Get the entire cheat sheet bundle for free: go.musicianonamission.com/cheat-sheets1665098330801
@garnetmc
Жыл бұрын
Not sure why but the cheat sheets wasn't sent to my email??
@DrLewko
10 ай бұрын
The link displays a banner from click funnels that cannot be removed. Is there any way to get these cheat sheets now?
@racking16
10 ай бұрын
@@DrLewko Right click the banner and the corner banner go inspect and DELETE the line repeat this as many times as it takes
@uriahhoskins4420
9 ай бұрын
@@racking16 Can you dropbox it? Link still trippin
@EasilyExplainedE
8 ай бұрын
@@racking16 Thanks a lot, dear. I've known it here by you and getting it in work on hundreds.🥰
@-303-
3 жыл бұрын
Finally, a gain staging video that talks about how, when, and why to gain stage, and does it in practical terms that are easy to follow and remember. Thank you!
@ahnafsakib
3 жыл бұрын
This is probably the most comprehensive gain staging tutorial in KZitem
@theherbiebrown
3 жыл бұрын
Agreed. Also, easy to understand and follow.
@cassetteo
3 жыл бұрын
But I still don’t understand... when would you realistically use this method if you capture good mic levels and use the volume knob on a virtual instrument. The “trick” really only seems useful when fixing recordings... idk seems kinda pointless if you already have good levels to begin with...
@deadislander
3 жыл бұрын
Select all regions you'd like to gain stage, go to FUNCTIONS>NORMALIZE REGIONS and select PER TRACK before setting your desired dB (try -18 for some head room) no need for a gain plugin at all. Keep in mind this only changes the gain of your regions without being destructive in nature (like a regular gain plugin and unlike typical normalization). After this you need only to monitor the outputs on each of your plugins down your chain. Easy peasy. Will save you a good half hour.
@Rxcch
3 жыл бұрын
forreal
@normanlove222
3 жыл бұрын
@@cassetteo it is pointless IF you CHECK and your track IS in the sweet spot, but you will NOT know that unless you check, and that is what gain staging is. :-) You will find that some are too low or two hig and not in that sweet spot a lot.
@tylerbuckner3750
3 жыл бұрын
Good news: I now know how to gain stage. Bad news: Now I gotta delete my bad mixes and redo them.
@diebeatz
3 жыл бұрын
Same lol 🥲🥲
@dannobman07
3 жыл бұрын
I just redid a mix of mine from a year ago … it now has more clarity and punch becsuse I’ve gotten better at gain staging and EQing properly . It is a process
@itsnomaDMusic
3 жыл бұрын
@Josh Smith FACTS
@CaldoHits
3 жыл бұрын
Lmao, I can relate. About to scrap some mixes.
@ryankainec1248
3 жыл бұрын
but for everything else there's Mastercard
@3hooks781
3 жыл бұрын
Clarifying the important difference between GAIN/VOLUME really did it for me. You are a master at instruction! Thank you for making this concept so accessible! Subbed!
@oscarpatxot659
3 жыл бұрын
As someone with 10 years of experience, its amazing what I can learn everyday
@marioaguilera837
3 жыл бұрын
Finally someone explains this topic clearly, thank you so much for this videos, I am a fan of musician on a mission, keep doing this videos, you are awesome!!!
@maseratifittipaldi
3 жыл бұрын
I don't think gain staging is a "mixing technique" . It is merely a step in the mixing process.
@clawer9
3 жыл бұрын
This is definitely the best gain stage tutorial I've seen. You explain everything so clearly.
@Vintagestep
3 жыл бұрын
Staring January good I see!! Thank you, I can't believe you're putting tutorials this good for free.
@electricfolk
3 жыл бұрын
Quiet you!
@Vintagestep
3 жыл бұрын
@@electricfolk ok boomer.
@electricfolk
3 жыл бұрын
@@Vintagestep We don't want them charging for this stuff, do we?
@Vintagestep
3 жыл бұрын
@@electricfolk I think is important to encourage practices like this or when companies release free VST with pro-quality. Nowadays is harder and harder to stand out as an amateur. The required sound quality and skill have been increasing over the years, and I think the people behind Musician on a Mission know what are they doing, I think is not only safe but also good to recognize that. And sorry if you intended a joke, I'm not a person that recognizes sarcasm and such easily.
@electricfolk
3 жыл бұрын
@@Vintagestep No problem at all, friend. And I agree with you wholeheartedly!
@timothyreynolds6255
3 жыл бұрын
Cakewalk has a Gain knob at top of every channel - just like a physical mixer.
@jishnudutta9270
3 жыл бұрын
also a VU meter on the left
@iambrianjohnson
2 жыл бұрын
11:45 is actually incorrect. 0dBVU does not equal to -18dBFS, unless the K-System is used on the VU Meters, as you can see in the plugin under your REFERENCE LEVEL top left. Change that to -14 and 0db on the VU meter will become -14dBVU. If you change that to -12 then 0 becomes -12dBVU on the meter and -6 and 0dBVU becomes -6 etc. Sure you get the point at this time. 14:30 is also incorrect.
@drewpatrickcampbell
3 жыл бұрын
I’d forgotten I’d watched this video before and that vocal just killed me again.
@PJWEnglish
2 жыл бұрын
A question: Is it ever necessary to gain stage between plugins? For example, when using more than one compressor or saturator on a single track.
