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Topic: Why does a crossover DSP introduce digital clipping? (Read 1799 times) previous topic - next topic
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Why does a crossover DSP introduce digital clipping?

I'm experimenting with setting up a 2.1 system in my office. I'm trying to keep the hardware footprint to a minimum, so I'm using software for almost everything right now.

My setup:
Win10
VoiceMeeter Potato x64
Potato Insert -> Element (VST Host)
Element -> Potato Insert
Potato -> Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 v3, ASIO driver
18i8 outputs 1 & 2 -> Mackie XR624 monitors
18i8 outputs 3 & 4 -> SVS SB3000

All of this works ok with no DSP applied, I can play back ultra-compressed audio (e.g., RHCP's Californication - could use white noise at 0dbfs, too) and the 18i8's meters never show clipping.

When I introduce a crossover VST in Element (I'm using ISOL8), and route channels 1 & 2 through it, I immediately see the meters indicate digital clipping on the 18i8. Note that I get the same result using VoiceMeeter's HPF and with Voxengo's BMS VST. To eliminate the clipping, I need to lower gain by 8dB or so. Why?

Given that I see the same behavior with several different crossovers, I suspect this might be inherent, but it's unclear to me why adding a 24db/octave HPF would cause > 7dB peaks (or add any gain at all). What am I missing?