Gain Staging - The 3 Rules You Need To Know - In The Mix
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ค. 2024
- Sorry about the bad audio, my microphone broke during this video.
I have sorted this out so it should not happen in future videos :)
Today we are talking about gain staging. This is a highly requested topic, with everyone seeming to be talking about it and chipping in their opinion! This is a good thing but it also leads to confusion.
I remember pouring through articles and videos trying to understand what was important and what was simply myth. It led me to become stressed and worried that I was doing something wrong.
After several months of reading and testing things out, I think these simple steps are all that you really need to worry about when it comes to mixing.
We might make a follow up video about how to gain stage when recording :)
The three guidelines are:
1:10 - Don't clip the mix bus!
Find any loud sources and reduce them or simply lower all your faders slightly to avoid digital clipping on the master bus.
1:50 - Optimise Plugin Performance
Use a trim or gain plugin to make sure that your plugins are receiving the right level - which many quote as -18 dBfs RMS (roughly 0VU). This will reduce the chances of unwanted distortion and ensure that they are working in the sweet spot
3:12 - Optimise fader position for maximum precision.
Add a trim plugin at the end of your effects chain so that you can use it to add or remove gain. This will let you get your fader higher on the mixer and give you more resolution.
When your fader is higher up, you have a lot of control, large movements only change 0.5 - 2 dB.
When your fader is low down, the same movement can cause a 5-10 dB change.
check out this article about the noise floor of modern DAWs, ut's a fantastic resource :
theproaudiofiles.com/video/wh...
The audio was a little bad in this video but hopefully, it is not too distracting - I think we were getting interference from a local radio station!
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Sorry about the bad audio, my microphone broke during this video.
I have sorted this out so it should not happen in future videos :)
It's ok brother....
ahahah I've seen that photo on insta stories. You did it well!
Its okay Bro ..
Didn't notice
In The Mix u the boss bro thanks
This man Is like 'The Guy' for anything related for music, just pure wisdom
I wouldnt say music-wise hes more of a mix-wise
True story
i recommend checking out edm tips for mixing. i don’t even make edm but the way he explains things are great and he has a ton of useful information for all genres despite exclusively making edm
A Tip from my side
3:12 If you want precision on your faders or any other parameter in FL Studio, just hold Control and use left click to drag.
This enables you to do very precise adjustments.
Respect.
- Hsevras Edrok
Yes, but starting at about -40.5 db (4%) Control wont help much since fader is non linear. So, even with control button, the lower you go, the more db's will be skipped while you're moving a fader down. But, i doubt someone mixes THAT low anyways
Its about the dB scale being non linear. Near 0, 1dB has a longer throw on the fader than at -10dB or so. As you go down the scale, the fader length per decibel becomes smaller, therefore even if you could move the fader ever so slightly, it affects the actual level differently.
@@gayanpathirana9328 x
@@gayanpathirana9328 The reason it becomes smaller lower down is because decibel doesn't have a linear correlation to loudness. The difference in loudness between -1 to 0 dB is way bigger than between -10 and -9dB, hence why they let you more finely tune it at higher dB. So the higher resolution won't really matter as each tick has a bigger impact.
Same with Reaper. Hold ctrl. + pull the fader or knob up or down. It moves in much smaller increments, allowing for that perfect area you're looking for.
strongest jaw line ive seen in years, you're videos are the best tutorials ive ever seen
this might have been one of the missing pieces of my mixing puzzle. thanks!! great tutorial.
I am classically trained digital signal processing engineer and your channel is helping sooo much as you use the correct explanations past descriptions with feeling but rather logic/mathematics
I've been watching a lot of these videos (due to somehow finally getting a mix that I'm pretty happy with and began looking up sources for mastering know how). Great videos. Very informative. Thank you for sharing!