@phadrus
9 ай бұрын
Yes
@horriblemind
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks a lot for the video! IMO it made more sence in the old days when you'd mix on an analogue console and had to make sure it doesn't clip too hard or oversaturate. Nowadays it seems a bit redundant because you can saturate/limit/distort each track individually during recording or sound designing. BTW different plugins start distorting the signal at different input values as they are calibrated differently. So instead it would make more sense to me to quickly adjust the input gain of the first plugin on each track, be it channel strip, compressor etc. If your plugin distorts the input signal too much, lower the input gain until it doesn't. That's it. Make sure it sunds nice to you and don't bother too much about the meters on individual tracks. In regards to this topic I strongly recommend watching Mix With The Masters' Inside The Track 39 with Jaycen Joshua in which he literally says "Never look at the meters".
@oinkooink
2 жыл бұрын
So how's about this then...let's says yas done all this and it's all sweet...now the master bus is virtually clipping...and you haven't even started mixing. The master bus with all the tracks gain staged is like peaking at -1 on the DAW digital scale. So now what? You grab all the channel gain controls and turn the whole lot down so it's....so the master is peaking where? -6db? -12db? Gain stage the master channel to be -18 (the 0 on your VU)? If you have to turn it all back down...haven't you just dislodged all the tracks that you just spent time gaining into the sweet spot?? I don't get it DAW bros.
@baseballstud9121
3 жыл бұрын
This video was very helpful, but I'm super confused about the part where you said -18 dbfs is equivalent to 0 VU and then purposefully contradict yourself by showcasing the snare hits, which were peaking at 5 dbfs while hitting 0 VU. When you say -18dbfs = 0VU, are you actually referring to the AVERAGE level and not the peak value? And if that's the case, wouldn't a dbfs measurement like RMS theoretically be more accurate and appropriate to compare with VU?
@eddiecarrizales
3 жыл бұрын
It is more accurate when dealing with high transient material. Shoot for peaks between -12 and -6 or -8. You should be good too go.
@masteringcom
3 жыл бұрын
Good question! It's actually not a contradiction, but I can see the confusion. Basically, the "ears" of the VU meter are much, much slower than the dBFS meter. So if you were to play a constant tone or white noise and set the volume to -18dBFS, then the VU meter would sit at exactly 0dBVU. But because of the speed difference of both meters, the dramatic volume range away from that calibration level is normal. Audio that is extremely dynamic and fast won't register accurately on the VU meter, so it will show up as too quiet. But it WILL register accurately on the dBFS meter. This is why gain staging drums in the digital world has to be done differently, because they typically don't register very accurately on VU meters. tl;dr - 0dBVU = -18dBFS **in theory**, but in the real world it gets messy. As to your other question, an RMS meter would likely be more accurate, but we use a VU meter as plugins are often based on older analog gear. That gear typically had the sweet spot of 0dBVU, so here we are. Hope that helps!
@jelly8594
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks
@scorwitz
3 жыл бұрын
So, I don't really understand why MIDI doesn't have Gain, but upon a second watching, I'm assuming that makes the question I came back here to ask moot. I'll ask anyway, to see if people can expound. As I write, which I often do in the DAW as I go, I'm using mostly MIDI, except for vocals and some percussive elements. It doesn't take long before my stereo track is going far over the top of the meter, and so I start adjusting. I thought this method would be a way to not worry about that and save it until the end, but I had the issue of wondering what to do about all the plug-ins that change gain, volume, perceived volume, etc... I often make adjustments within the actual plug-in to compensate for level and actual sound. Question: Is it safe to say that if the majority of my tracks are MIDI, that this method takes a backseat to adjusting as I am already doing? That, as long as I can make adjustments on each track, in the instrument, plug-in, or even by adding a Gain plug-in at the top, that bring the stereo track back into a reasonable range, while still maintaining the balance and sound that I want, that when I reach the end, I will have already done the high-level mixing as I went?
@jackcavanagh4233
3 жыл бұрын
The only question I'm left with is: am I best gain staging my tracks as I go along or once I've created my track removing all my plug ins and starting again? I've always processed and mixed as I create the track. It's the way I was taught in college and everyone I have ever worked with has also done this
@roikorginal
3 жыл бұрын
exactly my question
@loungermusic
3 жыл бұрын
@@roikorginal Likewise. I can see myself doing this as I go, so that I can add plugins and get the settings right.
@stoneycarter6429
3 жыл бұрын
this is for preparing to mix so its for after you're done creating the track and before you mix
@roikorginal
3 жыл бұрын
@@stoneycarter6429 but I like mixing as I create the track
@paulmoadibe9321
3 жыл бұрын
Doing it for years, didn't know it's called GAIN STAGING... 🙄😏
@daveaugustcomposes
3 жыл бұрын
I mix virtual instruments with lots of plugins as I go along and wouldn't be able to listen to them gain staged evenly without going crazy, but it would make sense to set the few main elements to -18dBVU as a staring point. Thanks for the clear and instructive video.
@anthonynitche9086
3 жыл бұрын
There is an element here that confuses me based on another video you did on the same topic (6 Gain Staging Mistakes) where that process for gain staging is entirely reliant on using gain to change the DB true scale meter on the DAW to be living at -18db (peaking at -10bd) when the volume fader on the track is set to 0. In this video, the advice contradicts this when you gain stage by this method the VU meter will not match up to this and may actually be much lower than 0vu, so which is more important? Making sure each track is gain staged to sit in the -18db true scale on each tracks fader (which is supposed to correspond to 0vu) or using the VU meter to change each track to sit at 0 when the actual db output on the volume meter could be much higher than -18bd?
@SpartanTaco300
3 жыл бұрын
I really like your video it is laid out very nice. I think there are a few small areas where you are overlooking some things. In most DAWS busses have more headroom than individual channels so that summed channels don't clip. This includes the master bus. For me in protools, something hitting -5db is at -15 when sent to the master bus. You are having to push your tracks louder because the vu meter is not in line with the tracks. I'd think you'd want your tracks to meter in the sweet spot on its channel, not the master bus. Whatever your VU meter reads in line on the channel is what you send to a plugin on the insert, not on the master. That's why your levels are so low when trying to use the daw meter, the master has more headroom. IMO the daw's meter is still a decent approximation for gain staging, not it doesn't respond the same, but it also shouldn't be so off. I understand using the master bus speeds up the process, but I think you are unknowingly altering your results. Anyway that's what I think. I am no expert. Maybe there is something I am missing. Let me know what you think.
@petegreenfield8366
2 жыл бұрын
I had a question. Plug ins such as eq or compression will change the gain level, won’t they? Should you meter and adjust their output so they hit the next plug in in the sweet spot? Thanks for a great video!
@phadrus
9 ай бұрын
Yes
@seagers_studio
3 жыл бұрын
Awesome! I dont know the technical side but it would be great if modern audio interfaces had a visual VU meter built in so you could gain stage whilst tracking
@frederickkrug5420
8 ай бұрын
Avalon channel strip But it’s pricey
@macmoll
3 жыл бұрын
Should you gain stage in between each plugin in the chain on a single track? Or is gain staging just at the beginning enough?
@toolondaboards
3 жыл бұрын
Great question!!!
@anthonyrock5039
3 жыл бұрын
You want to do pre plug and listen to the outcome or you may distort in the plug. Then match in and out level especially if you are going into other plugins. -18 is usually what plugins are designed for.
@phadrus
9 ай бұрын
You gain stage the entire signal chain that includes all plugins and buses too
@bonwana2275
3 жыл бұрын
I am only at the 17 minute mark of this video, and I already have a much much better understanding of not only gain staging but of all the tools used to do it. I really do have a much better understanding on how the different meters relate to each other. Thankyou and well done on a subject that is a mystery to alot of people. This video is a must watch for all of us who are trying to get there head around all to do with recording. 👍👍
@papakefis4252
3 жыл бұрын
What's the " right " amount of headroom in the master bus if I want to have a proper mastering after mixing?
@Nick-eo2ol
3 жыл бұрын
Whatever the mastering engineer asks for, usually somewhere between -3 and -1 dB I believe
@ThirdLadderEnt
3 жыл бұрын
There’s an advanced setting where in the mixer you have prefader and post fader views. This is where I gain stage. You’ll know when you’re in prefader mode because the vu meter will be on the left of the fader. Hope this helps.
@iainmcguire7190
3 жыл бұрын
But by that point, you've already passed through all the plugins on the track. And it's not a vu meter, it's a dbfs meter
@ThirdLadderEnt
3 жыл бұрын
@@iainmcguire7190 ok troll, a vu meter can represent different scales of voltage measure. And to switch to prefader mode is just one button click away. I’m just presenting another option, it’s up to user on how they want to proceed. Your workflow is only one of many, and I’m pretty sure you didn’t consider users with dual monitor or more setups.
@iainmcguire7190
3 жыл бұрын
@@ThirdLadderEnt Have you watched the video? He spends a fair bit of time talking about the difference between VU meters and the dbfs meter in your daw. I'm not trolling you, you've missed one of the points he spends quite some time making in the video. And putting the meter into prefader still shows you the value after it passes through all the plugins. The vid is about gain staging to provide a certain level TO those plugins
@ThirdLadderEnt
3 жыл бұрын
@@iainmcguire7190 The actual hardware is a vu meter. dBFS, dBu, voltage, watts, Vrms, Vpeak, Vp-p etc are all measurements.
@iainmcguire7190
3 жыл бұрын
@@ThirdLadderEnt Honestly mate, watch the video.
@gbigbo_zjebeezjeboo
2 жыл бұрын
One question I do have. In this and other videos the advise is to put a gain/trim plug-in at the beginning of a track before any other plugins. However, for example in Ableton, Ableton's Utility (= gain) plugin can't be added before any instrument (eg piano, 909 drum kit, ...) plug-in on a track. How can you then do proper gain staging of that track ? How can you ensure that right from the beginning of the track the track is at the right gain ? Any advise ?
@andymartin2805
3 жыл бұрын
This is the most informative tutorial I have seen to date about gain staging. The tip about clip gain is key as I was using -3dB (normalised) but considering -6dB as the nominal waveform value. Thank you so much for the thorough answers here. Brilliant presentation. Subscribed.
@kamikamen_official
Ай бұрын
Gain staging was such a scary word, but wow you've made it oh so simple. God bless you brother, this was beautiful.
