"Why would you run a converter into clipping?" This has been fairly standard practice. Tons of albums have employed it. Why? It not only increases perceived volume but introduces pleasant harmonics. And a physical converter that is high quality can do this better than a plugin. That said, digital plugins for clipping exist too and is that "insane"? No. They can definitely add vibe and excitement to a mix.
To be fair I think they misunderstand the concept of clipping a converter. It’s not about clipping instruments when recording them, but more so clipping a master just before the final limiting stage. It is going to add density to your mix in a way that’s very transparent. And we’re talking about genres of music that are meant to sound loud. No one’s advocating clipping a string quartet lol
*You clip not the converters - you clip analog circuitry in the path of the chip. Digital converter can only a hard clip. ALL hard clippers are identical in theory. But of "sound clipped converter" can differs because of analog components. IMHO - best thing i even heard while print hot to digital is my zener diode DIY clipper. When i clip ADC i hear how transients start sound like a broken glass...i don't know how to explain it better. Slew rate in analog domain is the very important parameter for analog components you will try to clip. Google it. And don't foget about reconstruction filter in ADC. It affects signal a lot! All this may explain why people clip converters and why they are sounds can different.*
Recently compared Apogee Symphony to the Quartet and to UA Apollo - bypassing all preamps. After about 10 passes DA & AD looped / printed through the boxes . Definitely the Symphony sounded bigger.
"Why would you run a converter into clipping?"
This has been fairly standard practice. Tons of albums have employed it. Why? It not only increases perceived volume but introduces pleasant harmonics. And a physical converter that is high quality can do this better than a plugin. That said, digital plugins for clipping exist too and is that "insane"? No. They can definitely add vibe and excitement to a mix.
To be fair I think they misunderstand the concept of clipping a converter. It’s not about clipping instruments when recording them, but more so clipping a master just before the final limiting stage. It is going to add density to your mix in a way that’s very transparent. And we’re talking about genres of music that are meant to sound loud. No one’s advocating clipping a string quartet lol
Very true! 👍
*You clip not the converters - you clip analog circuitry in the path of the chip. Digital converter can only a hard clip. ALL hard clippers are identical in theory. But of "sound clipped converter" can differs because of analog components. IMHO - best thing i even heard while print hot to digital is my zener diode DIY clipper. When i clip ADC i hear how transients start sound like a broken glass...i don't know how to explain it better. Slew rate in analog domain is the very important parameter for analog components you will try to clip. Google it. And don't foget about reconstruction filter in ADC. It affects signal a lot! All this may explain why people clip converters and why they are sounds can different.*
Recently compared Apogee Symphony to the Quartet and to UA Apollo - bypassing all preamps. After about 10 passes DA & AD looped / printed through the boxes . Definitely the Symphony sounded bigger.