Gain analysis parameters (autogain clipping)

fotispirou
fotispirou Member Posts: 7 Member
in Traktor Software & Hardware

I have been constantly troubling myself with the correction of the autogain levels of my tracks. I have been using traktor since 2010 and I thought that when traktor (4.0213) analyzed a song (before you load it on a deck), it would prevened clipping, as long as you follow the settings blow:

  1. Main volume at 0 dB
  2. Hi Mid Low knobs at 0%
  3. Tempo at 100%
  4. Effects disabled
  5. Deck Gain at 0 dB
  6. Internal Mixing Mode at Autogain Enabled
  7. Limiter/Boost Type disabled
  8. Headroom None

Basicly, I thought that traktor would find the peak spot of the song and adjust the autogain level to 0, so when all parameters are set to idle and you just play the song alone, it would not clip. But this is not happening and I really don't know why bother analyzing gain when you could not trust the result!

I understand that there are different types of gain normalization (peak value, total rms, etc) but if there are different settings for the gain analysis to work properly (and I don't mean headroom -9db), please let me know.😉

Best Answers

  • Toxicaudio
    Toxicaudio Member Posts: 43 Helper
    Answer ✓

    The more components you use, the more headroom is required.

    NI recommends:

    2 Decks without FX/EQ/Filter : -3db

    2 Decks with FX/EQ/Filter : -6db

    More than 2 Decks with FX/EQ/Filter : -9db

    4 Decks incl. Remixdecks and FX/EQ/Filter : -12db

    I am using 4 Decks with FX/EQ/Filter and my setting is -6db Headroom and -2db in main gain. Have no issues.

    As Sûlherokhh says : Up to you

  • Sûlherokhh
    Sûlherokhh Member, Traktor Mapping Mod Posts: 2,924 mod
    Answer ✓

    To answer your question:

    I analyze two different tracks. After that I load the tracks and play each each one seperatelly. One of them is clipping and the other one is not. Is this normal for traktor?

    That's normal, and not just for Traktor, but for any replay software.

    Some tracks clip and other don't. Is there a way to listen to it without tracks clipping and keeping the same volume output?

    Activate the limiter, but it may reduce dynamic range when managing the mix.

    To sum it up, Traktor is for DJing. You actually have to do thing manually for perfect results.

    From the MANUAL: "

    Dynamic Range

    Each track has its own dynamic range. This means the maximum volume level of a single musical element in a track can be significantly louder than the average volume of all musical elements together. Besides the different average audio levels, the dynamic ranges between tracks can also differ. That is why it is important to align the levels of the incoming audio signals to prevent them from clipping.


    Clipping

    If an audio signal clips, the gain of the audio signal is too high. An audio signal clips if it exceeds the nominal level and also the headroom – normally at +6 dB. Then the audio signal starts to distort and looses dynamics and punch. Although the audio signal then seems louder, the entire audio quality decreases significantly. This critical audio signal can damage ears and audio equipment. That is why it is important to as well adjust the gain levels to protect ears and electronics.

    To protect the audio equipment connected to the MAIN output stage, Traktor uses an integrated Limiter. The purpose of the Limiter is to prevent the signal from clipping by reducing the dynamic range. However, the Limiter in Traktor can be switched off.

    We do not recommend to switch off the Limiter.


    Headroom

    Before an audio signal starts to clip there is still a reserve to buffer transient audio peaks, the so-called headroom. The headroom starts where where nominal level ends, at 0 db. It normally ends before + 6dB. However, you can configure the available Headroom for your Mixer channels in the Preferences on the Mixer page, or you can entirely switch it off. Furthermore, you can let the Channel Level Meters reflect the Headroom settings. For more information, refer to Preferences – Mixer Page. Always Level Incoming Audio Signals.

    When you mix using the Auto Gain function, the incoming audio signals from the Decks are always leveled by Traktor automatically. This ensures none of your tracks dominate over the others. The Auto Gain function is active by default. However, if you prefer to adjust the gain level by yourself, i.e. when using an external Mixer or a controller with integrated Mixer, you can also deactivate this feature in the Preferences. In this case you always have to make sure the audio levels always stay in the area before clipping. "

Answers

  • Sûlherokhh
    Sûlherokhh Member, Traktor Mapping Mod Posts: 2,924 mod

    Why don't you add -6dB headroom? I always have this setting since forever. Even my main gain is usually at -3dB. Up to you.

