Ensemble Videos

How to prevent digital clipping when recording or mastering with Apogee’s Soft Limit

Soft Limit is an Apogee technology first introduced in 1992 on Apogee’s AD-500 converter and it’s still available on the Duet, Quartet, Ensemble and Symphony I/O

This superior analog design prevents the digital clipping that causes distortion by instantaneously rounding off transient peaks before they hit the analog-to-digital converter.

Soft Limit allows several more decibels of apparent level to be recorded,
and works great for an enthusiastic singer or Drummer

Not only can Soft Limit be a great tool for tracking, but can also be a great mastering tool

Here’s a trick you can do to get a few more db out of your track and add some analog warmth.

On Output 1 & 2 in Logic, set up an analog insert by going to Utility_ I/O

Assign the Output… to 3&4 or 5&6… assuming you don’t have monitors connected to these outputs
And choose any pair of inputs. We will choose 1&2

Use two TRS to XLR Male cables to connect the outputs to the Inputs

Set the inputs you chose to +4bdu in the Maestro Input page
And Engage Soft Limit on these two inputs

In the I/O window click on “Ping”… and Logic will set a latency offset Now hit Play
If the output of your mix is low, you may need to boost the gain with the gain plug in.
Put it right before the I/O plug in.
Or you can add a compressor, eq, or anything you wish to shape the sound

As you see we have boosted the gain a fair amount but the mix stays below zero.

Soft Limit is great tool for tracking and mastering… or great effect on a single instrument to give it punch. Now just experiment and find the sound you like.