7.1

808
Chapter 14 Audio
Clipping
The red “LED” indicator above each of the scales shows whether the overload threshold has been
exceeded, in which case the system clips the signal. Also, in the max dB Field, the value 0.0 is displayed in
red and a red cross appears and stays to indicate that the system has clipped the signal. Reset using the
Reset button.
A second, yellow LED indicator flashes at the output if the signal was already clipped with one of the
audio effects. In this case, we advise you to slightly attenuate the signal in the respective audio Effect Edi-
tor. (See also “Au di o E ff e c t s” on page 868.)
32-bit Floating Point Audio
Avid Liquid processes all audio data internally in 32-bit Floating Point mode. Other formats are con-
verted as necessary. In practice, this results in better sound (in particular, quieter recordings or passages)
and a broader dynamic range, without the risk of the signal being clipped. This is why the Audio Tool’s
clipping LEDs (during Timeline editing, when working with the Audio Editor) no longer light up. Never-
theless, this doesn’t mean that you should always slide the fader as far as it will go.
When outputting via IEEE-1394 where PCM 16-bit is required, however, there is always the risk of clip-
ping. You can monitor the results with the Audio Tool.
 If configured, all products that run under Avid Liquid generate 32-bit floating point files for Fuse
and rendering.
This option is located under Edit > Control Panel > User > Audio Settings.
No Signal at the Audio Tool?
You’re playing something back but the Too l ’s scales remain empty, indicating that there is no signal at the
master output. There are three likely possibilities:
 Faders pushed down -
Open up the bottom half of the Audio Tool and check the fader levels.
 No bus mapped to output -
Open Output Mapping and check whether the active Output Busses are assigned to the appropri-
ate outputs (sound card, IEEE 1394, breakout box, etc.; also see “Output Mapping: Assigning
Signals” on page 825).
When these problems occur, you may still be able to hear something through the connected speakers,
depending on how you have configured your system.
Other possibilities when audio is (apparently) absent: