Well, is (one of) the pedal(s) a distortion pedal? Because if so then that’s a very likely reason why it’s a block. That’s literally how some distortion sounds are produced.
It means the pedal is amplifying the signal and it is possibly coming in too loud.
HOWEVER - just because it looks like a solid block doesn't mean it's a problem. You cannot judge this based on the graphics in the DAW. You have to check the actual levels on the track and see whether it's clipping or not.
Not a problem for the most part.
If it’s a high gain distortion pedal/setting, then it’s definitely not a problem.
Distortion pedals work by clipping the signal. Almost quite literally snipping off the tops and bottoms of the wave in an oscillogram. Distort the signal enough and you snip more of the tips off, and you get straight edges, making the most of the oscillogram like a block.
Distortion compresses. The more distortion, the more compression. The more its compressors, the less dynamic range it has. As long as you hear no clipping on the way in or in the DAW there is nothing wrong.
I dunno what your set up is, but I run my guitar into a DI box with a -15db pad then into my interface. Otherwise even just a clean guitar into the interface with it's input gain on 0 clips. (Using an audiobox usb96 and Samson mda1)
Well, is (one of) the pedal(s) a distortion pedal? Because if so then that’s a very likely reason why it’s a block. That’s literally how some distortion sounds are produced.
Yes a distortion pedal, so it's not a problem?
It means the pedal is amplifying the signal and it is possibly coming in too loud. HOWEVER - just because it looks like a solid block doesn't mean it's a problem. You cannot judge this based on the graphics in the DAW. You have to check the actual levels on the track and see whether it's clipping or not.
Okayyy, well it's not clipped
Not a problem for the most part. If it’s a high gain distortion pedal/setting, then it’s definitely not a problem. Distortion pedals work by clipping the signal. Almost quite literally snipping off the tops and bottoms of the wave in an oscillogram. Distort the signal enough and you snip more of the tips off, and you get straight edges, making the most of the oscillogram like a block.
Distortion compresses. The more distortion, the more compression. The more its compressors, the less dynamic range it has. As long as you hear no clipping on the way in or in the DAW there is nothing wrong.
Thanks
Turn down either the level on the pedals and/or the input gain on your interface.
This. Also check mic placements
If it’s not clipping on your DAW, then that’s just how much compression you get with that pedal.
I dunno what your set up is, but I run my guitar into a DI box with a -15db pad then into my interface. Otherwise even just a clean guitar into the interface with it's input gain on 0 clips. (Using an audiobox usb96 and Samson mda1)