THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH FOR THIS INFORMATIVE VIDEO!!!!! IT HELPED WITH ME BOUNCING DOWN MY TRACKS TO FILE 1ST, INSTEAD OF MIXING DOWN IN THE NORMAL WAY, IT KEPT WANTING TO NORMALIZE MY TRACKS, WHICH MADE IT SOUND LOW.
Word, it acts as a fader for that specific output or speaker or whatever. In a bigger setup, if you were to route to several speakers / monitors in a room, you'd label separate Stereo Outputs as different monitors and that allows you to have more specific control. Cool.
There's something a bit misleading about the Logic Pro mixer. The 'Output' channel strip is where everything is summed using 64-bit summing. Everything inserted above the fader is after that summing and prior to that fader. You can also automate the levels here, such as when you want a fade-out. That seems normal. But the 'Master' channel strip does not come 'next' in the audio chain. It is actually between the inserts in the 'Output' strip and the fader in that strip, probably about where the D-to-A happens. If you pull the 'Master' fader down, it affects the level in the 'Output' strip. That seems a bit odd. Technically, the fader in the 'Output' strip is already a master fader, and that level must be set properly. Why would the 'Master' strip just duplicate that function? I think the reason might be connected to how I gainstage: Something I do once I think I have the mix levels set, is just turn the audio down on my laptop (I used to do everything on an iMac with 3 monitors) and play the entire thing front to back, then I check the strips to see if anything exceeded 0 dB. It's OK if some are a bit above 0dB bc this is all in the domain of 32-bit float, so it won't distort or overload (still a good idea to not let it get too far above 0). That way, I know whether to turn everything down or up as a group, accordingly. Then I set the Linear EQ if necessary and the Multipressor (both in the 'Output' strip) to compress all 4 frequency groups at about ~5 dB. That's the first steps in mastering. Next comes the Adaptive Limiter (next in that chain and in the output strip), which I set by ear to the 'proper' level. And here is where it gets interesting. To get that right, it may affect the output level in that strip, so to compensate, I turn that fader down so that it does not exceed 0 dBFS (bc now we are not in 32-bit float anymore but about to enter the 24-bit 'convert-to-analog' domain). Next, I use the Loudness Meter (next in that chain and in the output strip) to check the LUFS. Then I might touch things up using the new 'Mastering' function (which also is prior to that fader). IOW, the 'Master' fader just never leaves zero. About all it's good for is the -20 dB dimming function. Everything in an output bounce sort of makes that fader inconsequential, so I just leave it at zero. Maybe its only purpose in life is as a volume control for whatever monitors you might be using (and on a laptop, you already have a global level control right there in front of you). But if that were why it was there, it would be AFTER the 'Output' strip instead of smack in the middle of it, don't you think? So I wonder-this seems like the best way to gainstage after mixing, but maybe there are better ways. More effective. ways. Feel free to please chime in if you have alternate ideas about this or if you think I might be looking at this incorrectly.
Quick question why when I click on a preset for the stereo output, as opposed to mixing the actual stereo output, no channel strips come out? On some tracks they do pop up but as of recently they don’t show at all.
When you mark and lower all faders you include the busses channels as well? I never understood these! I thought they really had nothing to do with volume. Sorry for a newbie question.. 😅
No worries! Depending on how you have stuff routed, the busses act as a bottleneck of sorts for the tracks you have routed through it. It's like a faucet, you can increase or lower the overall water pressure (aka volume of the tracks that are routed to the bus) by turning the handle (aka raising/lowering the bus volume) instead of going to adjust all the individual track volumes themselves
Hey brother, can you explain how to change the outro drummer tempo as you are slowing down a tune at the end of a song and have the drums slow down as well and end the song softly
Hi! Yes but it's a little convoluted... Option + Clicking a fader resets it back to zero. In order to do this for multiple faders at once, select all the channels you want to adjust at once and then drag the one with the highest value all the way down. This will make all the faders at the same position as each other. From there, option + click one of the faders (with all of them still selected) and it should put all of them at zero.
the weird thing for me is that I can put effects on the master but not on the stereo out. for you it seems to be reversed. all I wanna do is stop my track in a cassette tape plug in but it doesn't seem to work on the master since I don't get the right automation parameters from my plug in on the master.
My question is when you release do you put the master fader up as loud as possible and redlining doesn’t matter on the master as long as you’re green on the output?? I am trying to get the right volumes for my exports
Redlining on the master but green in the output technically is fine. Logic operates at 32 bit float internally, which means it's very hard to actually distort anything internally by being too loud. As long as it's not clipping the D/A converters (stereo output) , you're fine. Technically. It's still good practice to not redline anything. I wouldn't say it's a default rule to boost the master as loud as possible. If the master is needing to be boosted just to get a decent level at the stereo out, that likely means that your individual channel faders are too low, as far as "proper" gain staging goes. Increasing all the channel faders by the same amount (all by 3dB, all by 6dB, etc..) will increase the overall level to your master while maintaining your mix
@@calebgrayaudio thank you so much dude I can’t explain how much I appreciate a direct and understandable answer in this situation 😅 I’m still new to logic and trying to get things to match the volume output of reference tracks is very important right now for me. Gotta grow some way, really appreciate the help and will be coming back for more dude!!
