Gain Staging with the API Console in LUNA

[@mingusx3440]

This video helped me a lot. Now that Luna is free for all mac users, I'm sure you'll be seeing spikes in views for your channel. Would love to see more Luna content from you. For the time being, I'll just check out all your old content on Luna. Thanks again!

[@MusicByDarcy]

Appreciate that. May be on day, no plans at the moment.

[@oldschoolsoul]

Thanks for this! Question: I there a way to copy specific sections such as the dynamics, of one track on the API Console, to paste to another track without including the EQ? Thanks...

[@MusicByDarcy]

That's a great idea, I don't think so as I believe it's like any other plugin where you copy everything. However, make sure to submit a feature request. However, I would use group mixing if I were you when all of the settings are blank. It's a super vital speed hack I cover in this video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6jdZ6ObasiYrM0

[@familytreemusic]

Very useful, thanks. Was not trimming the snare to get more level into the tape, as you had just done for kick and bass, a choice or just the result of time constrictions?

[@MusicByDarcy]

More of a time thing. Always trying to keep these videos as short as possible so I’m a little less thorough doing them than in a true mix.

[@familytreemusic]

@@MusicByDarcy yeah, i guess so. great job, nevertheless.

[@MusicByDarcy]

@@familytreemusic most people don't want long videos so only the concepts and but not the full 2 hours I might spend flushing out the full mix. :)

[@RIP_Milhouse]

Thanks for the video. I love seeing a person's technique and take on things. Using the Luna Vision strip [and tapes/bus Comp/Summing etc] I have been approaching it as follows: 1. I clip gain the audio takes to -18. 2. Turn on the tape extension [Studer] and find the ballpark preset I like. 3. I pull the gain down in the tape extension to match -18 also. 4. I pad down the API Channel strip input and that allows me to bring up the line/mic level to -18 and making good use of the input preamp. 5. Send to the Bus of choice and engage the summing extension and bring the level trim down to -18. 6. Same with the bus Comp, find a ballpark preset and then adjust output to -18. 7. Send to the Mixbus [a safeguard bus before the Master bus] and use the fader of the summing bus to bring level to -18 in the Master Bus. 7. Repeat for all buses. 8. Then I start mixing with summing bus faders [which should be relatively close to each other in terms of position on their levels]. Essentially the audio track faders are always set at 0 and I have full extension upward and downward should I need it back stream to make minor [or drastic] adjustments. Same again with the group buses [and the mix and master bus] while getting a hell of a lot of saturation and/or compression into whatever I want it in. Maybe there is something to try out, maybe not! Keep up the great work, appreciate your time and effort in these knowledge shares 🤗

[@MusicByDarcy]

I I have been meaning to try something similar to that. I like running things a bit hot, I find it’s sometimes too subtle otherwise. But I’ll try running through your gloriously laid out steps to see how I like the sound! Really appreciate this. Thank you.

[@conrow1157]

How do you decide between fader and api volume control? What’s your usual go trough?

[@MusicByDarcy]

Funny was planning to cover this in my next video going to record.

[@conrow1157]

@@MusicByDarcy it’s strange for me, that the VU Meter doesn’t change when I move the channel fader. Do you know what’s the routing Routine in this case?

[@MusicByDarcy]

@@conrow1157 check your settings with CMD + , to see if your faders are on pre or post. Mine are on post. When passing through the API Console the fader on the channel becomes your volume control or whatever plugins are next in the chain. The API Vision Console doesn’t have a volume out but the gain will be increased if you use the preamp gain or the EQ. The compressor has auto-gain compensation to match your existing fader levels as compression is done.

[@conrow1157]

@@MusicByDarcy that’s awesome!!! Thanks! What’s your fav. uad master plug? I like the Brainworx Master-desk for speedy controls but curios that you can get this unit via plug-in alliance for 29,90 €. I can’t hear any difference to be honest. So I think I Focus the deep modelled plugs and the exclusive ones like Neve etc.

[@juancharry1457]

@@MusicByDarcy Hi ! Nice video, I am working with Api Console in Luna. I can't figure out the eq and compressor with gain staging because there no way of turning off-on and matching the volume (something you can do with Vision Plugin. How do you work on that? Can you explain me please the compressor auto-gain? I has relation with fader levels? Thanks a lot for your help!