@patrickdinnsen3926
3 жыл бұрын
This immediately made a huge difference in my music. Thank you for all that you guys do. So clear, so concise, and sooooo helpful!!!
@iamgeorgesears
2 жыл бұрын
Sorry, but you forgot to mention, that you have to "calibrate" the VU meter for the said -18dB level, because some of them, like this one, might be set for different value. Also, by -18dBFS peak on Peak Meter, it's meant by average, so you can basicaly take RMS values and go by that, and not use VU meter at all. Of course, the RMS values can be adjusted for Hold time, but it's pretty much the same thing. You touch upon it even after you point it out on the full scale meter.
@infindebula
3 жыл бұрын
In Logic, I usually do control my gain by using the input control of an EQ or compressor at the top of the plugin chain. The gain gets adjusted by the plugin input, and its output will be correct.
@dillansgarage
3 ай бұрын
I was curious about doing it this way vs on the track like he did
@guille_toledo76
3 жыл бұрын
Awesome video...The best I've seen above all the internet crap ! I use studio one 5 VU meter plugin calibrated at -18Db. So I set my track gain to 0. Is it much better to use it instead tbe Track FS led indicator?
@SocietateaAscendenta
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this video! Definitely brought some good points. But, may I ask: on what proven grounds have you actually came to this conclusion - that VSTs react THE SAME WAY as their real-life originals? You can code as much as you want, those VSTs will NEVER react exactly like hardware. Never. Impossible to achieve. With all the randomness and coding and whatever you want. Not saying that VSTs can not (almost or very near) SOUND like the hardware, but they are not that particular hardware, nor function the same. So: if hardware has a sweet-spot for gain staging, how are VSTs doing the same thing? Am actually really curious to learn. Maybe I am missing something. I can’t understand why someone would come to that conclusion. Please and honestly help. Anyone?
@IntimacyLiberationArmy
3 жыл бұрын
This is magic. I wish I knew this last year. You just changed the entire course of my production life.
@masteringcom
3 жыл бұрын
Happy to help!
@mattirwin6089
3 жыл бұрын
Changed my mixing skills and they’re literally 10 times better now. Lol what was I doing before!?!?!? Knowledge is power. Amazing channel and truly life changing that allows me to create And Enjoy mixing. Thanks again brother
@transformerduncan
Жыл бұрын
This guy has the best gain staging tutorial on KZitem
@bassManDavis1953
3 жыл бұрын
Brilliant tutorial, answered all my questions and so helpful
@Doblduardo
Жыл бұрын
Btw, input levels do not make any difference at all for most plugins, even for those in which the instructions tell you there’s a -18 or -12 dBFS sweet spot. And when input levels actually matters, the difference is usually very small. Not sure if it is worth to take the time for gain staging.
@phadrus
9 ай бұрын
Gain staging is not just about hitting your plugins with a certain level, there are many stages to a gain structure, that’s just one
@universitetetioslo5401
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for a very informative video. Just one question; isn´t it also important when you have a chain of plugs, that the output level of the individual plugs is about the same as the input level (in case the plug alters the level)?
@phadrus
9 ай бұрын
Yes
@kevinmccusker1463
3 жыл бұрын
Great video! Finally someone who explains this clearly and in a way that is easily understandable. Question: Once we start to add other plugins to each track do we just adjust the gain on the track further or does each individual plugin have to be adjusted? Also can any of the stock meter plugins in Logic Pro X be used for this method?
@normanlove222
3 жыл бұрын
Wow this explains why my mastering in Ozone would be clipping all the time when the mix was not. You cleared up a lot for me, thank you.
@HITMAN1er
3 жыл бұрын
You could also turn on pre fader metering and gain stage to -18dbs if you don't want to use a VU meter. Process is the same.
@davidpurple3698
3 жыл бұрын
Great video thanks - so when you gain stage pre-mix - you probably have a lot of FX etc going on a track - do you then turn them off before you gain stage - and then turn them on afterwards ?
@omniburn
3 жыл бұрын
If the FX inserts were meant to be "part" of that audio track / instrument (not surgical eq's or dynamic processing), then no. However, you'll do the gain staging before you start doing the mix with FX such as eq, comp, saturation & other stuff to enhance the overall sound.
@richardjames111
3 жыл бұрын
What if you're using hardware synths?? Is it acceptable to have your master volume on the synth at maximum so you're getting everything you can from the hardware?
@playmakersmusic
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for making this video, I learnt a lot. During the 13min mark "Why can't I use my DAW's volume meter?", did you manipulate the volume fader to make the meter go -18dB or did you adjust the gain to make the volume meter around -18dB? There was one put in that section where it felt like you just cut and pasted and the meter suddenly became -18dB. Hope you will reply, thanks!
@yihunediepeveen3419
4 ай бұрын
I have a question:) if you found out that 0dbvu on the VU meter corresponds to -4.5dbfs. Can’t I than just normalize my tracks to the same peak level? Using -4.5 as the limit?
@theherbiebrown
3 жыл бұрын
THANK YOU! This has truly demystified gain staging for me. This is detailed, easy to follow and understand. No fluff. All stuff.
@marioaguilera837
3 жыл бұрын
What do you have to do of after you made all the gain stagging to all of your tracks but the stereo out still clipping?
