Comments

Chienworks wrote on 1/1/2004, 8:49 PM
Not necessarily. There are many stages at which an audio signal can be clipped even if it doesn't hit the top in the digital recording stage. At any step along the way where the signal is too loud for that stage it will clip and distort. For example, a loud thunderclap will distort the microphone even if the preamp gain is turned way down. All you'll get is a quieter recording of the same distortion. Apparently somewhere along the line some of your dialog clipped even though it's all been brought back down now. If you zoom in close enough on those sections you'll probably see flat tops on the peaks.
farss wrote on 1/1/2004, 11:05 PM
Of course some people's voice seems to come with built in clipping as well, how long since the guys vocal cords were calibrated?

But seriously plain clipping is not the only issue with audio and voice in particular, you can get bad things happening within certain parts of the spectrum adding harsness that shouldn't be there.

But if it's really noticeable I'd say Chienworks is right, somehere along the chain somethings happened to the signal, maybe a peak limiter was being pushed a bit too hard, big problem with many DV cameras.
tmrpro wrote on 1/2/2004, 12:04 AM
Okay, 2 cents...... everyone...

"Clipping" is specifically defined by the peak or the continuing dynamic to be clipped or come to an abrupt stop and square off. A brickwall compressor is basically a controlled clip.

The result of a clip can be harsh and ugly or just be represented by a sudden dynamic stop.

A little illustration for your enjoyment....

I once recorded a woman who could produce a square wave with her voice. It stopped the production of her album, because I (and everyone involved thought that something was broken).....

I could look at the audio, and see that it was a perfect square wave; absolute clinical distortion.

I spent two days trying to figure out at what point the distortion was occuring by replacing everyting in the audio chain. She even told me; "Maybe it's just my voice...."

Finally two days later, after working with experts trying to figure out what was broken, I thought; "wouldn't it be strange if something was oscillating from the tone of her voice in the vocal booth that was reproducing a square wave; like a light bulb, or something?"

Well, when I went in the vocal booth and had her hit that horrible note.... the distortion came right out of her mouth like a lazer beam!!!

It was like a reed instrument that was not properly seated, buzzing terribly!!!!

We ended up calling it "The Blairing Witch Project"..... I won't give any real names, as to protect the innocent and the guilty, but it baffled the best engineers in Nashville.

The point here is, distortion can happen at absolutely any level, even prior to the electronics! .... To my amazement!
Rednroll wrote on 1/2/2004, 1:42 AM
A brickwall compressor? Hmmmm..sounds interesting, can you tell us where we could buy one of those, I've never heard of one.
datman wrote on 1/2/2004, 5:03 AM
I would think its mic but not sure

Bill
tmrpro wrote on 1/2/2004, 7:14 AM
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Rednroll wrote on 1/3/2004, 9:53 AM
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Rednroll wrote on 1/3/2004, 10:11 AM
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tmrpro wrote on 1/3/2004, 11:49 AM
& it's probably better that way.

I just want to apologize to everyone here for all of the childish behavior that I have participated in w/RednRoll in this forum.

This is a totally unsolicited statement, too (other than the fact that there were some deleted statements by the Forum Moderator).

I'll leave it at that and even add an apology to Red for being abusive. I'm actually a really nice guy when you get to know me, Red...

I recognize that you are very knowledgable and I commend you for your hard work and dedication to this forum and I wish you the best in 2004.

Very sincerely yours,
Todd Rubenstein