On this video, I show you how to gain stage like a PRO in Cubase - the king of Gain Staging amongst all DAWs. ➡️My Gear list: www.thomann.de/gb/thlpg_525xw...
Nearly 20 years in Cubase, and NOW I learn about the pencil on audio events? This is embarrassing! I would automate, and then bounce before compression.
I cheer every time I hear someone say, "don't use compression to fix things!" That was driven into me when I started in engineering in the late 70s. And on analogue, it was even more important because of noise. In fact, with the exception of the pencil tool (something I have loved in Cubase), so much of what you talked about comes from the analogue book. We always recorded at as high a level as we could get away with because of noise. The higher the signal, the lower the noise - simple. So, in theory, everything on the 24 track was the same level, more or less. At mix time, the first thing I used to do was put all the faders at zero/unity the whole way down the desk, then do a very rough mix using the channel gain knobs. (And for those who haven't played with a desk, the input gain is attached to the input amp on the channel circuit - it is the first stop from the tape machine). I much preferred using PPM meters (they are easier to watch because of their slower release and fewer fussy markings). I would end up with a mix that was just a little bit low, but all the faders were still level. As a note, I almost never had to turn anything up - always down. The other thing we did (pre automation) was to bounce things like vocals and ride the fader constantly as we did so - the manual version if what who you did with the pencil tool. Sometimes on Cubase I use a plugin called Vocal Rider to achieve a similar result. Very useful! The platform might be digital and computerised now, but you have stuck wonderfully to those old analogue rules that were developed over decades, often because of the limitations of the equipment, but also because people had the same ears as you and wanted lovely, clean mixes.
Faders at Zero; use input gains to get close as you can to a mix. It makes so much sense I can't believe we did it so wrong all this time live and in the studio. Even the individual monitor mixes (live especially) are so easy to dial in from that starting point 'cause they are also even as can be. I hate wedges on stage - sound companies don't know how to EQ them, they're Mono and the mix you get is atrocious - if you hear anything at all. In-Ears and your own Tablet to mix on is the only way to go. Front of House? - a lot of incompetent braggards are out there who shouldn't be, who don't understand Balance, EQ, and least of all, FX. Thankfully, there are a few who set a standard for what sound should and can be. Faders at Zero and ride those gains - you'll never look back - except to shake your head and laugh at how stupid you were mixing with some faders set near minus infinity. And no more blowing up the board!!! Everything lit up as Red-light extreme as it will go all the time on every channel, sub, and output is not the way to go - not good. Trim. Cancel Reply
Bloody hell Mr Sigalas, I'm astounded! You have produced the ultimate guide to Gain-Staging in one brilliantly concise, no nonsense YT session in under 18 minutes. Absolute genius work Dom, I just wish I'd found you sooner!!!!
+1 The pencil thing made me cry about the hours I spent editing vocals using pre-gain envelope and the overall even clip gain. I only wish it were more obvious that this feature exists in Cubase.
Same - I've gotten pretty smug with these "like a pro" videos finding that I'm doing everything in them, but this one made me feel like an amateur for sure
Hey Dom. I'm really glad that I found your channel. You can't imagine what I already learned by watching your videos within the last two weeks since I found you. I wish I had more time to test out all of your tips by myself. Keep up the good work!
I'm absolutely inspired by your obvious passion for helping people understand how to use this product AND put them on the path to creating their own music.
On of the best of Dom's tutorials. This might be the most important thing I've learned so far. I'm totally comfortable building a solid gain foundation for each mix now. Dom, I knew a couple of the concepts you taught (headroom at -18 or -12, for example) but I had no idea of the order these moves should come in, or "where" these moves existed in the signal chain (like knowing that pencil adjustments should come before fader automation, etc.). It makes total sense now ... but it might have taken me months, even years, to figure it out through experience on my own. Really appreciate this lesson. Immediately, immediately helpful and impactful.
Even though I'm a long-time Cubase professional, I always look forward to learning new tips and tricks, and I'm usually amazed at how I could have lived without them before. Thanks for helping to elevate all our Cubase games.
