Stereo Bus Magic You Won't Believe You Didn't Know

Do this and you'll see!
Doc.
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[@RiffsAndBeards]

Reminder to everyone to be very very careful when clipping a multi stacked source like a Mix Bus, as intermodulation will very quickly smear your mix.

[@remy333]

+1 Fluff-san is right as usual. Sometimes better off clipping more granularly along the way so the mix summing isn’t effected as much by a stereo clipping. Always use your ears and don’t trust the final master limiter visually. Bad clipping and phase incoherence is audible. Go easy. The T-Rack classic clipper is phenomenal at getting pushed hard without problems, but this Orange clipper and the JST Clip plugs should be used very gently if you want to preserve clarity and avoid a messy mix.

[@stm113]

I was thinking while watching the video “would it be better to clip the kick, and the snare individually before sending to the mix bus?” Maybe even clip on the bus also but def on those 2?

[@barneyrubble8255]

Do all famous albums have clipping on them? what about in the past before plugins with analog consoles, is there clipping in the chain? im getting an analog limiter, wondiering how i would clip before it. other than using plugin on kick and snare in the box......... but on mix bus i would have analog compressor and eq before the limiter, no clipper

[@officialWWM]

What the hell is “intermodulation”?

[@officialWWM]

@@barneyrubble8255older albums weren’t as loud as todays music

[@DanCummins]

As many in the community are learning these days, the semi-recently declassified secret to pro-level loudness is by diversifying your gain reduction across multiple different plugins, instead of just slamming a limiter to get like 6-7db at the final stage. You combine some saturation, a bit of multi-band, a hard clipper and a limiter, and with each set pretty conservatively, you can grab an extra 1-2 db from each plugin, but because they each create artifacts in different ways, its waay more natural sounding than if you tried to get all that GR from one. I set this up fairly early into the mix process, and thus you can compensate with your mixing decisions by automating the various busses to maintain some dynamics.

[@BobbyHuff]

Agreed but this doesn’t necessarily sound the best for every genre…

[@kingkingking111]

The clip to zero method is a game changer and relatively easy to execute once you set it up.

[@michaelparson-mcnamara782]

Well, that certainly changed my approach to self mastering and it only took 6 minutes to convince me! Thank you for this "converting" of my small mixes into much bigger/better ones!

[@JaviBello]

BOOOOOOB!!! This is often hard for me to do this and not push it too hard. I always have to check the level and I've found a spot that works for me most of the time, but sometimes sound too harsh on small speakers and I have to go back 😅 Thanks as always Bobby!!

[@BobbyHuff]

JAAAAAAVV! Yes it’s a delicate balance and different for every song!

[@skyboxstudios777]

I’ve done a hybrid of this where I’ll have a clipper on the drum or bass bus to shave some of the peaks so I can press more signal into my master bus

[@BobbyHuff]

Very good!

[@Necronomicon66]

Great video, as usual! Have you tried KClip? Probably the best clipper plugin I’ve used.

[@BobbyHuff]

No, I haven’t. I will try it. Thanks for watching.

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

GREAT examples as ALWAYS! Thank you!

[@BobbyHuff]

My pleasure!

[@augustuscall5562]

If anyone is interested in clipping’s possibilities within digital audio, I cannot recommend Baphometrix’s “Clip To Zero” series here on KZbin enough. That woman is the truth.

[@carpentemusic]

Thank you for this. The perfect pre-limiter!!

[@theVomitorium]

What about putting the clipper on the drum buss instead? Because the kick and snare are the things that mostly need to be controlled. Would that give you a more transparent sound. And, keep your master buss limiter from having to work so hard. Just curious what your thoughts are on that approach.

[@BobbyHuff]

Try either and see what you like the best.

[@scottyelstromm881]

I’ve always avoided clippers thinking they generate digital distortion. Didn’t expect transparent loudness. Gonna test this suggestion out.

[@BobbyHuff]

Yes a great clipper and great limiter can do incredible things!!

[@TimE_5150]

Just like you in your earlier days I just do not feel that I get a great result when I just use a limiter. I feel that I lose some dynamic range (maybe because that is what I heard so often) I think this will help a lot. Thank you once again Bob!

