Question about clipping and re-amping.

[Gaspard]

I re-amp alot through the pod (no re-amp box yet, and i like doing dual pod mic things), AND, on the D.I tracks, the unporcessed tracks for reamping sometimes clip at very punctual moments when i hit a chord very hard, when i reamped it didnt sound bad but can it be dangerous for the hardware ?

THANX

 

[colonel kurtz]

for the hardware, probably not...your ears? possible.

 

[Gaspard]

No I really don't hear anything !!

 

[siegfried]

Why there are clipping on clean DI tracks?

 

[James-Doolan]

Why there are clipping on clean DI tracks?

If you record a clean d.i signal too hot the peaks will clip just like any other source recorded too hot. You have to be careful with setting the levels for the d.i as it is very dynamic i try to set mine so that its peaking at -6db

 

[kaomao]

Are those active pickups?
If they're emg's they will clip anyway, because they peak internally (inside their preamp) I mean I record at a resonable volume but they always clip.
Maybe running a 18v configuration should keep them away from clipping.
JBroll should chime in anyway!

 

[Machinated]

Yeah I have noticed that my 85 has like an almost flat waveform without even being boosted by the preamp. I figured it must be clipping internally.

 

[Gaspard]

I'm using stock gibson pickups.

I'm sing pro tools and how do I know at what level it clips ? seems like the meter goes in the red for 0,002 seconds only when the pick attacks very hard

 

[colonel kurtz]

eems like the meter goes in the red for 0,002 seconds only when the pick attacks very hard

that's the meter telling you that you're clipping

red meter = don't go there!!

even at its very highest, the meter should get nowhere near clipping the input...worst comes to worst, you can boost the signal on the way back out to the amp

and these guys are right about actives clipping themselves...my SD blackout clips the shit out of itself, even when there's tons of headroom left on the input. i'm still not sure if this is considered a problem that needs to be remedied by lowering the pickup height, or if it's one of those things that gives actives the very properties that they're renound for...

 

[GuitarHack]

Are those active pickups?
If they're emg's they will clip anyway, because they peak internally (inside their preamp) I mean I record at a resonable volume but they always clip.
Maybe running a 18v configuration should keep them away from clipping.
JBroll should chime in anyway!

Yeah I have noticed that my 85 has like an almost flat waveform without even being boosted by the preamp. I figured it must be clipping internally.

Lower the pickup height a little bit at a time and check a DI waveform until you see no clipping. This gives a more dynamic and crisp/defined sound. EMG's advice to have the pickup "as close to the strings as practical" can be a bit misleading. I have 2 similar guitars (shape, wood, 1 floyd and one fixed bridge) with EMG81 in the bridge and one always sounded dirtier (not in the good way). Sure enough, lowering the pickup made it sound nicer. When I got my Hellraiser it was one of the first checks I did, fortunately the pickup heights were OK with no clipping on the DI.