Just found your channel. Learning so much already and I’ve been using Cubase since it was first released! In fact I started with Steinberg 24 on an Atari ST. This video was fantastic. I have always just pulled the channel fader down. Using these tips I’m sure will make a big difference to my control over the final mix. Trouble is now I want to watch all your other videos which is stopping me actually recording music. Thank you for the videos and your time making them.
Holy crap, Dom! THANK YOU! Gain staging has been eluding me a bit and this was the most concise and straightforward explanation I have seen. I actually have a workable process now, especially within Cubase.
Dom, you are such a good teacher, I have learned so much from you, and truth be told, one is never too old to learn new things! The way you deliver your teachings on this channel, and with so much passion, is simply sublime! I've been active in the audio industry in Belgium since 1993, I have done editing, mixing, mastering and composing music for fiction series, and I have been a Cubase aficionado (also Nuendo) and user since 1999. Now I also teach Cubase (and sadly also Adobe Audition) in high school in Belgium. But the way you are making these youtube tutorials and videos, really helps me at delivering my teaching methods to my pupils. I am much older than you, but then again, I consider you as my role model, to teach my young audio padawans in school. ;-) I'm a big fan of yours, and I also redirect my pupils to go and watch (and ding your notification bell and subscribe to your channel) all your videos on RU-vid here. Normally I have to make my own videos to explain stuff to them, so they can watch them again, but with a knowledge-source like you, I can let them watch all of your videos and hope they absorb as much as they can. It really helps me out. Continue your good work, I will continue watching everything you deliver. Greetings, Miguel
I recently used this gain staging technique this week on a recording of an original song of mine and it totally transformed the song. The final result was a revelation. It wasn't that difficult to implement either. No more recording "hot" from now on.
Please don’t ask if we want a video about the thing you don’t fully explain, PLEASE JUST DO IT, WE NEED MORE TUTORIALS OF CUBASE 10.5 AND MAKE THE CUBASE COMMUNITY GROW ❤️
Thank you Dom!!! I always watch your tutorials, still can't believe I never saw this one before. I just needed to say: THANK YOU! You have no idea how much you're helping us (you and Chris Selim), always providing us with GREAT contributions. Cheers, man!
Amazing tutorial, thank you Dom! A question: You mentioned that you like to have -12dB on the master while mixing. How do you achieve that this remains more or less constant while adding more and more tracks during production? (And why -12?)
Wow, Dom what a great content you provide in your videos. You've inspired me to get Cubase Pro 10 and that has really upped my game. And now, learning about pencil editing makes a great addition to my bag of tricks. I always dreamed of having that kind of control in gain staging and editing without using automation and clip gaining but did not know that trick until now. A big THANK YOU goes your way. Rock onward.
There is a small trap by using "PreGain" (not only this one), maybe just when you are not used to it. For instance I had the Noise Gate in the Channel Strip in use and lowered now the PreGain. The Noise Gate of course had to be adjusted in the threshold. First I was wondering why there was no longer any sound after lowering the PRE gain...so if Gain Staging on a already started project, be aware of the impact
Cubase needs an optional feature to automatically pull the pre gain down to whatever predetermined level you have set. (-6,-12-18 or whatever you want.) That way, when you drop in a vst or sample, cubase would automatically adjust the pre gain to your desired setting while leaving the fader at zero. Doesn't seem like it would be that hard to implement it. Would save us a ton of time.
it would be hard to implement as Cubase can't decide whether it should be -6 or -18. Sometimes you have over a hundred tracks and your levels are too hot, sometimes you have just ten tracks and you're ok with the recorded levels. And if you work professionally uour levels are never too hot, as they should always be recorded not hotter than -18 dB TPFS.
The pencil tool is a good idea but needs to be reworked, it is a pain to use, e.g. the points are so tiny, it is practically impossible to hit them again in case you want to edit the curve. You should be able to edit them like automation, with Bézier curves and proper tools. It is a long time since I used Ableton Live, but the clip envelopes there were sooo much easier to use. And that was ten years ago. Could be a great tool, as of now I rarely ever use it because it’s a pita. It is usually faster to automate the pre gain.