@masteringcom
3 жыл бұрын
This is normal. Gain staging often makes tracks louder. Now it's time to start the volume balancing process for the instruments in your mix. Just make sure you're not clipping the stereo out after that process. A vid if you'd like one: kzitem.info/news/bejne/o6V7vKmna3mqZKA
@marioaguilera837
3 жыл бұрын
@@masteringcom awesome, thank you so much
@robinbramlett110
3 жыл бұрын
I must have watched over dozens of gain staging videos and still did not know a lick about gain staging. Not so with your video. I now FULLY understand what gain staging is and how to do it. Thanks so much for your time in explaining this the right way. Subscribed.
@phadrus
9 ай бұрын
I’ve had a similar experience. Isn’t it amazing that all these mixing pros can’t seem to explain something so fundamental? I agree this is one of the best videos on the topic by a long shot.
@Gang-25j
7 ай бұрын
Both of you watched some bad videos then, and that’s your fault..because there’s literally a ton of good videos on here about gain staging
@phadrus
7 ай бұрын
@@Gang-25j yes, and many of them are poor quality, you’re entitled to your opinion of course
@robinbramlett110
7 ай бұрын
@@Gang-25jOk. Feel better now? 🙄
@topflight2182
Жыл бұрын
I put VU meters on each individual track and get 0 vu for each individual track. Next I put VU METER on master Fader and get total sum of tracks to 0 vu for master fader . This leaves me at around -6 to -12db headroom. Next I use a gain plugin and limiter to push the MASTER FADER up to PEAK at 0db no clipping. Here’s the problem , the VU METER on the MASTER FADER is now in the red zone . It’s like I have to choose 0VU or 0db Peak .
@Metalbass10000
Жыл бұрын
I've been playing guitar and bass for well over three decades, played live plenty, and have been in professional studios numerous times, but I am new to home recording. This will help, thank you!
@alexmagor
2 жыл бұрын
The vu meter reacts much more slowly compared to a digital meter. The vu meter is giving you more of an average level not a peak level. Drums will always have a relatively lower average level since the nature of the instrument is each hit is very loud for a very short duration as opposed to a more sustained instrument like a piano or guitar. If you want an average level you can pull up a digital rms meter (which is included in logic under the metering plugins). The rms around -20db will correspond to 0 dbvu on the vu meter and will likely be more accurate than the vu meter. From experience I usually just get all my tracks to peak around -7db using the digital meter and that will correspond to an average around 0dbvu on an analog meter. For me it is just a faster way to work.
@timmah4476
3 жыл бұрын
Literally amazing!! Thank you so much for this awesome content that you guys are putting out! Kudos 🙌 any tips about gain staging between chains of plugins where they may alter gain? Would you be tweaking input gain and output volume along the way (from plugin to plugin) by soloing the track and using that VU meter on the master / mix bus?? (That’s going on my template today btw 😜)
@jonathantoscano5038
Жыл бұрын
Great video! I just wanted to ask if you would you attemp to normalize overly dynamic vocals just as you did with the drum tracks?
@Doblduardo
Жыл бұрын
With all due respect, the guy does not understand how clipping works in digital sound. In your DAW it will just occur when you bounce, at the final stage when you convert digital to analog. You can take your drums to about 0VU before feeding the signal to a plugin and get the benefits of the sweet spot (if there is such, which is doubtful) and then use a gain plugin to lower the signal down after being processed (you could even lower it down at the master track). You can have a +48dB gain before a plugin, and you are good if after the plugin, anywhere before the final output you have a -48dB gain. You can easily test it. Even if you have your tracks in red, if your final output is not clipping you will have no clipping. You should not worry about gain staging. Just make sure you reach your plugins that at the sweet spot(in case they have it, most of them don’t) and also that your master track does not clip. If you don’t believe this, you can test it by duplicating a track , invert the phase in the duplicate track (no sound will be heard). You can then add +50dB to your first track and route it to an aux track where you add -50dB. The first track will seem to clip like hell and yet you will still hear no sound, which means both signals are the same, therefore no real clipping.
@jorgeespino2403
Жыл бұрын
Question, could you gain stage without a VU meter using the sweet spot law (-18) by using logic pro’s PRE FADER readings and adjusting the region’s gain?
@GregsGuitarLessons
3 жыл бұрын
I enjoy this for speaking to gain staging for individual channels, and their relationship to plugins. But I’d love to see a follow up that addresses the issues that will come from stacking so much channels with that much gain. Your aux busses and 2 buss would certainly clip with cumulative levels adding up. Any chance we see the follow up? Thanks for what you do!
@StonethrownMusic
3 жыл бұрын
Agreed
@shanehen
2 жыл бұрын
Correct. This video has some good info but I advise not using a VU meter calibrated to -18. Just use the dBFS meter. I set my initial levels using pink noise and all is great. At the end I’m usually having to push a compressor to get to -6 on my 2-bus. Unless someone has a measurable, scientific definition of what “sweet spot” is then it’s just nebulous language that gained a life of its own.
@deplinenoise
Жыл бұрын
Digital clipping is only a thing on the final output bus or render. Within virtually all modern DAWs all sample data is flowing as floating point (32 or 64 bit). FP doesn’t clip the way integers do. You can add 100dB and take away 100dB without clipping in the middle of a plug-in chain. If you clip on track clip gain then switch daws.
