Bass boost and pre cut (avoid clipping)

[Daemonix]

Hello,
Im trying to find out if the bass boost function compensates the possitive move with some precut of the signal.

The songs now are so slammed on the mastering limiter that they will clip probably

Thanks

[Mihail Zenkov]

AFAIK we try provide same volume with and without bass boost. So if you set +6dB to bass, you should set volume <= -6dB to prevent cliping. If you want you can set "Maximum Volume Limit" to this value.

[Daemonix]

with using the headphone-out on my ipodVideo thats perfect as I never go even near -30db on the volume.

what do you think it will happen with line-out? that usually get max out? (in the iPod I think its max out above 30db or so)

Thanks a lot for your help!

[Mihail Zenkov]

I think - yes. But you can check this: set bass +24dB and vol -24dB - you should hear clean boom bass. Then up volume to -12/-6/0dB - you should hear distortion on bass.

[Daemonix]

thanks a lot!

[saratoga]

The volume control on nearly all devices is analog, not digital, so it won't compensate for digital gain.  You can use the eq preamp for that.

However I thought the bass boost does apply some precut automatically (it's basically a more user friendly interface to the eq).  Am I remembering wrong?

[Mihail Zenkov]

saratoga: just try as I describe. I don't look at source code but I feel we change analog volume for compensation.

[saratoga]

Sorry I just noticed the later post saying it's an iPod video. I belive the bass and treble use the hardware tone controls on the iPod video (most devices don't have that).  I'm not sure how they work, but if they're after the DAC then analog volume might be fine.

[Mihail Zenkov]

In this case I can be wrong, as I check this on clip zip.

Daemonix: Are you try check as I say?

[Daemonix]

Ill try to check it soon on both my ipod video and ibasso bx50. Ill update you soon but I feel that with excessive boost (for the testing you described i mean) the audio will be distorted without the need of clipping to make it worse. Will see.
Thanks a lot for the help guys!

[Mihail Zenkov]

but I feel that with excessive boost (for the testing you described i mean) the audio will be distorted without the need of clipping to make it worse. Will see.

No, it should be clean if no clipping (and if you headphones/speakers can reproduce it without distortion at this volume).

[Daemonix]

but I feel that with excessive boost (for the testing you described i mean) the audio will be distorted without the need of clipping to make it worse. Will see.

No, it should be clean if no clipping (and if you headphones/speakers can reproduce it without distortion at this volume).

I have to think of a way to attenuate the signal after rockbox then. So max out rb, then attenuation, then my monitor speakers.

Edit: now that i think of it, i could record the signal to ableton without overloading the line in and see if the waveform is flatened. I just woke up, i need coffee