How to Stop Clipping on the FL Studio Master Channel
Fix red-lining and distortion in FL Studio. Learn how to manage your levels and use the limiter to keep your Master channel clean.
Clipping occurs when your audio signal exceeds 0dB, resulting in harsh digital distortion. This guide helps you manage gain staging to keep your Master channel in the 'green.'
Follow these steps
Identify the Peak Levels
Look at your Mixer (F9) and identify which tracks are hitting the red. The Master fader should ideally never go into the red during the mixing phase.
Lower Individual Track Faders
Select all your mixer tracks (except the Master) and pull them down together. This lowers the overall volume while keeping your relative mix balance the same.
Reduce Gain at the Source
Check the volume knobs inside your VST instruments and Sampler channels. It is better to lower the volume at the source than to fix it later in the mixer.
Use a Safety Limiter
Ensure a Fruity Limiter is on the last slot of the Master track. Set the 'Ceiling' to -0.1dB to act as a safety net against any unexpected peaks.
Common mistakes
- Simply lowering the Master fader instead of fixing the loud individual tracks.
- Ignoring the red lights on individual mixer inserts.