I've struggled with how to efficiently gain stage for years. Usually once I start getting really into the music, I lose track of the meters and by the end, I have to rebalance the whole project again. Your method looks good, gonna try it asap! Thanks for sharing!
It’s definitely something that most of us wont learn for a few years. I’m hoping to do a new mix series showing my process for keeping my meters right throughout the entire mix. Thank you for watching. I really appreciate it. It encourages me have a great week.
Another way to do this, without having to listen to the audio is to set the meters to pre-fader mode, by right-clicking the meter and select that option, then you CAN pull your faders all the way down and go through the process with the input gain controls as you did. This way, you are monitoring the pre-fader signal and adjusting that. Good video though, mate. Glad to see you back making videos!
Good idea Jonny. Quick question though. When we set the fader to pre fader metering, are we looking at the peak of the track to hit -18 or averaging around -18 and peak at -12?
Hi George...good video. I saw the one you did a few years ago with Hornet I think. What happens if the wave form isn't even to start with. For example you have a vocal which spikes loudly occasionally. Do you lower those spikes manually first to make a more even wave form? Then apply the metering. Otherwise the level will be to the highest peak and lots of low wave image.
Hello. There are many ways to do this. But you have to think of the signal flow. For example, if you do lower the game of a loud instrument in certain areas, the compressor will be affected. However, if you keep your eye on the overall level of the tract at the highest point, you shouldn’t have to do much if you balance it to -18 DBFS. If you were using a VST instrument, I would just adjust the level in the instrument itself. If you have analog instruments, you can adjust the input gain. Or you can chop up that section and edit the gain using event edit.
Does it make sense to simply normalise all tracks to -18db at the same time, then you’ve got all tracks ready for the plugin chain. And you would maintain that -18db through your effect chain on each channel so your plugins are getting the volume they need. Any volume automation for individual tracks that isn’t corrective but for effect could be done on a gain plugin at the end of the effects chain on the -18db signal. Then simply use the faders on individual tracks post plugin chain and only for balancing. Mix buses faders can be used to control the levels of each group hitting the master bus if needed. I’m wondering if there is a flaw in this approach or if it would work? Thanks for your great and thought provoking videos!
Hi Jorge, Bro, thank you for such an excellent instructional video. It was clear and concise and straight to the point. I have a question, at the end when you convert the tracks, what’s do you do if you then have to add an additional vocal or instrument track? Is there a way to revert back or can you just add it and convert it again? Thanks in advance my brother.
Hey there George. Couldn’t you have just highlighted all the audio and used the Studio One gainstaging macro? What if you gainstaged all of those audio tracks? This could take a while to do. I was told that you could also put a level meter on each track and monitor levels that way.
Yes. That is another way to do it. I’m sure it will get you close to tweak as you go. Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment. I hope you have amazing week!!!!
Why you its -18 on individual tracks and -12 on master? and one think I didn't understood even after you do all the leveling it peaks at the master and again at some point in time you solo all the track and render the audio you test and the mastering fader doesn't peak really confusing, please explain?
I'm using stems from an old band recording. It's just a stereo track for each instrument so the drums aren't separate. Is it still a good idea to do this as I've noticed they were all recorded very loud at near cd master volume of -9 lufs
@@PintoMusicHTX did this last night. Fresh session, tracks in and looped the loudest part (where the band all kicks in). Vu in to -18 and levelled each track. Master bus on -12 the needle in the red, not moving. The only way I could get it down was if I added mix tool and dropped the master by -6
You use a VU scale of -18. Means that the needle hits 0 when the track level is -18dB. Which is pretty quiet for a record. Then additional you reduce the level via gain input in the mixer channel. In some cases you get a result -18-13dB = -31dB. So can you tell me what is the good thing to work with that massive gain reduction? Technically it means that you reduces very important bit resolution information for all further stages like plugins or volume changes. What you are doing here is the worst you can do in terms of audio quality. Again, you reduce a nearly perfect signal for around 30dB, new rendered. That means you steal digital information, bit resolution from the signal. So why do you think, a following EQ or Compressor or Reverb sounds better now, when a signal has less information to work with than before / with more information? It doesn't makes sence.
@@PintoMusicHTX awesome. I mixed a song today and applied the method and it definitely is the way to go. The only thing is that no matter what I do, my end mix sounds too thin and not BIG. Mixing is so hard to be good at and I give you props for being one of the better engineers that I've seen.
@@f2tv what? Thats amazing! Sorry to hear that you're having a difficult time getting your mix to sound big. Thank you for all your kind words. Maybe I can mix your song and see if there's anything we can both learn. Send it to me.
@@PintoMusicHTX sounds good. So I got my mix to sound louder now and I'm curious to see what you think. I have a small clip of the song but how can I get you to hear it?
