Cool Edit Pro LE question

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 24 May 2006 7:36 am

On each waveform display are two horizontal blue lines, called "boundaries", that represent amplitude levels just under 30,000 (absolute value) in the positive and negative directions. It appears that these lines represent 0 dB.

Is the remaining space between the blue lines and the edges of the "screen" what we would call "headroom"? Are occasional excursions into the "headroom" region OK? or are they discouraged? Is the available headroom +6 dB?

Thanks to any and all for your advice here.

Matthew Prouty · Post by **Matthew Prouty** » 24 May 2006 9:29 am

You are correct these are dB measurements. You can go into the headroom to some degree. The problem you will face is distortion, naturally, of the speaker as it is overdriven. You can experiment with amplifying a track using the Effects - Amplify option. The version I have allows for 3db Boost, 6 dB Boost, and 10 dB Boost, as well as the cuts for these levels. You can experiment and determine where the true limit of the clean headroom lies.

M.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 24 May 2006 11:02 am

Thank you Matthew. I appreciate the help.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 25 May 2006 4:50 am

From a look at the waveform plots of a few tracks from some "contemporary" (like what my 15 year old daughter is listneing to) music CD's, it appears that commercial CD producers figure that 0 to 6 dB headroom region "prime real estate". Move in, take over, set up housekeeping...<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 25 May 2006 at 05:51 AM.]</p></FONT>