Boss Micro BR80 - Distorting?

[Daniel Storey]

How do you know if a track is clipping on the Boss Micro BR-80...

The graphics are not very precise... I need to know at what point a track is distorting... Surely they couldn't of overlooked this feature?

[64Guitars]

You need to set your levels correctly in at least two different points in the signal path. First, you need to set the input sensitivity as high as possible without making the PEAK indicator light. Then choose your effects and adjust their settings. Finally, adjust the record level according to the IN level meters. Unfortunately, the BR has no peak indicator at this stage, so you have to rely on the level meters only. When they rise to their full height, clipping is quite likely. So make sure that the top row of pixels in the level meter never lights and you should get clipping-free recordings (provided that clipping hasn't already occurred earlier in the signal path, such as at the input).

See this post for more details:

https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=18252.msg226006#msg226006

You should read the entire topic as there is information about level setting and clipping in several of the messages in that topic.

A great way to learn how to set your levels properly is to export your tracks as WAV files and look at them in Audacity with the "Show Clipping" option enabled. Any clipping will show as red lines. You should export your individual tracks as well as your final mix. You'll only see clipping in your final mix if it was introduced at that stage (during bouncing or mastering). If the recording level during mastering was low but you have clipping on the individual tracks, it won't show as red lines in the final mix. But if you look at the individual tracks that were used in the mix, you'll see any clipping there as red lines. If you see lots of red lines, there's no way to fix it properly. You'll have to go back to the BR and re-record those tracks at a slightly lower level to get a clipping-free recording. Yes, it's a hassle to keep going back and forth and re-recording. But after you've done it a few times, you'll have a much better idea of how to set your recording levels in the BR based on the activity of its IN meters. From then on, you should be able to get good recording levels without having to check in Audacity all the time. Although, it's always good to check your final mix there since you'll probably want to trim the ends of the song and export it to an MP3 file anyway. If there's clipping in the final mix and you're confident that your individual tracks are okay, then you just need to remix. You won't need to re-record your individual tracks if you're sure that it's only the final mix that has clipping.

See this guide for more information:

https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=15

and these posts:

https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=17988.0

https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=18351.msg226777#msg226777

https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=6217.0

[Daniel Storey]

Hey... Thanks for taking the time to post such an informative reply.

Very much appreciated.