@ARegularHuman97
3 жыл бұрын
What do you do after gainstaging when the plug-ins you add are making your samples/instruments louder?:)
@merian21
3 жыл бұрын
adjust the plugins output to make up for it?
@phadrus
9 ай бұрын
@@merian21yes
@ulrichburke
2 жыл бұрын
He says 'Make sure everything's panned to the centre. I don't want anything panned to the side if I can avoid it.' But he doesn't say WHY! I know he's doing gain staging before mixing, but wouldn't you want something to sound good panned to the right place as opposed to just to the middle? He didn't explain that bit (mainly because he's going for people a leetle less dumb than me, I suppose, but still!) Chris.
@newsomething8682
3 жыл бұрын
super helpful! Thank you for this great tutorial in 2021! Happy New Year!
@goofygrape5145
3 жыл бұрын
I'm asking a question that was asked previously but I'm not sure I saw a clear answer. Let's say I'm gain staging a single bass track. I'm assuming I meter with all of the plugins (amplitube, t-racks etc) turned off. Is that correct? Thanks in advance!
@stoneycarter6429
3 жыл бұрын
no you meter after you've committed the track to audio OR you're gain staging no plugins and then maintain zero through each plugin because each plugin modifies gain with its own controls
@baassik8419
2 жыл бұрын
You took (most) of the fear out of gain staging. Starting to really mix for real and this explanation is perfect! Thank you!
@peppercrybeatz
Жыл бұрын
I normally adjust the gain in Cubase by dragging down the volume control on the wave itself, and thus adjusting the size of the wave, similar to your second option. I presume this is ok? :)
@christophpetersart3803
3 жыл бұрын
PRE FADER - POST FADER.
@Larholk
3 жыл бұрын
For what I know. -18dbfs does not always equal 0db VU. You have to check your ADC and DAC to know what your system is calibrated for. For instance RME cards are not possible to follow this alignment. The closest it gets is the "Hi-Gain mode", where 0dBFS is aligned to +19dBu. On other converters, MOTU to name one, you have to measure an and trim to align.
@SlayerDarkRaver
3 жыл бұрын
Im mixing as I go and I've always gainstaged to -12 dbfs. I'll definitely try this out instead :)
@stephenfell4338
3 жыл бұрын
Thats good i do the same
@claydefoe8564
3 жыл бұрын
thats not gain staging though . You are supposed to change the dbvu
@SlayerDarkRaver
3 жыл бұрын
@@claydefoe8564 gainstage has multiple steps, this is one of my first step. :)
@veronicameza
2 жыл бұрын
wonderful tutorial! very easy to understand and follow. Excellent! Thank you
@ivanthedictatormusic
3 жыл бұрын
This is the best updated video since Rob made that tutorial! Thanks! Now I understand better! You made my day!
@theq937
3 жыл бұрын
agreed! The first gain staging video was a game changer for me, and this FAQ really drives the concept home and clears up some confusion (particularly around how/why to use a vu meter)
@masteringcom
3 жыл бұрын
That was the idea!
@theq937
3 жыл бұрын
@@masteringcom would love a follow up video on gain stage automation / region based gain staging!
@marcuslawson9750
3 жыл бұрын
How do you gain stage without undoing the balance that the producer/artist already liked when the mix came in ? Bc obviously this is very necessary but I’m having a hard time understanding how to change the gain structure without changing the “balance” of the mix (without re doing it after the fact which would be merely guess work)
@phadrus
9 ай бұрын
If the producer already had a balance then select all tracks and lower them all and even amount to hit at about -18 db overall using clip gain. That will get you in the sweet spot but maintain the balance / relationship. Essentially you are starting with a static mix pre plugins but dialing it to the -18 db area so plugins have what they need.
@bobpeace
3 жыл бұрын
Two questions: how do you/do you need to gain stage reverb sends etc? Also, when u add a plug-in that may change the gain do u simply use the VU meter once again to note and subsequently correct changes? Thx! Bob Peace
@user-sx3nt2bf2u
3 жыл бұрын
1. Why though it’s in a background of a mix and you probably won’t saturate or compress it. 2. Just adjust the output level to be the same as an input level to the plugin and you’re fine
@collintoh1697
3 жыл бұрын
If I send a vox to a Bus for reverb/delay, is it better to send at 0 then adjust Return accordingly or vice visa? Thanks
@user-sx3nt2bf2u
3 жыл бұрын
@@collintoh1697 Only the initial signal without effects should be gain staged after gain staging you will probably level all tracks using a fader. I would just blend wet rev/del signal accordingly to the whole mix. As the guy in the video said you should gain stage only important elements. Hope I answered your question 😉
@anoopkvpoduval
3 жыл бұрын
I always add fx send at the end of the track's inserts chain, then adjust the send level just by listening. The issue is when I apply a limiter on my mix bus. It would start boosting my effects. Then I come back and struggle with the send level and every insert on the effects track! Wondering what is the pro way of doing this
@philmartin7474
3 жыл бұрын
This is GREAT!!!! Thank you so much 👍👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@najsmusic7611
Жыл бұрын
Comprehensive, straight to the point and easy to understand. Thank you for refreshing me on this!
@PangaeaMusic
5 ай бұрын
it s totally fine to clip on peak to put the VU at place if its a synth ... specially if are using 32 bits . its just not fine for drums because drums cant be captured by VU cos vu measurement needs 300 ms.