@@Bittamin glad to help!! Also keep in mind that reference tracks you're using are likely mastered (if it's any type of professional release, they definitely are mastered). and one of the biggest things in mastering is bringing the level to a competitive level
@@calebgrayaudio so there really isn’t a be all end all level of volume to really aim for? Like each genre will come out a little different in the master volume? I notice when I will export a song that I have all of my mix hitting the output at like -3db in the green will give me a really thin band for the export, so if I just turn up the volume slider in the top right before exporting the track, boosting it 6db, will that in hand make the audio file band wider? Sorry if I’m making you reiterate but I really wanna get this right 😅
@@Bittamin Volume to aim for in your mix is a debatable topic. If you're just looking to make bounces / self release demos of your music, etc.. Try just using the "normalize" option on the export window. That'll non-destructively raise your audio to competitive levels. If you're getting your material mastered by someone, I wouldn't select this option on the export. But for now it's a simpler way for you to get louder exports.
"In practice you want to leave this stereo out fader at zero, that's just good gain staging practice" Sorry, why is it? You didn't explain why that should be left at zero, or why the Master should be left at zero
@@trappuppet2547 Why would keeping the stereo out fader at zero impact that any more than using any other fader? Anything you use to add gain will digitally distort if you push it above 0dB There doesn't seem to be any reason for this advice
I have other question please. I push something on my stereo out on logic and all my mastering plugins became invisible, and it's feels like I loos that power its play like mono. So how to switch stereo out to normal stereo? Thank you.
Straight forward, practical and informative. Thanks my dude.
Thank you, you’re a Godsend, very short and to the point!
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH FOR THIS INFORMATIVE VIDEO!!!!! IT HELPED WITH ME BOUNCING DOWN MY TRACKS TO FILE 1ST, INSTEAD OF MIXING DOWN IN THE NORMAL WAY, IT KEPT WANTING TO NORMALIZE MY TRACKS, WHICH MADE IT SOUND LOW.
In your bounce window u can turn normalization off highly recommend it
Thank you for making this video. Your thorough explanations really helped clarify these concepts for me! 😊
Glad to hear! Thanks!
Word, it acts as a fader for that specific output or speaker or whatever. In a bigger setup, if you were to route to several speakers / monitors in a room, you'd label separate Stereo Outputs as different monitors and that allows you to have more specific control. Cool.
Super helpful and a succinct explanation . Thank you!!
Question: So when I bounce out my mix it only is bouncing the stereo output signal and not my output 3-4 signal, why is that?
Very good explanation, make more videos please
There's something a bit misleading about the Logic Pro mixer. The 'Output' channel strip is where everything is summed using 64-bit summing. Everything inserted above the fader is after that summing and prior to that fader. You can also automate the levels here, such as when you want a fade-out. That seems normal.
But the 'Master' channel strip does not come 'next' in the audio chain. It is actually between the inserts in the 'Output' strip and the fader in that strip, probably about where the D-to-A happens. If you pull the 'Master' fader down, it affects the level in the 'Output' strip. That seems a bit odd. Technically, the fader in the 'Output' strip is already a master fader, and that level must be set properly. Why would the 'Master' strip just duplicate that function?
I think the reason might be connected to how I gainstage: Something I do once I think I have the mix levels set, is just turn the audio down on my laptop (I used to do everything on an iMac with 3 monitors) and play the entire thing front to back, then I check the strips to see if anything exceeded 0 dB. It's OK if some are a bit above 0dB bc this is all in the domain of 32-bit float, so it won't distort or overload (still a good idea to not let it get too far above 0).
That way, I know whether to turn everything down or up as a group, accordingly. Then I set the Linear EQ if necessary and the Multipressor (both in the 'Output' strip) to compress all 4 frequency groups at about ~5 dB. That's the first steps in mastering.
Next comes the Adaptive Limiter (next in that chain and in the output strip), which I set by ear to the 'proper' level. And here is where it gets interesting. To get that right, it may affect the output level in that strip, so to compensate, I turn that fader down so that it does not exceed 0 dBFS (bc now we are not in 32-bit float anymore but about to enter the 24-bit 'convert-to-analog' domain).
Next, I use the Loudness Meter (next in that chain and in the output strip) to check the LUFS. Then I might touch things up using the new 'Mastering' function (which also is prior to that fader).
IOW, the 'Master' fader just never leaves zero. About all it's good for is the -20 dB dimming function. Everything in an output bounce sort of makes that fader inconsequential, so I just leave it at zero. Maybe its only purpose in life is as a volume control for whatever monitors you might be using (and on a laptop, you already have a global level control right there in front of you). But if that were why it was there, it would be AFTER the 'Output' strip instead of smack in the middle of it, don't you think?
