Gain staging has been driving me crazy. Knowing how to set it correctly is the foundation of Mixing and ultimately Mastering. This is by far the best explanation & tutorial I've ever seen, and I've seen tons. I now understand it. Thank you so much for this.
Well thank you so much. If you like this, then my Mixing Made Easy Vol 1 course may interest you as well. This weekend it's 40% off to people on my mail list. So make sure you are on it. all you need to do is download the FREE mixing course on the website www.homerecordingmadeeasy.com
Thanks, David. This really has made a difference in my mixing process. As a student of yours I can honestly say that your courses, where you go step by step in detail about the mixing and mastering process, have skyrocketed my knowledge of mixing and mastering. To date I have mixed and mastered half a dozen of my own songs and released them to major distribution channels. So exciting. I would encourage anyone looking for a good teacher and coach to consider investing in David's courses. I promise you won't be sorry and you will have a lifetime partner...a real sound engineer right there every step of the way. Thanks again David. I am working on two new songs at this time and will have them mixed and mastered in no time. It's such a joy to do this once you know how.....before I discovered you I was just floundering in the dark....better to be in the light. Love it!!
I did some gain staging today in Studio One and I am pleased with the results. This will work very well in preserving the dynamic range of the tracks as well as avoiding clipping and will give the listener a quality song.
Thamk you very much. I have studio one 4.5. I built a macro that sets all tracks to peak at minus 18. Just select all and hit the macro and they all set at once
Really, really, really, really, R E A L L Y helpful! I was only looking for the input gain tick box, and you've walked me through the whole process, with all sorts of extras I had not considered. Subscribed! Thank you, I'm looking forward to delving in to your channel for more! Happy New Year! 🙂
Great vid explaining gain staging. Probably good to note you are in pre fader mode when doing this and not post fader mode. Sometimes this can be confusing for new engineers.
Great video Dave!!! Studio One made gain staging easier with the I/O controls input trims on the mixer. That saves me a slot for my VST plugins, like my Plugin-Alliance channel strips I've subscribed to. Keep 'em coming!!! I like the tune by the way....
One of the best explanation for gain staging thanks a lot. But I have learned somewhere that master fader can be around negative 6 before mastering. So what is that mean? Im just a beginner.
Great, explained this very well! If take it one step further, do one pass to get the levels under control. Second pass using the clip gain to get a rough mix, just adding one instrument at a time. Then usually by that time you will have a good idea of what needs processing and your mix will have a flow.
Hello David, amazing tutorials mate! I was wondering if you could reduce input gain on busses ie once the individual channels of the drum parts are set, if it is too hot then use the bus input gain to prevent clipping oat the master. Seems like an idea, what do you say? Thanks and keep up the good work!
Hi David So you want to keep all your faders at unity zero until the mixing stage, that’s why you don’t just make the adjustments at this point with the faders right? Thank you
Great example video! I like your style of teaching. I'm going to guess (and check your other courses) that setting up a live show would be similar with the exception of staging the input instead of a recorded track. Does that sound reasonable?
@@RomansVIII Basically, using something like the Hornet VU meter is the same as using the mixtool in the DAW, so why pay for something you already have? Yes the VU meter is nice to look at but you already have meters on each channel...
@@DavidSJ_DAP The "selling" point on these VU plugins is that they sell the idea of getting an "analog" sound when summing each channel to a bus using a "VU bus" plugin, such as you can find with for example Sonimus with their rack channels that emulates the Neve/SSL consoles. But yeah, the idea of gain staging is easy as just using a trim tool or by just lowering the gain in the clip directly
Thank you Dave when using the meter method personas now has a VU meter for each channel what would you recommend it be set to 18' 12' or 6 ? (I have used 12) Were do you set the master fader slider to? and do you need to put on Studios ones limiter? all the rest of the lesson is very clear and has been helpful.please clarify and recommend these settings.kind regards Stephen F
Very helpful and informative, thank you! Not so sure I agree with the xylophone comment though... If it was cowbell, that'd be different - every song needs cowbell 😊
When using analog emulation plugins (e.g. of the ssl-9000j) and console shaper/ctc-1 etc, do you gain stage first before any of these plugins or mix engines are on and then switch them on after or do you gain stage with these particular plugins/mix engine on (on zero or default) ? what about gain staging using for example the 'In Gain' (trim knob) on the ssl plugin for a quicker workflow? also, when it comes to doing the static mix, is it advisable to do it with analog channel strips/console emulations on or do it on the channel strip emulation like using the fader on the ssl plugin?
