Gain Staging - Within your DAW !

[@RCLancelot]

good stuff!

[@D-blessbeats]

Thanks Master!!! Lo estábamos esperando!!!👍👍👍👍

[@1tabularasa1]

I got a VU Meter on my Mastertrack. Everything coming in, per recording or import is checked. I solo every track on it`s own to be sure about it. All the effect units have theire "sweetspot", where they sound the best.Even plugins (if there are modeled after real hardware units) behave like that. Distortion is a beautiful thing as long as I have control over it!

[@dimapoliakov]

Would like to see how you setup input and output stage of an external preamp. Firstly, to see how VU meter should behave on different sources: transient drums, smooth synth, consistent guitar, dynamic vocal. Secondly, do you use preamp saturation or how input-output relations influence the thickness of sound. Does output should be at zero to have a minimal influence regarding noise and distortion? Also you didn't mention how gain staging works with a different VST analog emulations.

[@MarcoPrimeau]

Thanks for the suggestions. I was trying to keep the video short (already 21mins) But you're right, I think it needs a second video, aimed at analog gain staging. (this one was about the DAW). As for VST analog emulations, Most of them are optimised for -18db average track level.. but many have an input gain so you can compensate. There is so many plugins.. I wouldn't end this year if I wanted to test them all... And yes, occasionnaly I get customers that want some saturation. I can either use a plugin, like fabfilter saturn or I reamp the track through my UA LA-610 and blend both signal in the mix. I like the analog saturation better because it reacts more to dynamics...The output should never be at zero going to or in the digital world. For example, I will crank the input of the 610 but lower its output so the signal going in the converter/DAW is around -10db max (saturated signals exhibit less dynamics..) I will plan a video about all this.. thanks !!

[@dimapoliakov]

@@MarcoPrimeau I meant output at zero on the preamp (potentiometer), not in a DAW / digital scale. You can use a little of input gain, but add output gain or vice versa, add a lot of input gain, but keep output at zero or even lower. But I believe increasing output is not a good thing... or isn't?) Hope you'll explain it in your new video)

[@MarcoPrimeau]

@@dimapoliakov It all depends on the unit design. Some preamps zero output is no signal going out.. Some zero is zero dbfs, others will be equivalent of -10dbfs.. That's why in the video I cared only about the level the DAW mesures. Also, if a preamp only a gain adjustment, it can either be the gain boost or an attenuator only.. Then zero on the output would be dependant on the signal going in and the gain.. it could well be an output of + 20db and saturating your converter.. I'll try to explore that in a video. Give me a few weeks I have a lot of things already planned.. ;)

[@vcodev108]

can you please make tutorial on how to mix virtual instruments?

[@ShadowMakerSdR]

Thanks for this informative video. I understand why you shouldn't cross 0 dB, but I still don't quite get why you shouldn't record 'hot'? I always thought that the louder you recorded, the less 'soft' noise would be in your recording and that if you recorded with a lower level, your voice/instrument/whatever would end up in the 'noise' section of the recording i.e. I always thought that setting the gain lower in your DAW to prevent the master overload was the preferred way to go.

[@MarcoPrimeau]

True I didn't quite explain it. First, most pluggins are optimised to receive lower levels. Second, recording hot mostly means you push your preamp harder and the preamp may introduce noise. (Most consumer preamps are noisy when pushed above 65% of there capacity) 3rd the headroom in 24bit is greater than 16bit and any analog recorders. -18db is the idea signal to noise ratio when recording digital. Yes you got it, the buildup of many tracks makes it irrelevent to push gains when recording and lower them when mixing... BTW there isn't any software noises, unless you put a harware emulation plugin that exhibit noise or if your DAW emulates an analog mixer...

[@ShadowMakerSdR]

@@MarcoPrimeau Thanks for explaining it a little further. This definitely helps. I always have a lot of trouble figuring out what to do when mixing.

[@DjHandtriksMusic]

first of all: thanks for the video! but now i'm curious. you are showing that you use a main bus channel which then goes into the master. i usually send all bus channels straight into the master. is this just for convenience to have control over all the bus signals (volume ...) at once or are there other reasons for you?

[@MarcoPrimeau]

My main reason is to allow easy gobal automation and to send an extra signal to OBS via an aux send.

[@DjHandtriksMusic]

thats what i thought the reason was. Thank you for the reply! 👌🤘 @@MarcoPrimeau