[@BobbyHuff]

You got this!

[@peterzee]

How does this compare to putting the clipper on the drum bus? Thanks!

[@BobbyHuff]

You can do both or either. See what sounds the best for that particular song.

[@americanbigelow]

Hey, Bobbyy, thanks for the video. FYi: putting the clipper before the limiter amplifies all the distortion attifacts created by the clipper. My advice: put the clipper after the limiter. It wors great.

[@BobbyHuff]

Thanks for the input I appreciate it. I’ve tried and never found a way to put the clipper afterwards that made sense to me. I like this order so that the limiter doesn’t get hit with the drum transients as much. Obviously you like the opposite order and have good luck with it that way. I love hearing other people’s methods. I’ve also NEVER had any luck with an API 2500! Haha. Everyone has their own way to the finish line.

[@emptytombprod]

​@@BobbyHuffagreed. Clipper after limiter makes no sense.

[@PeterSavad]

Back in the day the board used to do this when you pushed it into the red.

[@gatherstudio5219]

I only use the clipper on the mastering phase in which I always open a new session. But the clipper is a great tool for getting the maximum loudness without distortion

[@BobbyHuff]

Cool…

[@stm113]

Has anyone used the Plugin Alliance BX Clipper on something like a snare especially in a rock setting? I have a voucher and I was thinking on using it on that.

[@BobbyHuff]

Not tried it.

[@eriksark4883]

any difference to apply clipper (or hard limiter) as last Insert on the DRUM BUS to tame those peaks in the drum signal BEFORE it ever heads to the MASTER BUS ?!?

[@BobbyHuff]

Yes! Try both or either. Whatever sounds best!

[@drewepton]

Another grand slam. Thanks Dr. Bob!

[@BobbyHuff]

Thanks!!

[@jimmcdougall9973]

Great advice. It’s as if the drums sit better in the mix, while still maintaining the punch. Nice piece of (80’s) music too. Thank you.

[@BobbyHuff]

Thanks!

[@Owl-qh2rh]

New territory for me! Thanks Doc!!! 🙏🕊️

[@BobbyHuff]

Do it!!

[@Owl-qh2rh]

I've been so limited in my decision making!!! Haha thanks Doc! 🙏🕊️ ​@@BobbyHuff

[@hankdoral]

Reminds me of the song by The Who, goes something like " clipper ,(magic bus).

[@gatherstudio5219]

I also like to sandwich the clipper between a pair of limiters

[@BobbyHuff]

Nice..

[@antcall6779]

Great as always Bobby!🤘

[@BobbyHuff]

Thanks Ant!!

[@michaeltablet8577]

Thank you very much! Always helpful!

[@BobbyHuff]

You're very welcome!

[@danaparsons854]

are you realy a DR.? :)

[@BobbyHuff]

I’ll never tell…

[@batheavy2834]

Wait….it sounded more 80’s😂

[@BobbyHuff]

Yes!!

[@dennislacroix9962]

I've noticed you use a lot of instances of El Juan Limiter. I like it too but I often wonder if it's doing anything different from my other limiters. Could you elaborate on why you choose it?

[@BobbyHuff]

I really like it for its sonic character. On the back there are some really nice eq curves. I usually apply one of these, mix knob to taste, and limit a little or not…

[@AaronGCabral]

Aside from using my ears and going with what sounds best...What are generally the best settings for the clipper? I use the T Racks Classic Clipper before the limiter and usually just shave off about 1-3 db of gain reduction. If I push the input say 2.5 dB I then back the output back -2.5 db. Am I doing it right or should I leave the output of the clipper at zero? I guess what I am asking is what should the output of the clipper be before going to the limiter?

[@BobbyHuff]

You are correct in saying that whatever sounds the best wins Aaron. Just go with what feels the best as every song is different and transient information in every song is different.