I thought clipping is only when the track turns red. Also, this all seems eyeball " around -12 db" I thought ther was an average display on the track, no? Thanks again, fella.
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Gain staging has been driving me crazy.
Knowing how to set it correctly is the foundation of Mixing and ultimately Mastering.
This is by far the best explanation & tutorial I've ever seen, and I've seen tons.
I now understand it.
Thank you so much for this.
Well thank you so much. If you like this, then my Mixing Made Easy Vol 1 course may interest you as well. This weekend it's 40% off to people on my mail list. So make sure you are on it. all you need to do is download the FREE mixing course on the website www.homerecordingmadeeasy.com
Thanks, David. This really has made a difference in my mixing process. As a student of yours I can honestly say that your courses, where you go step by step in detail about the mixing and mastering process, have skyrocketed my knowledge of mixing and mastering. To date I have mixed and mastered half a dozen of my own songs and released them to major distribution channels. So exciting. I would encourage anyone looking for a good teacher and coach to consider investing in David's courses. I promise you won't be sorry and you will have a lifetime partner...a real sound engineer right there every step of the way. Thanks again David. I am working on two new songs at this time and will have them mixed and mastered in no time. It's such a joy to do this once you know how.....before I discovered you I was just floundering in the dark....better to be in the light. Love it!!
Thank you so much for the kind words and for you support. I am truly grateful and I am so happy to hear that the courses have helped you.
@@HomeRecordingMadeEasy you are very welcome. Getting ready to dive in to your "Mixing Made Easy Vol 4-battle of plugins" course. Harold.
You, indeed, deserve us to call your tutorials "master classes"
Thank you? I think? LOL
THIS IS FANTASTIC INFO, PARTICULARLY SINCE I USE STUDIO 1. I have been gain staging on the last couple projects and my partners have been so pleased.
That's great! Thank you for watching!
I did some gain staging today in Studio One and I am pleased with the results. This will work very well in preserving the dynamic range of the tracks as well as avoiding clipping and will give the listener a quality song.
Thank you for watching!
Thamk you very much. I have studio one 4.5. I built a macro that sets all tracks to peak at minus 18. Just select all and hit the macro and they all set at once
There you go! Great idea!
@@HomeRecordingMadeEasy thanks again for all you do! You have been a great help to an old musician turned recording engineer.
Thanks David, great video!
Glad you liked it!
Really, really, really, really, R E A L L Y helpful! I was only looking for the input gain tick box, and you've walked me through the whole process, with all sorts of extras I had not considered. Subscribed! Thank you, I'm looking forward to delving in to your channel for more! Happy New Year! 🙂
Glad I could help!
Thank you Dave!
You're welcome
Thanx Unc! Very informative and mystery free!
Thanks brother!!
You explain it well, thank you brother
So nice of you. If you want to learn mixing check this ut
https;//www.mxingmadeeasy.net
Thanks for the gain staging info... Priceless! And again, unlike winging it like the Presonus you know whos...
You bet!
Great vid explaining gain staging. Probably good to note you are in pre fader mode when doing this and not post fader mode. Sometimes this can be confusing for new engineers.
Glad it was helpful
Great video Dave!!! Studio One made gain staging easier with the I/O controls input trims on the mixer. That saves me a slot for my VST plugins, like my Plugin-Alliance channel strips I've subscribed to. Keep 'em coming!!! I like the tune by the way....
Thank you my friend!
Thank you very much!
You're welcome!
Thanks! That was super helpful!
Glad it helped!
One of the best explanation for gain staging thanks a lot. But I have learned somewhere that master fader can be around negative 6 before mastering. So what is that mean? Im just a beginner.
-6DB is where you want your mix to end up when you are complete.
