Have you ever wondered why professional tracks sound louder than yours?
Music Production beginners often think there is one BIG secret to this.
In reality though, it's a combination of many different tools, techniques and experience.
One of these is clipping.
Clipping is a process where the gain of a signal is increased to the point where it exceeds 0dB.
However the clipper will cut off anything that exceeds 0db and in the process create a subtle (or not so subtle) distortion, making the signal louder, fuller and fatter.
(This is different to a limiter which should push any peaks back down under 0dB without distortion.)
There are 2 different types of clipping - soft clipping and hard clipping.
Soft clipping is more subtle, less aggressive and adds more musical harmonics.
Hard clipping is more aggressive, adds higher order harmonics and is noisier.
Clippers can be added to individual tracks, busses or even your master.
Pro Tip: Try running a clipper into a limiter on your master and you'll be able to push that limiter even harder!
There is no dedicated Clipper plugin in Logic Pro X, but you can use the Overdrive to achieve both soft and hard clipping.
Have fun making your tracks louder!
If you are still totally confused about how to make your tracks a professional level then maybe you just need someone to mix and master it for you?
Comments