Explanation of the difference between the Gain knob or Clip Gain and the Channel Fader in its simplest form. PLEASE SUPPORT MY CHANNEL: www.paypal.me/RecordingStudio9
I loved using a cup of water as example and drops of color to justify it. For fader I'd use analogy with other drinks, like cofee, wine and cofee, as you wont drink the same quantity of each. BTW, it mada everything more clear to me! Upvoted and TNX!
Thanks for this, trying to improve my mixing and mastering skills lately and my first hang up was "what's a fader?". I didn't know if they meant gain, volume, or something else all together.
Hello engineer. Thank you very much. This is the clearest so far for me. However, I am still confused about something. If I gain stage first at -18db, and later adjust using faders, is it not the same gain I would be adjusting? If yes, is there anything wrong if I leave all my faders at 0db and use the gain knob to adjust the relative gains I desire for each element in the mix?
This is a great vid...but have a question....I know the holdy grail number is -6dB for mixing....what if i have it waaay less than that...isnt it better to have it less in the mix so when i add compression and plugins i can boost alot?...just thinking out of the box
Actually, there is no 'holy grail' level in a digital audio world :) Except if you are using plugins that emulate hardware, normally compressors, distortion or saturation. If you are using non-modelled comp, distortion or saturation, then there is no particular input signal level. As to hardware modelled plugins, this is normally -18db. Best practice is to have channel's output into main around -18db and by the time all the channels are mixed and balanced, the main might peak at -6db to -3db. I normally bring all faders down when my main meter is peaking -3db back down to -6db, to leave enough headroom for mastering. Hope that helps.
Thx for the analogy! This gainstaging making me having doubts how to proceed after having the gain set for each (prominent) channel. Do I levae the faders at unity and first set compressors etc or do I adjust the volume of the faders and do processing after that? I ask this because when I drive the needle of the VU meter vst (calibrasted to -18) to 0, my daw meters, not just drums etc, are clipping. Could you shed a light on this? Thanks in advance!
Good video. Can you make a balance with just the clip gain? Cause I think that’s what I accidentally did instead of just equalizing the gain of all of the tracks. I’m actually at a balance where I don’t know if I need to move the faders because I treated the clip gains as faders for a static mix. #newmusicproducer
The purpose of the clip gain is to set a good input signal level that follows the rest of the channel to the faders, where you use the faders to balance the mix of all the channels.
Thank you my friend how do you record with to mics or more going into yamaha mg12 xu mixer using cubase I cant figure out how to get another mic working to record
If you are trying to record multiple microphone inputs individually in your DAW/recording software, the USB connection is only a Stereo 2in/2out, not multi-channel.
Hello! Thanks fo explanation! I was thinking, that faders in DAW different, than 0 dB unity are losing quality of the signal or something like that. That’s why i consider to use plugin gain knobs: output level, trim, to make a mix, while all faders at 0. Now i wonder to buy or not a Faderport 8-16, but still not sure to use it in Ableton. IDK, maybe in Studio One or any other DAW it’s not like that, but for now i decided to keep away from DAW faders whatever i can. Can you share you experience about it, please?
Please direct me to those misinforming videos, because that is not true. This video about gain-staging should clear things up th-cam.com/video/9cuOZyUwRuU/w-d-xo.html Like I explain in this video, people get confused about Gain and Fader. Gain is to get your signal level right, and Fader to balance your mix.
@@RecordingStudio9 I really can't remember which exactly, but i heard many times in gear reviews, that many people of said that thing: "don't touch the DAW faders and use clip gain and plugin's gain knobs". And 1 to 1 DAW compare after render null test. If faders other that unity, they don't cancel each other when 180 degree phase. So, it engages some kind of a specific DAW algorithm of summing. Thank you for a link, i will watch!
@Gr0und zEr0 Maybe, for not to bother anyone or ourselves with that kind of specific questions, we have to go learn at sound engineering university (or something like that) and became a graduated engineers. I think, we're searching for not so important things, to be honest, being just curious.
@Gr0und zEr0 That's great, that you finished a university) Greece is a great looking country! At least in my imagination, whatever i saw on TV was cool: costs, columns etc)) In my case: now i consider of making music instead of searching an unreachable sound quality. And i know it will be more productive for sure :)
Why -18 though, that smashes my sound? My gain is usually anywhere from -6db to 0, and my beats sound absolutely fine, and I can still sing over top of them, and it is not too loud? Is -18 db just your preference? Could you please explain why you do that? Thanks...
If your bottle is full at 0db, you add more, it will spill out, in audio sense, distort. By leaving space, you get to add more before spilling. You probably using a limiter that pushes your audio down by compressing it.