  • Toxicaudio
    Toxicaudio Member Posts: 43 Helper
    Answer ✓

    The more components you use, the more headroom is required.

    NI recommends:

    2 Decks without FX/EQ/Filter : -3db

    2 Decks with FX/EQ/Filter : -6db

    More than 2 Decks with FX/EQ/Filter : -9db

    4 Decks incl. Remixdecks and FX/EQ/Filter : -12db

    I am using 4 Decks with FX/EQ/Filter and my setting is -6db Headroom and -2db in main gain. Have no issues.

    As Sûlherokhh says : Up to you

  • fotispirou
    fotispirou Member Posts: 7 Member

    I thought I made mysefl clear, but let me put it this way:

    I have all knobs set to 0, all effects deactivated and autogain enabled. I analyze two different tracks. After that I load the tracks and play each each one seperatelly. One of them is clipping and the other one is not. Is this normal for traktor?

    Another example:

    I use Cruise Mode to listen to a playlist. Some tracks clip and other don't. Is there a way to listen to it without tracks clipping and keeping the same volume output?

    I understand that different song have different loudness, different mastering, etc, so it is very common that with the exact same volume/gain/eq parameters and autogain enabled, some of them will sound loud, others normal and others quiet. But I cannot understand why some of them have to clip also!

  • Sûlherokhh
    Sûlherokhh Member, Traktor Mapping Mod Posts: 2,924 mod
    Answer ✓

    To answer your question:

    I analyze two different tracks. After that I load the tracks and play each each one seperatelly. One of them is clipping and the other one is not. Is this normal for traktor?

    That's normal, and not just for Traktor, but for any replay software.

    Some tracks clip and other don't. Is there a way to listen to it without tracks clipping and keeping the same volume output?

    Activate the limiter, but it may reduce dynamic range when managing the mix.

    To sum it up, Traktor is for DJing. You actually have to do thing manually for perfect results.

    From the MANUAL: "

    Dynamic Range

    Each track has its own dynamic range. This means the maximum volume level of a single musical element in a track can be significantly louder than the average volume of all musical elements together. Besides the different average audio levels, the dynamic ranges between tracks can also differ. That is why it is important to align the levels of the incoming audio signals to prevent them from clipping.


    Clipping

    If an audio signal clips, the gain of the audio signal is too high. An audio signal clips if it exceeds the nominal level and also the headroom – normally at +6 dB. Then the audio signal starts to distort and looses dynamics and punch. Although the audio signal then seems louder, the entire audio quality decreases significantly. This critical audio signal can damage ears and audio equipment. That is why it is important to as well adjust the gain levels to protect ears and electronics.

    To protect the audio equipment connected to the MAIN output stage, Traktor uses an integrated Limiter. The purpose of the Limiter is to prevent the signal from clipping by reducing the dynamic range. However, the Limiter in Traktor can be switched off.

    We do not recommend to switch off the Limiter.


    Headroom

    Before an audio signal starts to clip there is still a reserve to buffer transient audio peaks, the so-called headroom. The headroom starts where where nominal level ends, at 0 db. It normally ends before + 6dB. However, you can configure the available Headroom for your Mixer channels in the Preferences on the Mixer page, or you can entirely switch it off. Furthermore, you can let the Channel Level Meters reflect the Headroom settings. For more information, refer to Preferences – Mixer Page. Always Level Incoming Audio Signals.

    When you mix using the Auto Gain function, the incoming audio signals from the Decks are always leveled by Traktor automatically. This ensures none of your tracks dominate over the others. The Auto Gain function is active by default. However, if you prefer to adjust the gain level by yourself, i.e. when using an external Mixer or a controller with integrated Mixer, you can also deactivate this feature in the Preferences. In this case you always have to make sure the audio levels always stay in the area before clipping. "

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