To avoid clipping, it’s crucial to set appropriate gain levels during both recording and mixing. Clipping occurs when the audio signal exceeds the maximum level a system can handle, leading to distortion. Here’s how to manage gain levels effectively:

​

1. Gain Staging During Recording
   •    Target Levels:
   •    Analog Recording: Keep peaks around 0 dBVU, as analog gear has headroom above this.
   •    Digital Recording: Aim for peaks between -18 dBFS and -12 dBFS on your DAW meters. This provides headroom to avoid digital clipping.
   •    Why These Levels?
   •    Digital systems clip at 0 dBFS (decibels relative to full scale), so keeping levels lower ensures clean, undistorted recordings.
   •    Peaks above -6 dBFS leave minimal headroom for post-processing.
   •    Check Your Input Gain:
   •    Adjust the microphone preamp or audio interface gain so the signal sits within the target range.
   •    Monitor levels while recording loud passages to avoid sudden peaks.

 

2. Gain Staging During Mixing
   •    Track Levels:
   •    Keep individual tracks peaking around -12 dBFS to -6 dBFS.
   •    Avoid pushing tracks close to 0 dBFS, as they may clip when summed in the mix.
   •    Master Bus Levels:
   •    Ensure the mix bus (master fader) peaks no higher than -6 dBFS.
   •    This allows headroom for mastering engineers to apply processing without clipping.
   •    Plugin Gain Management:
   •    Maintain consistent gain levels before and after inserting plugins. Use input/output gain controls to avoid introducing clipping within plugins.

​

3. Avoiding Clipping in Live Sound
   •    Sound System Gain Structure:
   •    Start with the microphone gain set properly at the mixer to avoid distortion at the preamp stage.
   •    Keep faders at a reasonable level (around unity gain).
   •    Use limiters to prevent peaks from overloading the system.

​

4. Tips to Avoid Clipping
   •    Use a Peak Meter:
   •    Monitor the peaks of your signal rather than just the average (RMS) level.
   •    Soft Clipping or Limiting:
   •    Use a limiter to catch peaks without introducing hard clipping.
   •    Record at 24-Bit Depth:
   •    A higher bit depth provides greater dynamic range, allowing quieter recordings without sacrificing quality.
   •    Regular Monitoring:
   •    Continuously check your levels throughout recording and mixing.

In Summary
   •    Recording: Peaks between -18 dBFS and -12 dBFS.
   •    Mixing: Tracks peaking around -12 dBFS to -6 dBFS; master bus peaking no higher than -6 dBFS.
   •    Always prioritize headroom to ensure flexibility and avoid distortion at every stage.