Sorry, but please let me see if I have this right. So I adjust all of the individual clip gains to -18 (for example), then set all of the faders to unity? Then after this, the clip gains are not touched again, is this correct? All of the level tweaking from then on would then be done via the faders. I hope I explained this clearly. Thank you.
Dear Sir, I need to know l that when we use AUX sends to stage monitors, should we use TS (mono) or TRS ( stereo) quarter inch jack? Is AUX send is a mono or stereo output??
99% of AUX outputs are mono audio signals. Budget mixers would most likely have TS (unbalanced) output where more expensive mixers use TRS (balanced) outputs. P.S. TRS does not always mean stereo, but also balanced output.
![Understanding the Difference Between Gain and Volume [EXPLAINED]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zmiJhUe_R5k/mqdefault.jpg)
I watched a few videos on gain staging but yours is the only one I am able to understand straight away. Thanks !
I loved using a cup of water as example and drops of color to justify it. For fader I'd use analogy with other drinks, like cofee, wine and cofee, as you wont drink the same quantity of each. BTW, it mada everything more clear to me! Upvoted and TNX!
Thank you, you are the only one that has explain gain staging.
Good explanation! Great analogy. By far the best on TH-cam
Thank you - wonderful explanation, i always come back here if I forget - when i need to explain about gain and fader
exactly what i needed, thank you!
The best explanation I have ever heard. Hopefully there will be more of these
A wonderfully clear explanation! Thank you.
Excellent tutorial for visual learners. Great job!
Great way of explaining. Exactly what I needed
Thanks. That's a great way to explain it. It makes more sense to me now.
*Thank you!* Very clear explenation! It helps!
Thanks, this was a really clear explanation. Helped a lot.
LOVED your analogy !!
Thanks again for sharing !
Thanks
best explanation ive ever heard !! thankyou !!
Thanks
Excellent analogy!! Thanks!
Wonderful analogy!
Just come in to gain knowledge and say thanks. Dee, from Laos.
Perfect explanation.
Thanks 😊
Perfect explanation. Thank you very much.
amazing explanation, thanks a lot!
Wonderful explanation!
Vatche, write a book. Your analogies and explanations are brilliant. Keep up the great work. 👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏🙏
Very simple. Great analogy sir.
Glad you liked it
Digital recording: Make sure you have enough water in the glass to work with
Analog recording: Fill the glass to overflowing
Great comment.
Yes I understand now. Thank you sir
Great explanation thank you.
Man... you're sooo good!!!!
Glad it was helpful
its helpful, thank you!
Great explanation 👍
Very helpful, thanks
Thank you for this video.....
That's a lovely sweater.
Orange is the happiness colour :)
This guy is good 👌💯
Thank you!
fabulous!
Helpful expectations. Cheers
Thank u so much sir
Simply amazing
Thanks.
amazing
Thanks for this, trying to improve my mixing and mastering skills lately and my first hang up was "what's a fader?". I didn't know if they meant gain, volume, or something else all together.
Cheers John Turturro.
perfect.
Adding that purple color basically some dj skrew musik lol
Hello engineer. Thank you very much. This is the clearest so far for me. However, I am still confused about something. If I gain stage first at -18db, and later adjust using faders, is it not the same gain I would be adjusting?
If yes, is there anything wrong if I leave all my faders at 0db and use the gain knob to adjust the relative gains I desire for each element in the mix?
Gain is adjusting input level to the Comp and EQ, that may add extra gain, especially EQ, then the fader will balance the levels.
Greeeat Question.....I always wonder about that but couldn't find the words to explain it....
this is the question that has been troubling me all the time... Finally got the answer...Thanks to you!!!!!!
This is a great vid...but have a question....I know the holdy grail number is -6dB for mixing....what if i have it waaay less than that...isnt it better to have it less in the mix so when i add compression and plugins i can boost alot?...just thinking out of the box
Actually, there is no 'holy grail' level in a digital audio world :) Except if you are using plugins that emulate hardware, normally compressors, distortion or saturation. If you are using non-modelled comp, distortion or saturation, then there is no particular input signal level.
As to hardware modelled plugins, this is normally -18db.
Best practice is to have channel's output into main around -18db and by the time all the channels are mixed and balanced, the main might peak at -6db to -3db. I normally bring all faders down when my main meter is peaking -3db back down to -6db, to leave enough headroom for mastering.
Hope that helps.