Had to watch 7 lengthy videos on this topic before I found yours and finally got it... thanks for your clarity... respect
Concise and to the point comparisons. Love your work
would like to see the tutorial about how *you* do the gain staging :D
JOIN DZN Yeah I think lots of people want to see that, it's on the list, hopefully 2 weeks away
In The Mix Please that’d be amazing
@@inthemix did you do that video?
@@inthemix wheres the vid
@@inthemix waiting almost 2 years it'd be great to see and learn. if you have the time
Very useful advice. Clears up a bit of confusion. I'm more of a visual person so i'd love a video shoeing how you guys gain stage. I don't use FL but i can transfer what i learn to ableton.
Watched this video since I first started making music , but suddenly came across this and realize the preview video was so smooth . 60 FPS ? . Well done !
Instead of using “trimmer”, in cubase there is already the “input gain” pot at the very top extension of the mixer for each audio channel. One can also swap the metering of each channel to “input metering” instead of the default “output metering” setting, by selecting the channel, right clicking on it and set “input metering” in the the drop down menu.
By doing so, one can clearly see how much level comes into the channel, and thus how much level (the same) comes into the first inserted plugin and correct it by using the very top input gain pot.
The “trimmer” could only perhaps be useful for checking (and correcting) levels in between the chain of inserted plugins.
I'm learning a lot with you guys, once more thanks for that! 🙌😀
ternitamas Awesome, I'm happy to help as always 😀
In The Mix this one is going right to my favorites cause it's full of very useful information. I will definitely re watch it in the future👊👋
Mike your explanations are awesome. I really appreciate your works, God bless you
The multiple gain plug-in concept to make it so you can use the faders more efficiently is huge. Basically hitting the nail on the head for so many beginner questions
man why couldn't i have found this video a couple weeks ago, super helpful stuff here
This massively cleared up confusion for me, thank you so much
This channel is incredibly useful. Thanks mike!
Hey @In The Mix, IDK but you are like Google in the music production world because you always answer my questions through your videos.
Excellent vid bro you always teach something new... ❤️ Keep up the great work...
Hey! I love your videos. You explain things well. Stay blessed!!
3:15 - When your fader is low, you can right click the fader and go to “Set”; you’ll see a knob pop up that will give you far better control of the fader. (Check the hint panel on the top left corner of your screen to see the change in db)
Bro Wtff Thats Sickkk
Very useful Mike! 👍🏼
These are the 3 main things. The resolution with the fader gets by alot of people. If you look at the distance between 0 and -5db that same distance lower down on the fader is divided over 10db. And near the bottom of the fader between-40 and -60 is half the distance and is divided over -20db.. Much more precise adjustment can be made with the fader near 0.. Great video..🙂👍👍👍
Nice and clear explanation. Thanks for your time to post this video
Very clear bro. Keep going with this wonderful videos!!!
You've cleared up a confusion I had about gain-staging, namely that I couldn't quite figure out why having done it one would be working a long way below 0 where the measurement graduations were far less subtle. Your solution to this is to remove 10db (or whatever is required) with a plug in and then to move it all back up near zero to get the benefits of the subtle graduations. That's really clever. That's a great idea in theory, will try. Thanks
Good vid, guys! I also find using pink noise for initial gain staging very useful.
Very useful tips, I would really appreciate a video tutorial from you guys. Thanks!
God bless you ❤️
Happy new year mr. mentor!!! Have a great year ahead
The key is to have in mind that 'less is more'... while recording go gentle levels and then in mixing and mastering there are plenty tools to bring tracks to pleasant volume. Sharing only an opinion:)... congrats for your useful tips and videos.. thank you!!!!
I was under the impression that music is supposed to be mixed hot. I've heard it compared to photography. Where the signal being recorded is like the number of pixels. If you record to low, you get less info in the sound, which means you can't bring it up to an appropriate volume and have it still sound good. Like how the less pixels in a photo, the worse the image when you zoom in on it
This is not just turitorials, but source of music production wisdom
Excellent and clear explaination! Thanks!