So I wonder-this seems like the best way to gainstage after mixing, but maybe there are better ways. More effective. ways. Feel free to please chime in if you have alternate ideas about this or if you think I might be looking at this incorrectly.
Great job explaining this. I generally use Reaper and this confused the S out of me.
Quick question why when I click on a preset for the stereo output, as opposed to mixing the actual stereo output, no channel strips come out? On some tracks they do pop up but as of recently they don’t show at all.
Curiously, none of your channels is panned to stereo, but appear to be in L/R balance mode
When you mark and lower all faders you include the busses channels as well? I never understood these! I thought they really had nothing to do with volume.
Sorry for a newbie question.. 😅
No worries! Depending on how you have stuff routed, the busses act as a bottleneck of sorts for the tracks you have routed through it. It's like a faucet, you can increase or lower the overall water pressure (aka volume of the tracks that are routed to the bus) by turning the handle (aka raising/lowering the bus volume) instead of going to adjust all the individual track volumes themselves
@@calebgrayaudio Thank You for taking the time to explain to me! 👍
Hey brother, can you explain how to change the outro drummer tempo as you are slowing down a tune at the end of a song and have the drums slow down as well and end the song softly
Hey Caleb! Can you give us a link to the song??!!!
Thank you very well explained☘️☘️☘️
Thanks!
Thank you!
Is there a short cut to snap all faders back to zero?
Hi! Yes but it's a little convoluted...
Option + Clicking a fader resets it back to zero. In order to do this for multiple faders at once, select all the channels you want to adjust at once and then drag the one with the highest value all the way down. This will make all the faders at the same position as each other. From there, option + click one of the faders (with all of them still selected) and it should put all of them at zero.
@@calebgrayaudio thanks!
Definitely harder than it should be. Reaper is easier for this.
I’m not able to select output 3-4 why is this?
the weird thing for me is that I can put effects on the master but not on the stereo out. for you it seems to be reversed. all I wanna do is stop my track in a cassette tape plug in but it doesn't seem to work on the master since I don't get the right automation parameters from my plug in on the master.
Hmm that is weird.. I am able to put them on both the master and stereo out. Sorry I can't be much more help!
@@calebgrayaudio at the same time though?
My question is when you release do you put the master fader up as loud as possible and redlining doesn’t matter on the master as long as you’re green on the output?? I am trying to get the right volumes for my exports
Redlining on the master but green in the output technically is fine. Logic operates at 32 bit float internally, which means it's very hard to actually distort anything internally by being too loud. As long as it's not clipping the D/A converters (stereo output) , you're fine. Technically.
It's still good practice to not redline anything. I wouldn't say it's a default rule to boost the master as loud as possible. If the master is needing to be boosted just to get a decent level at the stereo out, that likely means that your individual channel faders are too low, as far as "proper" gain staging goes. Increasing all the channel faders by the same amount (all by 3dB, all by 6dB, etc..) will increase the overall level to your master while maintaining your mix
@@calebgrayaudio thank you so much dude I can’t explain how much I appreciate a direct and understandable answer in this situation 😅 I’m still new to logic and trying to get things to match the volume output of reference tracks is very important right now for me. Gotta grow some way, really appreciate the help and will be coming back for more dude!!
@@Bittamin glad to help!! Also keep in mind that reference tracks you're using are likely mastered (if it's any type of professional release, they definitely are mastered). and one of the biggest things in mastering is bringing the level to a competitive level
@@calebgrayaudio so there really isn’t a be all end all level of volume to really aim for? Like each genre will come out a little different in the master volume? I notice when I will export a song that I have all of my mix hitting the output at like -3db in the green will give me a really thin band for the export, so if I just turn up the volume slider in the top right before exporting the track, boosting it 6db, will that in hand make the audio file band wider? Sorry if I’m making you reiterate but I really wanna get this right 😅
@@Bittamin Volume to aim for in your mix is a debatable topic. If you're just looking to make bounces / self release demos of your music, etc.. Try just using the "normalize" option on the export window. That'll non-destructively raise your audio to competitive levels. If you're getting your material mastered by someone, I wouldn't select this option on the export. But for now it's a simpler way for you to get louder exports.
way2workit!
"In practice you want to leave this stereo out fader at zero, that's just good gain staging practice"
Sorry, why is it? You didn't explain why that should be left at zero, or why the Master should be left at zero
Keeps from digital distortion
@@trappuppet2547 Why would keeping the stereo out fader at zero impact that any more than using any other fader?
Anything you use to add gain will digitally distort if you push it above 0dB
There doesn't seem to be any reason for this advice
master is a volume fader, there, saved everyone almost 5 minutes
Lol all these faders are volume faders, it's about how they're staged and interact with each other
@@calebgrayaudio thank you
@@calebgrayaudio may I ask a question
@@carenhandley-blair yeah what's up?
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I have other question please. I push something on my stereo out on logic and all my mastering plugins became invisible, and it's feels like I loos that power its play like mono. So how to switch stereo out to normal stereo? Thank you.