Thx for the analogy! This gainstaging making me having doubts how to proceed after having the gain set for each (prominent) channel. Do I levae the faders at unity and first set compressors etc or do I adjust the volume of the faders and do processing after that? I ask this because when I drive the needle of the VU meter vst (calibrasted to -18) to 0, my daw meters, not just drums etc, are clipping. Could you shed a light on this? Thanks in advance!
When you set your gains at -18 are your faders all set at 0? Where are the faders while setting the clip gain?
That is correct. Fader is at 0db, if you are using the metering on a channel or the main bus, which is also set to 0db.
Good video. Can you make a balance with just the clip gain? Cause I think that’s what I accidentally did instead of just equalizing the gain of all of the tracks. I’m actually at a balance where I don’t know if I need to move the faders because I treated the clip gains as faders for a static mix. #newmusicproducer
The purpose of the clip gain is to set a good input signal level that follows the rest of the channel to the faders, where you use the faders to balance the mix of all the channels.
Hello myfriend can you please do a video on recording with a condenser microphone. distorted guitars through amp with the Yamaha mixer into cubase
I’m telling you. Had the ahh “” moment by the 2:00 minute mark
Thank you my friend how do you record with to mics or more going into yamaha mg12 xu mixer using cubase I cant figure out how to get another mic working to record
If you are trying to record multiple microphone inputs individually in your DAW/recording software, the USB connection is only a Stereo 2in/2out, not multi-channel.
@@RecordingStudio9 thank you myfriend
Hello! Thanks fo explanation! I was thinking, that faders in DAW different, than 0 dB unity are losing quality of the signal or something like that. That’s why i consider to use plugin gain knobs: output level, trim, to make a mix, while all faders at 0. Now i wonder to buy or not a Faderport 8-16, but still not sure to use it in Ableton. IDK, maybe in Studio One or any other DAW it’s not like that, but for now i decided to keep away from DAW faders whatever i can. Can you share you experience about it, please?
Please direct me to those misinforming videos, because that is not true. This video about gain-staging should clear things up th-cam.com/video/9cuOZyUwRuU/w-d-xo.html
Like I explain in this video, people get confused about Gain and Fader. Gain is to get your signal level right, and Fader to balance your mix.
@@RecordingStudio9 I really can't remember which exactly, but i heard many times in gear reviews, that many people of said that thing: "don't touch the DAW faders and use clip gain and plugin's gain knobs". And 1 to 1 DAW compare after render null test. If faders other that unity, they don't cancel each other when 180 degree phase. So, it engages some kind of a specific DAW algorithm of summing. Thank you for a link, i will watch!
Well unless you pont out , i can't correct a video that is misinforming everyone.
@Gr0und zEr0 Maybe, for not to bother anyone or ourselves with that kind of specific questions, we have to go learn at sound engineering university (or something like that) and became a graduated engineers. I think, we're searching for not so important things, to be honest, being just curious.
@Gr0und zEr0 That's great, that you finished a university) Greece is a great looking country! At least in my imagination, whatever i saw on TV was cool: costs, columns etc)) In my case: now i consider of making music instead of searching an unreachable sound quality. And i know it will be more productive for sure :)
Why -18 though, that smashes my sound? My gain is usually anywhere from -6db to 0, and my beats sound absolutely fine, and I can still sing over top of them, and it is not too loud? Is -18 db just your preference? Could you please explain why you do that? Thanks...
If your bottle is full at 0db, you add more, it will spill out, in audio sense, distort. By leaving space, you get to add more before spilling.
You probably using a limiter that pushes your audio down by compressing it.
Sorry, but please let me see if I have this right. So I adjust all of the individual clip gains to -18 (for example), then set all of the faders to unity? Then after this, the clip gains are not touched again, is this correct? All of the level tweaking from then on would then be done via the faders. I hope I explained this clearly. Thank you.
Yes, you got it.
Idk about this analogy but I really want to drink a class of water right now
Dear Sir, I need to know l that when we use AUX sends to stage monitors, should we use TS (mono) or TRS ( stereo) quarter inch jack? Is AUX send is a mono or stereo output??
99% of AUX outputs are mono audio signals. Budget mixers would most likely have TS (unbalanced) output where more expensive mixers use TRS (balanced) outputs.
P.S. TRS does not always mean stereo, but also balanced output.
@@RecordingStudio9 Thanks
Dosent this volume sync at normalization?
Normalizing audio will increase the gain of the audio to a set level of the peak audio signal. Not the same as gain staging an audio signal.
Not a good analogy re compressor and EQ just adding colour, as both compressor and EQ definitely adds or reduces level, not only colouration
Here I’m not talking about audio characteristics, but a metaphor.
:)
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Thank you!
You're welcome!