Really clear and helpful. Good stuff!
I love your videos how you explain everything.
Always useful the tips ! 🔥🔥👍🏼
Happy to help :)
About the volume fader problem or any fader problem. If you want precision while adjusting any fader within FL Studio just right click on that fader and select "Set" option a new small knob will appear, go to its menu and select any type of fader you want (Vertical if you wish) and then hold control while adjusting it by your LMB. It's very useful and handy and you can even size it accordingly for better precision. After you are done with the adjusting for that fader you can close it and keep your session clean. Hope I helped.
Myth buster in the mix! 😂 great job!
I really enjoy you tutorials, thanks
Many thanks Micheal for clearing up the mystery of gain staging. Extremely important tutorial. Please do a very short tutorial about how to read the spectrogram. I don’t know what I’m looking at.
THANKS FOR ALL AWESOME TOUTORIALS
Hey, been following your videos of late. Great stuff, keep going. Also, as you mentioned at the end of the video have you made an elaborated video on gain staging?
Your videos are among the best. Doing a video on gain staging in FL Studio would be awesome.
I would love to see a walk through in FL Studio. You definitely bring ample wisdom to DAWs and Sound Engineering. Pretty impressive 👍🏼
Fantastic video!
great vid! helped a lot!
Thank You bro 🙌🏻🙌🏻 Very helpful video 🔥🔥.
Great tips man thanks!
PSA: Please stop using the mixer faders for gain-staging, they are post-insert/post-plugin faders. Use the volume knobs on your channel rack as they are pre-insert/pre-plugin. Turning down an oversaturated signal post-insert/post-plugin doesn't do anything for the distortion caused by clipping. You want to gain stage pre-insert/pre-plugin.
Thank You For Making The Video:)
Thank you you are a good teacher.
it’s cool watching his gradual upgrade of his recording equipment progress as you watch each video from back when he started lol my manz started with just a pair of krk monitors & one midi keyboard, by this vid hes up to 3 pairs of monitors & 2 midi keyboards lol.
Thanks for important tips :) It would be great if you cloud make a video of how you do gain staging in FL Studio, and give some tips on how to properly use the analog modeled vst plugins and what should be the right level for those plugins work properly.
Cheers!!
I thank you so much you the best any time am in difficult or to learn new stuff I just type your name on TH-cam and the problem am having, you've never fail me God bless you 🇨🇲
revisiting this video was the best thing that happened to me today.. my plugins, i think sound more clearer than before ,small eq changes are very audible
Excellent. Thanks a lot
Hello thanks very much for the previous tutorials
Don't forget about the gain knob in the channel rack. It's really handy for gain staging.
hey in the mix please make a gain staging tutorial ..your tutorials are worth giving ., and i love your tutorials..thanks
Yes if you would please make a how to gainstage video in Fl that would be amazing !! :)
Wow!!!! You really helped me with this short video and i believe you helped a lot of people too. 👍
*cantonment boy icekid*
Good solid info mate.
Great tips!
thanx for this great tipps. yes, make a video about it :)
This man the Crimson Chin of mixing.
2023, if your binging audio engineering goods, this is the channel 😎🖤🍭 so much info here, and pretty much all of it stays relevant, as things evolve but good is as good does. Also, if your looking for perspective on GS, WARP academy has a great tut from about same year…enjoy the ride friends 😎🖤🍭
Thanks for you video.
Great video
Definitely make that video if you haven't already!
Please put up a video showing how you gain stage specifically in FL Studio. I can know if I'm making any mistakes then. What I mostly do is, turn the volume up in the channel rack all the way to 100 & turn down the volume from the plugin itself. And then use the mixer faders for slight adjustments during the mixing process, but I make sure I'm feeding enough volume to my effect plugins chain, so that it actually works the way it is intended to.
Thank you, Mike.