@siderlandmusic
3 жыл бұрын
How’s the gain stage applied to subgroup processing? What’s the sweetspot level for a subgroup and its plugins?
@eccentricworx
3 жыл бұрын
It's actually the same. Adjust faders of the channels that go into the subgroup until you hit average 0 VU in the subgroup input. Just for understanding it could help if you have in mind that Gain-Staging is the process you would do in every Old Style Analogue Console with VU Input Meters... By the way, in the old days with Analogue it was also part of the sound if you hit the channel inputs a little harder... 😉
@siderlandmusic
3 жыл бұрын
@@eccentricworx Thanks man! Appreciate it!
@greenenoiseaudio
3 жыл бұрын
Adjusting the channel volume, feeding your buses, with their faders isn't optimal imo as it eats into the channel volume automation resolution in most DAWs. I prefer to either use a trim or something like a channel strip if you have them set up as your first plugin in your template to reduce the input volume for buses.
@siderlandmusic
3 жыл бұрын
@@greenenoiseaudio great man, tanks! You mean setting the VU meter and a gain plugin at the beginning of the bus channel chain, right?
@greenenoiseaudio
3 жыл бұрын
@@siderlandmusic You can continue to gain stage with the VU meter yes but it may not be necessary at that point if you have gain staged individual channels, depending on what your work flow is. Reducing the level of your buses using trims by the amount that gives you a decent amount of headroom may be all you need. If you use lots of bus processing, specifically analog modelled plugins, it may be more important. If you use outboard for mixing it is obviously important to gain stage this correctly. In the real world people push into gear and you may end up having your VU meter above 0 on average anyway. Plugins won't necessarily respond in the same way so I do tend to be more conservative with them but different plugins say they have different sweet spots, if they tell you at all, anyway. Summing tracks will always mean they have a higher average volume than the individual tracks, both with your buses and mix bus, and the more tracks, the higher the average volume. It's up to you if the extra gain staging makes a difference sonically to you. You can test it. Try it on your mixbus; 1) where you have decent headroom (say 6db) and apply your processing, 2) gain stage it with a VU meter and apply the same processing. Level match, bounce and blind A/B test it. If you can pick a consistent winner and the extra time to do it every mix (if any) is worth it to you then do that would be my advice.
@SachinSharma-kv1eq
2 жыл бұрын
from where i can change the normalizing setting to specific -6db in FL STUDIO?
@darknessretreatsatournamem1748
3 жыл бұрын
This is is definitely the best video/tutorial on Gain Staging I've come across, blows the Izotope one out the water (which is still a very good video to check out in regards to their Mix Assistant feature). Answered 99% of my questions I had coming into this video (sort of answered the final 1%). For me I arrange the entire song out from start to finish of all MIDI related tracks (with very little, if any at all, of effects). Reasoning is to just get the idea down as fast as possible, so I don't do any Gain Staging during that period. Once I've exhausted all my MIDI Instrument Ideas and have the song structure laid out, I'll bounce all MIDI to Audio and start adding the Audio Samples I'd like to use in the project. This is where I get stuck on whether to Gain Stage at this point or wait, because in this point of the process I'm also adding effects and manipulating a few of the tracks depending on the genre (Dubstep bass for example). I do use Izotope Relay and Imager in correlation with their Mix Assistant feature which I love. The problem is (and this is where the Izotope tutorial falls short) there is no clear idea on when is the exact right time to use it, Izotope shows it in relation to doing the mix for someone else and not as if you're doing a personal project. I feel like I should be gain staging at the point of bouncing all MIDI to Audio files, but at same time feel it should be in my 3rd stage (which is where I start to add Vocals) after I've got much clearer image of the song and all the pieces to the puzzle have been laid out ready for mixing. Sorry for the length, hope it makes a bit of sense. Thank for the info, definitely gonna help.
@darknessretreatsatournamem1748
3 жыл бұрын
1 or 2 more question. Is it ok to to gain stage the same track multiple times while you perfect it before getting to the actual mixing? For example if you have to bounce the track several times because the number of plugins you have on currently are causing DSP problems, would you do the gain staging again after you bounce the track with previous plugins set in stone to the new audio tack but before doing any more effects/plugins? 2nd question. After setting the gain stage do you adjust the volume of the plugins that follow to ensure you stay in the relative "sweet spot"?
@xFanXAnime
3 жыл бұрын
So for example, when i load a heavy kick drum sample and the VU shows me +9 dB, am i supposed to bring the kick back down to zero or should i keep it where it is at this point?
@shane030716
3 жыл бұрын
After gain staging each track to around 0dBVU, then playing all tracks together, the stereo out is clipping. Do we need to worry about it?
@greenenoiseaudio
3 жыл бұрын
Not really. Not because you should make a habit of clipping your mixbus but because you haven't even really begun mixing yet. As explained in the video, gain staging is just so the input of your plugins are seeing the "right level". After you gain stage you can do a couple of things; begin mixing by balancing the levels of your tracks, negatively in your case (i.e. reducing the channel volume so you are taking away overall volume from the mix) or if you have your channels routed to sub buses (e.g. all drums, all music, all vox etc) you can insert a trim plugin and reduce all channels by a set amount, say 6db, until you have enough headroom to increase and decrease channel volume as you like. I'd recommend the second option. It's a much more flexible way to work. I prefer to balance tracks with a trim like that as it gives your fader maximum resolution for automation moves later should you need them.
