I just wanted to inquire about the best workflow with levels / compression / clipping, etc. I know the NP4 mixer optimizes levels across libraries, but does it account at all for clipping or do any sort of compression to leave headroom?
I’m asking because I own BBCSO Pro and the NP playback engine for it and I was going to post @dan_kreider’s sample file from this thread for comparison. Using that file with NP4 with the BBCSO Pro engine loaded, all Dorico levels flat, NPs reverb, and no other plug-ins in Dorico’s mixer (so the default reverb and compression removed) I end up with this:
I suppose this result isn’t at all unexpected with a larger ensemble like this, but it does mean NPPE isn’t quite as simple as load the library or libraries and go. All the individual levels in the NP4 mixer seem ok, it’s just the cumulative output that is pretty clipped.
Obviously I can drag the Master fader down or add a compressor, but I just wanted to see if NP4 is doing any of that internally as well, since I know it is doing some of its own balancing.
(It sure would be nice if Dorico’s mixer had dB levels and the usual green/yellow/red indications.)