Hope you're enjoying Moto G5! ;)
got it. thank u man
You are a real audio scientist, you don't just listen to what everyone says, you test it. Love it.
Thanks Mike
Wow love your channel mike! Anyway there would be Logic Pro X tutorials in the future?!?
This is really all you need to know about gain staging. Too much fuss about it on the Interwebs.
Also, your hair looks damn good.
Well his job involves constant battle with problematic waves so I guess doing his hair is like walking in a park for him.
Would definitely like a gain staging fl studio tutorial
I am completely lost,
But great video :)
Great video! One thing to notice about FL Studio and gain staging is that you have to set your volume in the channel rack and not the mixer fader. If you favor or trust the mixer fader to achieve a great volume to work with your plugins you are not going to be able to. So first use the knob on the channel rack to set the initial volume of your source and see if doing so it's a good level to work with your plugins and do not go by the mixer fader. Do a test and you will see what I'm talking about. In FL Studio we do not have the option as in Studio One or Pro Tools to go to the audio file itself and turn down the db's so in FL Studio you achieve that by working with the Channel Rack Knob.
Mister Bones This is mostly correct in FL Studio although there is the option to turn down an audio file at the source (it's just not as easy as Studio one) simply double click the audio file and the wrapper settings will open. There is a volume knob at the top that can as or remove volume at the source level before hitting the effects. Either way, I still do what you suggest, adding a gain plugin at the start of each track
showing gain staging is best. examples are good. Vespers also has a good explanation and a template.
That is a super tip with the gain plugin in the beginning and at the end of a insert plugin autobahn !
It would be great to have a clipping locator feature in the DAW that could show us exactly where in the project a clipping did happen ! Do we have already such a feature let's say in Logic ?
Usually when I have an idea, someone else already is selling it.
Yes please show us in a live setting your gain staging.
Awesome tips. Another tip is run all your tracks to a stereo Aux labeled submaster or whatever you want to call it. Insert your bus compressor on that. This gives you the ability to turn the whole mix down before going to the 2 bus(master) or you can turn it down at the 2 bus if you want. In most cases avoid putting the buss compressor on the 2 bus because the 2 bus inserts are post fader.
what compressor bro lol
thank you very very very much
All I could think about is how good those 3 sets of monitors would sound jk kinda but this was very good info. People can screw themselves and think they arent that good or stuff like that without reazling simple but big things like this. Gain staging is like not realizing theres a switch on the back of your amp that can accidentally switch and make your guitar sound not as good as it should. Glad no longer have to worry about this.
please make a detailed video on gain staging. I am searching for it from a long time.
yes please give a demo for gain staging
Nuuu I feel I have not even an idea what we are even talking about here xD
But I still learned something - I never realized the faders were not gradually decreasing volume - so thank you!
And I will be back to this video when I know more about all this stuff to understand what you say here xD
Windklang I didn't even realise until I'd used the software for over a year! It's great when you discover little things like that 😀
Every and each of your videos is a treasure chest of these little information for both: beginners like me and I would also guess advanced peeps
Thank you
❤❤amazing bro
Hey In The Mix could you please make a video tutorial all about bass.. especially how to make the low end sound good on laptop and phone speakers.. that would be amazing !!!
thanks 👍
very informative
Thanks man1
Hi Michael. I'm not sure if you've already uploaded a Gain Staging Video in FL Studio yet, but if you haven't, please do. It would be great to see a practical application of it within the D.A.W. Much respect.
32/64 bit gives you a (shit)ton of headroom in your DAW. Therefore, I don't see the need to lower each channel individually to remove/reduce digital clipping on the master bus. This clipping does not occur inside your DAW, so you can simply decrease the level on your master channel. This has the same effect as lowering all channels.
The non-linearity of some plugins is very interesting though, I have never really looked at it that way or experimented with it. The plugin 'sandwich' is indeed a great method for this!
Thank youuuuuuuuuu
nice one In The Mix
nice!