Do I need to you use the VU meter ?
no, not necessary
Great, explained this very well! If take it one step further, do one pass to get the levels under control. Second pass using the clip gain to get a rough mix, just adding one instrument at a time. Then usually by that time you will have a good idea of what needs processing and your mix will have a flow.
Great point! Thanks for the tip and for watching!
after you have done all the gain staging should you turn your track faders down to let's say -10 before treating tracks? good video bye the way
no. keep your fader at 0
Thank you sir,, 🙏..
Most welcome
Hello David, amazing tutorials mate! I was wondering if you could reduce input gain on busses ie once the individual channels of the drum parts are set, if it is too hot then use the bus input gain to prevent clipping oat the master. Seems like an idea, what do you say? Thanks and keep up the good work!
sure, you can do that
Man That's Plain A Simple Good Video...
Glad you liked it
Hi David So you want to keep all your faders at unity zero until the mixing stage, that’s why you don’t just make the adjustments at this point with the faders right? Thank you
Yes, exactly
Great example video! I like your style of teaching.
I'm going to guess (and check your other courses) that setting up a live show would be similar with the exception of staging the input instead of a recorded track. Does that sound reasonable?
Correct!
Thank you for this video. I have a question. Why not just turn down the fader nob on each track? I always do that and now am wondering, thank you!
Ok you answered it at the end there. What about using a gain staging plugin? I have the Hornet VU Meter, is that a good way to do it as well?
I guess you could do that as well. I never tried a gain staging plugin before but it sounds reasonable.
@@RomansVIII Basically, using something like the Hornet VU meter is the same as using the mixtool in the DAW, so why pay for something you already have? Yes the VU meter is nice to look at but you already have meters on each channel...
@@DavidSJ_DAP Yes I agree.
@@DavidSJ_DAP The "selling" point on these VU plugins is that they sell the idea of getting an "analog" sound when summing each channel to a bus using a "VU bus" plugin, such as you can find with for example Sonimus with their rack channels that emulates the Neve/SSL consoles. But yeah, the idea of gain staging is easy as just using a trim tool or by just lowering the gain in the clip directly
Thank you Dave when using the meter method personas now has a VU meter for each channel what would you recommend it be set to 18' 12' or 6 ? (I have used 12) Were do you set the master fader slider to? and do you need to put on Studios ones limiter? all the rest of the lesson is very clear and has been helpful.please clarify and recommend these settings.kind regards Stephen F
Set the master fader to 0 as well, just like I said in the video :) Set your VU meter to -18db. No need for the limiter.
@@HomeRecordingMadeEasy Thankyou so much Dave understood so at what stage do you use the limiter?
@@HomeRecordingMadeEasy Just a thankyou Dave I have now followed your tutorial and it's now easy and satisfying again Thankyou so much
Awesome!
Thanks!
this is wicked info..my question is ...after this,do we do our static mix before we insert plugins ?
yes
@@HomeRecordingMadeEasy thanks allot man. I will sub, you explain this thoroughly.
Very helpful and informative, thank you! Not so sure I agree with the xylophone comment though... If it was cowbell, that'd be different - every song needs cowbell 😊
Good point! Cowbell is king!
When using analog emulation plugins (e.g. of the ssl-9000j) and console shaper/ctc-1 etc, do you gain stage first before any of these plugins or mix engines are on and then switch them on after or do you gain stage with these particular plugins/mix engine on (on zero or default) ?
what about gain staging using for example the 'In Gain' (trim knob) on the ssl plugin for a quicker workflow?
also, when it comes to doing the static mix, is it advisable to do it with analog channel strips/console emulations on or do it on the channel strip emulation like using the fader on the ssl plugin?
before you put on a single plugin
Studio one is great! Just normalize everything to -12 dbfs peak with a macro. It takes five seconds and you are good to go
That's a way to do it for sure, yes
I thought clipping is only when the track turns red. Also, this all seems eyeball " around -12 db" I thought ther was an average display on the track, no? Thanks again, fella.
dont over think it. it does not have to be "exact"
Hey dave, can u just highlight all the tracks and just pull the faders down a little? Not the busses..
Yes sir!
@@HomeRecordingMadeEasy Thxs... your a great teacher:)