Why does SoundID Reference lower my output volume? Safe Headroom feature explained.
In this article:
Safe Headroom feature
The Safe Headroom feature in SoundID Reference is implemented to ensure that even the most sensitive frequencies won't distort. The output is lowered when the Safe Headroom feature is enabled. SoundID Reference cuts and boosts certain frequencies to compensate for the inconsistencies in a particular output's frequency response. Boosting certain frequencies creates a risk that the digital audio will peak above 0 dB and clip. The Safe Headroom feature lowers the output volume by the maximum peak in the correction curve to prevent the output from clipping (prevents gain-staging related audio distortion).
You can disable Safe Headroom and turn the volume fader all the way up at the risk of introducing clipping.
Safe Headroom logic
This feature has a logic that was implemented to avoid sudden gain jumps. It is being followed in the standalone app and plugin. The lowest dB of the preset already loaded will be applied to all future presets, so as not to have any gain differences when switching between them, as shown below. This consistency ensures the most convenient mixing and listening experience.
- When loading multiple presets, newly added profiles will adjust to the lowest Safe Headroom volume of the loaded presets
- The option to readjust the volume after loading the profile remains and will be saved
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