@masteringcom
3 жыл бұрын
Nope! That's normal. Now you need to do your volume balancing for the instruments in your mix. Just make sure you're not clipping the stereo out after that process.
@tsukkikei571
3 жыл бұрын
Musician on a Mission do you mean need to do volume balancing by fader?
@kahyui2486
Жыл бұрын
@@greenenoiseaudio how do u take away volume at the beginning of your mix chain without changing the gain? Makes no sense to me
@greenenoiseaudio
Жыл бұрын
@@kahyui2486 sorry I either don’t understand you or you’ve misread what I’ve written. I don’t think I said that at any stage.
@tempest63132
3 жыл бұрын
Should guitar/bass guitar DI's be gain staged at 0dVU too? Incredible video! Thank you so much!
@inlandcoastalband539
3 жыл бұрын
Starting out the year tackling a mix for a super exciting track and this video was such a killer refresher. Keep up the good work guys! Cheers
@NaturallyWired5150
3 жыл бұрын
How should you approach gain staging on the final mixbus? Given the fact that here is where you might want a few plugins, compressor/eq/limiter etc, should the overall level be around 0dBVU still ?
@phadrus
9 ай бұрын
Really good question
@Ayoteet
3 жыл бұрын
I finally comprehend gain staging. Well done.👏🏽 Thank you!
@musicproductionvideos5019
3 жыл бұрын
Great info in this video. But isn't Gain Staging "all the thru the chain".. checking each plugin I/O levels ? So this video is not complete gain stating... just the first step.
@phadrus
9 ай бұрын
You are right, the video is incomplete. Gain staging is done through the whole signal chain including the buses
@Semihcenk
3 жыл бұрын
is 0 on the VU meter also the sweet spot for the vocals?
@TheFujac
3 жыл бұрын
According to the video it's the sweet spot for any plug ins that you'll use on your vocal
@masteringcom
3 жыл бұрын
The rules in this video apply to vocals as well. Just try to get them sitting around 0dBVU on average. If that doesn't happen, then you may need to do some gain automation. Video on that comes out next week!
@cristianomoro_music
Жыл бұрын
What a great video, thanks for sharing! What about level balancing? Should I do it after gain staging, but before tracks precessing? Thank you
@EGONOZON
3 жыл бұрын
This is fantastic information! Thank you for explaining it in a way that also I who‘s just started out to produce music can understand it. Great job, just subscribed to the channel and looking forward to more great content.
@ginxbeatz8591
11 ай бұрын
11:44 For Logic Pro x you actually have to switch to pre fader metering before you gain stage with it’s peak meters.
@Gongtopia
3 жыл бұрын
This is one of the best explanations and demos of gain staging I've seen. You made it very understandable. Well done and thanks!
@JacobRestituto
9 ай бұрын
this was very helpful, thank you!
@DavidRavenMoon
3 жыл бұрын
The compressor has an input gain control. You don’t need to add a gain plugin in. Just turn the input gain on the compressor up. You are adding a redundant plugin.
@GrumpyOldBoy
3 жыл бұрын
That's not true if you want transparency. As you increase input in a compressor you'll receive more of that compressors sonic signature and character. Remember, all compressors have a quality. Some are more transport than others. Total transparency in this phase is absolutely demanded. If you want more of the compressors color, then sure go for it; but we aren't even mixing yet so is that a good option for most of us even?
@jellewierda3828
3 жыл бұрын
You can select all regions and change the gains individual in one go. dBs or LUFS. Not behind logic right now but you can do this with a tool in logic where you can change the gains of multiple regions. Much faster then this method.
@phadrus
9 ай бұрын
Yes, or normalise all tracks at once
@officialnoslenj
3 жыл бұрын
Dylan, I have been trying to learn this for months. Today, I get it. I love your teaching method, speed, and style.
@masteringcom
3 жыл бұрын
Aww shucks! You're making me blush. 😅 Happy to help.
@Spider-Man_earth616
3 жыл бұрын
@@masteringcom What side of the meter do I read?
@yosoyelsupremo
3 жыл бұрын
I do the *White noise -4.0dB* gain staging, that works really well.
@DJZONIMUSIC
3 жыл бұрын
FINALLY SOMEBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THIS!!!!!!
@BrandonofRedemption
3 жыл бұрын
Agreed. It seemed so mysterious!
@marklholloway
3 жыл бұрын
Nice video! Curious in the days after analog mixers but before DAWs, did the digital clipping issue exist for digital consoles in the 90’s?
@glennskinner9564
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video. I hope you won’t mind me offering a different view. Your method doesn’t take into account that most producers will arrive at a mix with a balance that they have already worked hard on and won’t want to lose. I would advise that preferable to individual gain adjustment, you select ALL the tracks and during the loudest part of the song apply a single gain adjustment to them all at the same time. I personally aim for around -18 LUFs overallto start, knowing that by the time I get to the end of the mix it will go up and be close to my final -14 LUFs destination. Thanks for all of the great content
@kahyui2486
Жыл бұрын
How do you go about adjusting the gain of all tracks at once? Do u put a gain plugin on the master
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