Dom, I have no words to say that this video is fantastic, and your explanation even better. Clear, honest, concised, incredible. Cubase is a fantastic DAW, and deserves great teachers as you are. I learnt a lot about gain stagin in 17 minutes ! All fantastic, from the 1st minut ti the last. I am unable ti highlight only one oart of the video. You are helping to grow all the Cubase community users. Congratulations. I will keep this video in a safe place as the "bible" of gain staging, and of sure, I will revisited more than once, and I will share to other colleagues.
Wooow that pencil trick is incredible!! I can't wait to play with it. Feels like I level up every time I watch one of your videos, Dom. Thank you so much, man!
10:55 OH MY GAAAAAWWWWWWWD!!! I've been using the highlighting tool, selecting gain from the process options in the audio drop down tab. This saves so much time! DOM, once again you've made my DAY! THANK YOU!
Hands down the best tutorial on gain staging I've seen. These tips will solve a few problems with my mixes for sure. Also - I've used Cubase since 2006 and for some reason didn't know about the pencil on audio events OR the pre gain section on the channel settings. It was there all the time. Embarrasing but hey - I don't care because this video blew my mind. Will change my work flow accordingly imediately. Fantastic channel. Thanks!
Trick #2 was an absolute stunner. I never knew this existed and I will try it now with a mix given to me. May be a life saver for the vocals. Thanks for sharing!
Didn't know about the pencil trick! It was great to get an explanation on gain staging, since as a beginner, it has been an area with quite a lot of a struggle for me. Thanks for a great video!
Thank you Dom. Priceless tips, once again. I've been using pre gain and clip adjustments but didn't know about the volume envelope stuff. Keep up the good work! Alex
Man! This is great content! Thank you so much! We just started to deep work with new track and has problems with gain of the mix. Now i understand why. Your channel is so great!
Awesome stuff and - as many of you - I didn't know about the pencil tool either. After more than 20 years of working with Cubase! So thank you Dom! As far as I can see, it is very useful and it will be part of my workflow from now on.👍
only been using and learning for a year, but you've saved me so much time - future time! Dom you are Invaluable! I constantly go to your channel to learn new things!
I knew about the pencil and I have been using it to change the amplitude in my samples since Cubase 7. It was one of the greatest discovery in music production I had at the time. The consequence was and still is the only way to manage my music mixing production. Dom, I really liked the way you explained it. Marvellous
I have been using all of those methods, but until I watched this video I didn't know which method was best to use at which stage. Thank you for this video. It brought clarity to my workflow.
Awesome tutorial Dom. Thank you again. Love the info. on the pencil! No I didn't know I could do that, but Wow, now that I do, How helpful it will be for me. Appreciate your sharing.
I've been recording an ep demo to send out to major labels, this will be my first, with out a producer (self produced) and Dom, you are an amazing teacher, and almost everytime I open RU-vid, I see your face with your videos, and it's usually subjective to an issue I'm currently having, whether it be algorithm or fate, or alien conspiracy, idk but you sir are the best with cubase. Thank you, gracias Para todo hermano!
Dom, I started recording in 1970 and subtle things done well were best. I have been using Cubase since VST 3.5, and you have taught me to finally use what I learned in 1970, but forgot. Thank-you.
The pencil trick on audio clips is groundbreaking for me as well! :) Awesome video Dom, thank you so much for making this video. Gain staging now makes much more sense to me.
Dom is simply the best Cubase tutor! Gain Staging is such a mystic topic, but this explains all. I like the pre gain knob, interesting fact about the fader volume scales (never knew). So probably will start using the pre gain and tool, rather than faders... 👍
🤯Amazing, definitely gonna subscribe. It's really about thinking logically on how to use your tools at the right moment of the mix. It makes sense when you break it down like this.
Dom, thanks for the video it helped a lot, I've been using Cubase for years, and I didn't know about these tips, congratulations for sharing in an objective way.
