levels after recording anyway.

[mkuss]

Hey Koz,

Thank you very much for taking the time. I took a video which may better help. Wondering If I can send it to you? In any case, here are the questions you asked and the answers

****What's the microphone and/or interface (assuming they're different)?

Mic is RODE NT1 and Interface in Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen

****Can I assume this has been working for years and just this morning it started doing it?

Yes, randomly happened one morning

****Did all this happen right about the time of your last Zoom conference? Did Windows do an update between the two times?

Not entirely sure if windows updated or not

*****The two computers are both Windows and both have typical apps and settings, right? This isn't comparing your computer and your mum's?

Yes, two asus vivobooks

[steve]

In the Windows Sound control panel, ensure that the Scarlett is set to record 2 channels (stereo) and that the recording level is turned up to a reasonable level. While you're there, ensure that all Windows "Enhancements" are turned off (https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/faq ... hancements)