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Gear / Technical Help => Post-Processing, Computer / Streaming / Internet Devices & Related Activity => Topic started by: Nomad on February 15, 2005, 05:01:06 PM

Title: Sound Forge Question
Post by: Nomad on February 15, 2005, 05:01:06 PM
Ok so I have some parts of my recording that the meter on forge says is clipping. Would I fix this with Normalize. Also would the volume feature make the recording louder during playback. Seems like it would but Im not sure. I have some screaming during the middle of songs and was wondering how I can quit that. I know this is a bunch to ask but if you can help with any of these it would be greatly appreciated. My 3rd time to tape was at Gregg and friends and I have a ton of people from there board asking for the tape as I was the only taper. It turned out great just  gotta figure forge out. Thanks!
Title: Re: Sound Forge Question
Post by: hexyjones on February 15, 2005, 05:06:34 PM
Unless you can hear any distortion - its fine to just leave the clips...IMO...
Title: Re: Sound Forge Question
Post by: SparkE! on February 15, 2005, 05:10:59 PM
If Soundforge says it's clipped, then the signal has already hit the rails.  There's not anything you can do to undo that.  Normalizing would have no effect.  You'd end up with exactly what you have now.

There is a tool in some editors that is called something like Clip Restoration.  In order to use it, you have to go to 32 bit floating point mode, run the clip restoration tool, then normalize.  That sometimes works.  If it's percussive sounds that caused the clipping (like snare drum), then it's probably not noticeable on playback anyway and some people would argue that it's best left alone.
Title: Re: Sound Forge Question
Post by: Nomad on February 15, 2005, 05:12:53 PM
Thanks! ;D
Title: Re: Sound Forge Question
Post by: Joe w. on February 16, 2005, 04:35:06 PM

a plugin is required to use the clip restoration feature in soundforge.

Title: Re: Sound Forge Question
Post by: momule on February 16, 2005, 04:51:23 PM
my understanding is that the Clip restoration in a way is Compression.
I mean really how do you fix a clip ?

what are your levels at now ?.
 act as you were gonna Normalize and select the RMS value,  scan a piece of the track and it will tell you what the value  is. Most of my tapes have come in at around -18 to -25
I would normalize just a bit over that and allow it to add a small bit of Dynamic compression. Should clean it up at least visually 

YMMV

good luck
Nick
Title: Re: Sound Forge Question
Post by: ford prefect on February 17, 2005, 06:02:21 PM
http://forums.etree.org/viewtopic.php?t=1375&highlight=transient+attacks&sid=de3820ae22905f45f2965e49dfafa86b

Not sure if that applies for something that was recorded hot, but apparently clipping from pushing the levels high in post production can be bad for playback equipment. 

Something to think about.  Personally, if there's more than a couple clips I tend to peak normalize down to -0.3 dB.  Try listening to before/after to see if you can hear a difference.
Title: Re: Sound Forge Question
Post by: Brian on February 17, 2005, 06:24:14 PM
slight compression on the clipped segments will make playback a tad smoother.  It doesn't cure the problem......merely helps it not sound as bad.  try it out and see what happens :)
Title: Re: Sound Forge Question
Post by: OOK on February 24, 2005, 09:55:53 PM
To fix the clips you need the noise reduction plugin in........It works by rebuilding the peaks and resetting them to what ever level you want...0, -1, -2 ,-3 etc.......I wouldn't say its compression although it may work somewhat the same way........when you run a compressor you squelch the dynamics.........its makes the signal hot as hell(depending on setting) and runs it up to 0 and brick Walls it...Like I said earlier this plug in rebuilds the peak based upon the setting you use...............

Oh yeah to much clipping and you will fry you speaker tweeters......................
Title: Re: Sound Forge Question
Post by: pfife on February 24, 2005, 11:23:13 PM
Unless you can hear any distortion - its fine to just leave the clips...IMO...

agree.  I've also had many many clips in soundforge that are not audible.

Title: Re: Sound Forge Question
Post by: Gordon on February 25, 2005, 03:11:06 PM
well first of all do you hear any clips??  99% of the shows I transfer in soundforge while watching the metters they will read clip. I have never heard a clip at all but sf says it is b/c the levels hit 0 or just above.  however I use a v3 so the clips can't be heard anyway.  ymmv.