[@DeltaWhiskeyBravo13579]

Great demo. I'm doing clipping to limiter myself. I'm actually using 2 clippers, Softube Clipper for the RMS clip section, to Schwabe Gold Clip for a small peak shave, then to Slate Digital FG-X 2. Both clippers are doing about 2-3 dB, with Gold Clip adding in that Classic Gold at 3.5. I have other clippers like LVC Clipped-MAX, Standard Clip, and others, but Gold Clip is my best. Similar with limiters, LVC Limited-MAX, TDR Limiter 6, Nugen ISL-2, D-16 Frontier, Melda MUltramaximizer, Venomode Maximal 3, SSL X-Limit.

[@BobbyHuff]

Excellent..

[@heartshinemusic]

I learned about clipping when Jordan Valeriote released his clipper plug-in. It's one of those secret production tricks of the pro's. Much better than just hard limiting on mixbus, which often affects the snare punch too much... But you still have to be careful... I try to do some clipping on my snare and drumbus beforehand to minimize limiting on the final mixbus.

[@BobbyHuff]

Good stuff!!!

[@anthonyschultz6801]

Thank you, as always!!!!!❤❤❤❤

[@BobbyHuff]

Thanks for watching!

[@ritzenhauf]

Clipper always before limiter? Why not two limiters?

[@BobbyHuff]

They perform different functions…

[@Tony-yp7ok]

A clipper and a limiter sound very different - a clipper is less transparent but can add great weight to things like drums. A clipper lops off the top of the waveform when it passes the threshold, whereas a limiter turns the entire track down. If you look at a clipped waveform, it will have squared off peaks. A limited track can still have rounded peaks.

[@ritzenhauf]

it looked like Bobby was using soft clipping, but either way it makes sense they'd sound different if one is more aggressive. combinations of compression, limiting, and clipping can result in more volume, but the range of saturation etc will be different. if you already use a clipper on your drums, maybe another one on the master is unflattering. i bet clipping after limiting sounds vintage, dirtier.

[@darrenandrews8768]

Thanks for the tips

[@BobbyHuff]

No problem!

[@ddsrecording]

I've been using the Oxford Inflator before limiting on the mix bus as opposed to a clipper. It works great! Ive found the IK Classic Clipper takes away some low end heft. Probably because it has a highpass filter built in...you can hear it and even see it on a spectrum meter.

[@BobbyHuff]

This Orange Clipper and their Gold Clipper are excellent at not destroying the bottom end.

[@briancase6180]

One way to say what a clipper does is: it reduces the crest factor of the audio. Crest factor, a term of our art that few seen to know, is the difference between the peaks and the RMS of an audio signal. When the crest factor is good, you have the *potential* for a loud mix. Most who care about crest factor use clippers and limiters with restraint and discretion on individual channels so that the 2bus / master bus naturally has a good crest factor.

[@BobbyHuff]

Good stuff. I understand what you are saying. In the end it’s the sound of the mix that matters most and sometimes it’s a clipper on individual channels and sometimes it’s the clipper on the stereo bus that works best…sometimes both.

[@sickmessiah]

I’ve been doing that for years. Also I use different types of clippers and saturations on individual stuff to.

[@BobbyHuff]

Very good!!

[@BobbyLaneProductions]

I'm using the Standard Clip just recently and it DOES make a huge difference. thanks as always Bobby!

[@BobbyHuff]

Thanks Bobby. That’s a good Clipper.

[@BobbyLaneProductions]

@@BobbyHuff it does the job.. but I am intrigued by the one you were using and it's big brother the Gold Clip.. may try either one or the other out 30 for days.

[@tcr4451]

Is it ok to apply this before it goes to mastering?

[@BobbyHuff]

If you are using outside mastering send a version with and without.

[@markthefrontman1]

❤Ty Another killer tip!!!🤟😎

[@BobbyHuff]

Thanks Mark!

[@boobo3763]

I'll try this, but i've never been comfortable putting anything on the master bus - especially compression. I've found that while I like the "cohesion" it adds, even -1 or -2 db takes away from the impact. Not a fan of compression in general over here...

[@krokovay.marcell]

Maybe you set the attack time too short?

[@boobo3763]

@@krokovay.marcell On the compressor? i've basically just copied settings I've found others use on youtube (this channel included). Do you have a suggestion on what to try?

[@BobbyHuff]

Whatever sounds best to you!