CLIPPING PROBLEM!!

[Music_for_life]

I am gettinng a vey hot output with Musicman Sr5 and interface Saffire 6 Usb, with the bass at max volume and the Gain of Saffie 6 USB only at 2,5 (of 10 different levels)...It starts clipping if I dig and with the low notes...
What is happening???
How can I solve this??

 

[MonetBass]

It's an active bass, so the signal is hotter than a passive bass would be. Get a DI so that the signal chain would be SR5 > DI > Saffier 6. It will be easier to control the signal that way.

 

[Music_for_life]

It's an active bass, so the signal is hotter than a passive bass would be. Get a DI so that the signal chain would be SR5 > DI > Saffier 6. It will be easier to control the signal that way.

I have a Sadowsky outboard pre/DI and a sansamp bddi
They can help me to get a better overall recording?

 

[MonetBass]

The DI will allow you to bring the signal level down on the bass before it hits the interface. That will at least fix your clipping problem.

As others have said in your other thread: Lower the volume level on the SR5.

 

[tech21nyc]

You shouldn't "need" to use a DI with that particular unit. From just a brief look at it there are mic, instrument and line level inputs. Just set the Saffire for line level with your active bass and engage the pad if your signal is still too hot.

You should probably start with the pad off and the gain on the Saffire quite low and start playing and then raise the gain if needed to the proper level which should light the green LED on the Saffire. If your bass is too hot with the gain almost off engage the pad. If it is still too hot (which I doubt it will be) just turn down your bass a little, You don't need to run an active bass full out like you do with a passive instrument.

 

[Music_for_life]

You shouldn't "need" to use a DI with that particular unit. From just a brief look at it there are mic, instrument and line level inputs. Just set the Saffire for line level with your active bass and engage the pad if your signal is still too hot.

You should probably start with the pad off and the gain on the Saffire quite low and start playing and then raise the gain if needed to the proper level which should light the green LED on the Saffire. If your bass is too hot with the gain almost off engage the pad. If it is still too hot (which I doubt it will be) just turn down your bass a little, You don't need to run an active bass full out like you do with a passive instrument.

How do I set it to line level??
The bass is used with instrument imput not line imput I think, correct me if I am wrong

 

[Music_for_life]

At what level of gain it is correct to use this kind of interfaces???

 

[Jazz Ad]

Turn down bass volume and be done with it.
For people used to analogic, it's a common mistake to max out the headroom, up to borderline clipping.
You absolutely want to avoid this. You have all the dynamics you need even if you only use a fraction of the available headroom. If you reach into digital clipping, ugly things happen and they can't be fixed.

 

[Hellbastard]

If the output of your bass is too hot and you're the input at low gain settings, simply engage the interface's pad button, this will provide you with a 10dB gain reduction at the preamp's input stage.
The Saffire has combo inputs. You choose what kind of signal is being fed by using the instrument button, it switches between instrument or line level signals.

When working with an interface like yours is a good idea to set the bit depth to 24bit and then set the gain level to read about -6dBFS on your DAW.

 

[Music_for_life]

If the output of your bass is too hot and you're the input at low gain settings, simply engage the interface's pad button, this will provide you with a 10dB gain reduction at the preamp's input stage.
The Saffire has combo inputs. You choose what kind of signal is being fed by using the instrument button, it switches between instrument or line level signals.

When working with an interface like yours is a good idea to set the bit depth to 24bit and then set the gain level to read about -6dBFS on your DAW.

Where I can know when it reaches the gain level of -6dbfs on the daw??
I do need to record with instrument or line signal???
Where is the bit depth??

 

[Charling]

Where I can know when it reaches the gain level of -6dbfs on the daw??
I do need to record with instrument or line signal???
Where is the bit depth??

There is no disadvantage of having the recording devices gain set at pretty close to 0, it just means that the signal is hot enough to not need any gain. Thats a good thing with relatively cheap preamps, its when they are working hard that they 'colour' the signal the most, but to be honest its only very a minor colouration and not of consequence to most home users.

-6Dbfs is simply 6Db below the top of the meters in your DAW or soundcard control panel (if it has one). Most DAW meters will go to +6 or +12, so just hit 6db below that max. In practice, I usually advocate hitting a lot lower than that, something like -18Dbfs, at 24 bit with modern A/D converters you are loosing nothing and it can make the whole mix process easier, especially if using lots of plugins or outboard gear.

24bit is normally a checkbox or option in the DAW, it will be different for different DAW's. In cubase its under 'project settings', in Logic its under 'preferences>audio' in pro tools its on the 'create new project' dialog box etc. You should always record at 24 bit unless you know of a very good reason not to.

You should be going into the instrument input, or into a DI then into the mic pre. It won't make a huge amount of difference going into a line in but the slightly wonky impedance matchup you are creating may effect the sound a little, making the highs a little more brittle etc. The instrument input SHOULD have a slightly more suitable input impedance. Going direct into a mic pre will most likely be FAR too hot and distort even at minimum settings, but its unlikely you've tried that, as it would require a jack to male xlr cable. A average DI box reduces gain suitably to go into a mic pre, though many active ones have outputs designed to go into Line Ins.

