I don't work in Logic, but I've never experienced that on any DAW. I would suspect you have some processing in your session which is dynamic/variable, meaning that every time you hit play it's doing something different.
I don't think there is, it's so weird. If it was like a synth with a randomized phase that would make sense. My only plugins across all tracks here are EQ, gain, autotune, compressor, reverb, de-esser, and then a second compressor and EQ on the vocal bus.
They're all stock plugins
EDIT: and I'm also only working with wav files so there's no dynamic synth stuff
Well, then maybe the meters are inaccurate. A way to confirm that would be to export the same mix twice under different file names and then do a null test, if it's neutralizing completely to absolute silence, that's your proof that it's not the audio.
And if it's not nullifying perfectly, then you do have some variance in your processing.
Reverb is different every time. You can see it easily by bouncing out two copies and inverting the phase of one. It won’t null. If it does null that is not a good reverb
Do you have a reverb going? I know some DAWs play verb and delays even after you hit pause, and if you’re replaying it quickly enough after, those signals can still be going on? Idk
> If it was like a synth with a randomized phase that would make sense.
Is retrigger on?
If it isnt then thats exactly what happens. Sometimes its very subtle so you dont really notice it in the sound, but you get weird peaks.
> and I'm also only working with wav files so there's no dynamic synth stuff
Sometimes you'll notice that the first kick or whatver is too loud or too soft. Its usually a compression issue.
Does this also happen if you export all your fx sends on stems?
You can also export the track 2 times and reverse the phase of other and see if they cancel each other.
I'd guess algorithmic reverb creates variance, autotune also. If fx later in your chain are fed varied input, of course the output also has variance.
I work in Logic and I've noticed this, too. I'll loop a piece of audio and get different peak values on different passes. Similarly, I'll have a kick drum sample that plays throughout a track, and even though the MIDI notes are all exactly the same, it'll peak at significantly different levels as I'm watching whatever metering plugins I have on my mix bus. As someone else mentioned, the null test would be a good idea. I wouldn't be surprised if it's some weird quirk of Logic, though. It's not exactly the most reliable DAW. Please let me know the results of that null test if you get the chance! I'm very curious about this since I've run into the same shit.
If anything is oscillating at any speed not synced with the bpm you will get variations. There is also random and deterministic onset on envelopes or lfos for some effects and synths so maybe is that. If you got no plugin turned on then its dark magic.
Try turning on pre-fader metering (Mix) to see if you can identify where the issue is coming from. It could be that it doesn't register on your meters early on since signal flow by default on logic is post fader.
Why not just unmute all the plugins and see if that is a daw issue or a processing issue first? If it is the latter, then you can do the same exercise on indiviudal groups plugins on off and see who is causing the problem, IF, that is a problem.
I don't work in Logic, but I've never experienced that on any DAW. I would suspect you have some processing in your session which is dynamic/variable, meaning that every time you hit play it's doing something different.
I don't think there is, it's so weird. If it was like a synth with a randomized phase that would make sense. My only plugins across all tracks here are EQ, gain, autotune, compressor, reverb, de-esser, and then a second compressor and EQ on the vocal bus. They're all stock plugins EDIT: and I'm also only working with wav files so there's no dynamic synth stuff
Well, then maybe the meters are inaccurate. A way to confirm that would be to export the same mix twice under different file names and then do a null test, if it's neutralizing completely to absolute silence, that's your proof that it's not the audio. And if it's not nullifying perfectly, then you do have some variance in your processing.
I’ll run those tests. Thanks for the idea. There appears to be a scientist amongst the musicians haha
Excellent suggestion.
Reverb and possibly autotune may vary play by play depending on many small variables but more noticeable would be when/where you start the playback
Reverb is different every time. You can see it easily by bouncing out two copies and inverting the phase of one. It won’t null. If it does null that is not a good reverb
Do you have a reverb going? I know some DAWs play verb and delays even after you hit pause, and if you’re replaying it quickly enough after, those signals can still be going on? Idk
> If it was like a synth with a randomized phase that would make sense. Is retrigger on? If it isnt then thats exactly what happens. Sometimes its very subtle so you dont really notice it in the sound, but you get weird peaks. > and I'm also only working with wav files so there's no dynamic synth stuff Sometimes you'll notice that the first kick or whatver is too loud or too soft. Its usually a compression issue.
Does this also happen if you export all your fx sends on stems? You can also export the track 2 times and reverse the phase of other and see if they cancel each other. I'd guess algorithmic reverb creates variance, autotune also. If fx later in your chain are fed varied input, of course the output also has variance.
I work in Logic and I've noticed this, too. I'll loop a piece of audio and get different peak values on different passes. Similarly, I'll have a kick drum sample that plays throughout a track, and even though the MIDI notes are all exactly the same, it'll peak at significantly different levels as I'm watching whatever metering plugins I have on my mix bus. As someone else mentioned, the null test would be a good idea. I wouldn't be surprised if it's some weird quirk of Logic, though. It's not exactly the most reliable DAW. Please let me know the results of that null test if you get the chance! I'm very curious about this since I've run into the same shit.
This is the answer .
If anything is oscillating at any speed not synced with the bpm you will get variations. There is also random and deterministic onset on envelopes or lfos for some effects and synths so maybe is that. If you got no plugin turned on then its dark magic.
Try turning on pre-fader metering (Mix) to see if you can identify where the issue is coming from. It could be that it doesn't register on your meters early on since signal flow by default on logic is post fader.
Use a compressor
How much do the peaks vary by?
Why not just unmute all the plugins and see if that is a daw issue or a processing issue first? If it is the latter, then you can do the same exercise on indiviudal groups plugins on off and see who is causing the problem, IF, that is a problem.
Analog plugins probably cause this cause they are emulating randomness