d8b pre and post fader settings

[Carlo]

I would like to thank Peter (Anyhorizon) for telling me to join here... I have posted the following on Mackie's forum and nobody replied to me. It was so strange however Peter saved me...thanks


Dear friends,

I have a question regarding metering of the d8b. As the manual says, the meter bridge is default set to pre-fader and the meter on the GUI can be selected as pre or post fader. I have noticed that if I select pre-fader on the software (matching the meter bridge) the signal remains well within the threshold if in the DAW (cubase 5) is not clipping. However if I select the post fader option for the software meters, that particular signal will be seen overloading and clipping but no indication of any distortion or digital clip. Eventually in the post-fader mode, if I lower down the fader the overload red indicator will go away but the volume will go beyond of what I would need.

Can you please tell me when I should use the pre-fader or post-fader setup? What is the ideal setup? As far as I’m concerned the post fader is needed only if one uses the onboard dynamics –compressors, EQ, gate etc. So if the DAW level is not clipping and the signal passing into the mixer does not clip if set up on pre-fader, why does clipping takes place if the meters are set up to post faders even when the onboard dynamics are not in use?

Thanks

Carlo

[anyhorizon]

I can only think that the meters showing clipping in post fader mode have the fader set somewhere above unity gain. Either that or you have a plug in inserted that hasn't been gain staged correctly.

Glad you made it over here.

Peter

[Carlo]

Yes in fact the fader would be above unity when the clipping takes place but since the DAW is sending signals at less than 0db the clipping does not occur in prefader mode on the d8b. When i change the mode to post fader the channel would be clipping because as you have said the fader will be more than unity. But is this a problem since there is no audible distortion? Is it possible to distort a channel although the DAW is sending signals under 0db? I mean if the DAW tracks are less than 0db and are being sent to the d8b, is it possible that if you increase the fader more than unity you would distort the signal on the d8b mixer?

Regards

Carlo

[anyhorizon]

Carlo,

When the fader is at unity gain, pre and post fader meter readings should be identical on the GUI (assuming no on board DSP or plug ins). The d8b allows a little latitude however and whilst it may show a clip, it may not actually be doing so. Check this entry in the database to learn more.

Cheers,

Peter

[Carlo]

Thanks