User manual

129
The mixer
About the level meters for audio channels
When playing back audio in Cubase, the level meters in
the mixer show the level of each audio channel.
• Directly below the level meter is a small level readout –
this shows the highest registered peak level in the signal.
Click this to reset the peak levels.
• Peak levels can also be shown as static horizontal lines
in the meter, see “Changing the meter characteristics” on
page 137.
If the peak level of the audio goes above 0dB, the numer-
ical level indicator will show a positive value (i.e. a value
above 0dB).
Cubase uses 32 bit floating point processing internally, so
there is virtually limitless headroom – signals can go way
beyond 0dB without clipping. Therefore:
Ö Having higher levels than 0dB for individual audio
channels is not a problem in itself. The audio quality will
not be degraded by this.
However, when many high level signals are mixed in an output bus, this
may require that you lower the output channel level a lot (see below).
Therefore it’s good practice to keep the max levels for individual audio
channels roughly around 0dB.
About the level meters for input and output channels
For the input and output channels, things are different. I/O
channels have clip indicators (input channels are only
shown in Cubase).
• When you are recording, clipping can occur when the
analog signal is converted to digital in the audio hardware.
With Cubase, it’s also possible to get clipping in the signal being re-
corded to disk (when 16 or 24 bit record format is used and you have
adjusted the mixer settings for the input channel). For more about check-
ing and setting input levels, see “Setting input levels” on page 70.
• In the output busses, the floating point audio is con-
verted to the resolution of the audio hardware. In the inte-
ger audio domain, the maximum level is 0dB – higher
levels will cause the clip indicator for each bus to light up.
If the clip indicators light up for a bus, this indicates actual clipping – dig-
ital distortion which should always be avoided.
Adjusting Input Gain (Cubase only)
Each audio channel and input/output channel features an
Input Gain control. This controls the gain for the incoming
signal, before EQ and effects.
The Input Gain is not meant to be used as a volume con-
trol in the mixer, as it is not suited for continuous level ad-
justments during playback. It can, however, be used to cut
or boost the gain in various circumstances:
• To change the level of a signal before the effects section.
The level going into certain effects can change the way the signal is af-
fected. A compressor, for example, can be “driven” harder by raising the
Input Gain.
• To boost the level of poorly recorded signals.
To change the Input Gain, you need to press [Shift] and
adjust the control (to avoid accidental gain changes). If
you press [Alt]/[Option], you can adjust the Input Gain
with a fader. Alternatively, you can also enter the desired
number in the value field.
Input Phase switch (Cubase only)
Each audio channel and input/output channel has an Input
Phase switch, to the left of the Input Gain control dial.
When activated, the phase polarity is inverted for the sig-
!
When Direct Monitoring is used and the option “Map
input bus metering to Audio track (in Direct Monitor-
ing)” is activated in the Preferences (VST–Metering
page), the level meters in the mixer will show the level
of the input bus instead.
!
If the clip indicator lights up for an output channel,
reset the clip indicator by clicking on it, and lower the
level until the indicator doesn’t light up.