Duet output clipping.. how can I change my Mac's output level?

coyotekells · 16th June 2008

Turning down the volume on the Mac (volume control) or turning down the volume on the Duet (with the knob) or the output in Maestro control is NOT the answer.. that just changes the output level of my speakers...

But the meters on the Duet still show it's receiving full volume, and redlining...

If I change the actual specific audio output (ie, change the master fader in Logic or the independant volume in iTunes, it fixes this).

How can I make it so that my computer is NEVER sending more output volume than the Duet can handle..

Why would it do this? I thought this was some "seemless" design.. lol?? My MOTU 828mk2 never give my this weirdness.

thx for the tips!

staudio · 16th June 2008

The Duet's "clip" light does not always indicate clipping. It is probably set to go off around -1 to 0 dBFS. Check the output of your DAW for clipping, if it hits zero and nothing more then you are good. Itunes will regularly trip the "clip" light because the output is typically peaking at full scale. Make sure that itunes is not adding gain in the preferences window. Meters should almost always be taken with a grain of salt.

coyotekells · 16th June 2008

I guess all is well then:

My DAW is not clipping on it's output meters

iTunes does not have Sound Enhance on.

So I should be able to play my CDs at full level in iTunes and it's not clipping into the Duet, despite it's dumb meters?

Thanks for the infos..

_Morph_ · 16th June 2008

Well, the Duet's meters are supposedly a down-sized version of the meters in a mixing desk. Thus, the red lights aren't necessarily showing clipping, but an orange/red zone.

Since most commercial music today is heavily compressed, maybe that's why iTunes is clipping the Duet's output. If you tweak the settings in Maestro's mixer, it should be possible to lower the output comming from CoreAudio.

16th June 2008	#1
coyotekells Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 1,351 Thread Starter	Duet output clipping.. how can I change my Mac's output level? Turning down the volume on the Mac (volume control) or turning down the volume on the Duet (with the knob) or the output in Maestro control is NOT the answer.. that just changes the output level of my speakers... But the meters on the Duet still show it's receiving full volume, and redlining... If I change the actual specific audio output (ie, change the master fader in Logic or the independant volume in iTunes, it fixes this). How can I make it so that my computer is NEVER sending more output volume than the Duet can handle.. Why would it do this? I thought this was some "seemless" design.. lol?? My MOTU 828mk2 never give my this weirdness. thx for the tips! __________________ http://www.facebook.com/colakells

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16th June 2008	#2
staudio Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 1,333	The Duet's "clip" light does not always indicate clipping. It is probably set to go off around -1 to 0 dBFS. Check the output of your DAW for clipping, if it hits zero and nothing more then you are good. Itunes will regularly trip the "clip" light because the output is typically peaking at full scale. Make sure that itunes is not adding gain in the preferences window. Meters should almost always be taken with a grain of salt.

16th June 2008	#4
_Morph_ Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Europe Posts: 553	Well, the Duet's meters are supposedly a down-sized version of the meters in a mixing desk. Thus, the red lights aren't necessarily showing clipping, but an orange/red zone. Since most commercial music today is heavily compressed, maybe that's why iTunes is clipping the Duet's output. If you tweak the settings in Maestro's mixer, it should be possible to lower the output comming from CoreAudio.