Instruments should go into an instrument in, or a di box.
Anything labeled line out should go to a line in.
Unless labelled otherwise DI boxes should go into mic pres.

 

[sonic assassin]

ok, a few things. you dont need to be redlining your VU meter in your DAW to get a good signal. get about halfway and work from there. people get really worked up about noise floor and its not really an issue with digital.

when setting your pre (which should be set to instrument input), hit your lowest note as hard as you going to think you are going to. then back off just a tiny bit more. you are going to dig just a tiny bit more than you think you are. and check with the lowest and something high on the neck, because these are the biggest waves. your high D might not clip, but a low B might. high on the neck we have a different sort of harmonic tone that makes things a LOT deeper. so check the loudest thing you've got and set the pre appropriately.

i would be using the BDDI and/or the sadowsky pre WITH your clean sound. the BDDI has the option of a clean out and effect out. cant hurt to grit up your signal a little on the way in and blend them. im assuming this unit has more than one input, as im not familiar with it. better is subjective, so its hard for one of us to say what you'll like more.

 

[sonic assassin]

Turn down bass volume and be done with it.

i believe it is a preamp issue. i always keep my volume maxed. i believe the issue is more this:

For people used to analogic, it's a common mistake to max out the headroom, up to borderline clipping.
You absolutely want to avoid this. You have all the dynamics you need even if you only use a fraction of the available headroom. If you reach into digital clipping, ugly things happen and they can't be fixed.

which will be solved by setting the preamp correctly and playing in a manner that exposes potential problems before tracking.

you're absolutely right though. dynamics = good. clips are hard to hide. preventative maintenance.

 

[jarrydee]

You shouldn't "need" to use a DI with that particular unit. From just a brief look at it there are mic, instrument and line level inputs. Just set the Saffire for line level with your active bass and engage the pad if your signal is still too hot.

You should probably start with the pad off and the gain on the Saffire quite low and start playing and then raise the gain if needed to the proper level which should light the green LED on the Saffire. If your bass is too hot with the gain almost off engage the pad. If it is still too hot (which I doubt it will be) just turn down your bass a little, You don't need to run an active bass full out like you do with a passive instrument.

+1..it sounds like you are going into the wrong input...if you are coming out of an outboard preamp you should be going into your focusrites line in..it should say "line in" on the input!

 

[tech21nyc]

How do I set it to line level??
The bass is used with instrument imput not line imput I think, correct me if I am wrong

I believe your bass is active, correct? If it is active you are probably best off using the line level input on the Saffire because your bass will probably put out a line level signal if you max the volume. I downloaded the manual for the Saffire. It has 2 XLR combo inputs on the front that will accept mic, line or instrument signals. This means it is capable of accepting all those level signals so there is no need for an added DI unless you want to use one.There are two white push button switches for each channel labeled instrument and pad. To switch between line and instrument you need to engage or disengage the white switch that is labeled "instrument." You should be able to monitor the specific input level in your DAW software.

You need to read the manual of your Saffire 6 and it also takes a bit of time to understand the recording process. It sounds like you are new to this process and you may be better served on a recording forum vs TalkBass.

It really helps to have some basic understanding of the recording process even with something as simple as the Saffire 6.

 

[Music_for_life]

I believe your bass is active, correct? If it is active you are probably best off using the line level input on the Saffire because your bass will probably put out a line level signal if you max the volume. I downloaded the manual for the Saffire. It has 2 XLR combo inputs on the front that will accept mic, line or instrument signals. This means it is capable of accepting all those level signals so there is no need for an added DI unless you want to use one.There are two white push button switches for each channel labeled instrument and pad. To switch between line and instrument you need to engage or disengage the white switch that is labeled "instrument." You should be able to monitor the specific input level in your DAW software.

You need to read the manual of your Saffire 6 and it also takes a bit of time to understand the recording process. It sounds like you are new to this process and you may be better served on a recording forum vs TalkBass.

It really helps to have some basic understanding of the recording process even with something as simple as the Saffire 6.

Thanks!! I have made my first recording with it and as soon as posible I will post the song here.
All the help I´ve got here was very important, I really like, what I recorded.
What recording forum do you recomend me?

 

[tech21nyc]

Thanks!! I have made my first recording with it and as soon as posible I will post the song here.
All the help I´ve got here was very important, I really like, what I recorded.
What recording forum do you recomend me?

Here are a couple to check out. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Home Recording Forums

Invalid Link Removed

 

[ecj_bass]

Turn down the Saffire. If the higher notes are much softer than the low notes, first try playing the low notes lighter, this is a kind of manual compression.

If your budget can premit it, go for a real compressor. This will help reduce the jump in volume from your low B to your high C, while still keeping the dynamic range.

Best of luck!

 

[Music_for_life]

Turn down the Saffire. If the higher notes are much softer than the low notes, first try playing the low notes lighter, this is a kind of manual compression.

If your budget can premit it, go for a real compressor. This will help reduce the jump in volume from your low B to your high C, while still keeping the dynamic range.

Best of luck!

thanks I have a dbx160A compressor, how can I connect it to the saffire?