What you need to know about GAIN STAGING

A video on gain staging and the reason why you should know it, in any DAW i.e Pro tools, Fl studio abelton etc. from your bedroom.
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#mixing #gain #staging

[@HelpMeDevvon]

MAKE SURE TO STOP BY www.helpmedevvon.info

[@melchisedekj]

fam, thankyou.

[@THETROUBLEMAKERSGANG]

devvon can you do a video on how to use automation on reverb and delays to hooks

[@HelpMeDevvon]

TROUBLEMAKERS GANG absolutely!

[@THETROUBLEMAKERSGANG]

@@HelpMeDevvon looking forward to it thanks for replying.

[@youngkey3051]

Help Me Devvon so when you bypass the compressor for the vocals, are you checking to have relatively the same loudness or the same gain???

[@gucciguzmane]

I go to the Los Angeles Recording School and this man teaches me more in 15 minutes than I learn from a week of class lmao

[@pronavsandhu]

thats the difference between job and passion

[@savkalipez]

@@pronavsandhu Facts

[@pastorkspeaks]

I literally just applied for LA School for music production. Would you say it's still worth it or no?

[@gucciguzmane]

Karey Heyward Hell No man they just want your money

[@nickyscorpio5066]

@@pastorkspeaks please don’t do it! I went and graduated with honors. What a waste of money

[@archixmusic]

2 mins in, and I already realized I've been gain-staging wrong. No wonder Mixing gives me hell

[@HelpMeDevvon]

Archix glad it’s helping!

[@ELLIOT8209]

@@HelpMeDevvon how does clip gaining work in terms of plugin calibration to 0db? I heard somewhere that 0db in analog is - 18db in digital. Do you know anything about this?

[@TheSideProject]

@@ELLIOT8209 i agree, i couldn't get it right tho

[@Canyoubuildlegos]

@@ELLIOT8209 Analog metering is VU. Gain staging only really matters if you use analog modeled plugins in the chain which sound at their best at 0 VU (-18db). Search "mvMeter 2" for a nice free meter.

[@donnytheflow]

For my Ableton users: the trim tool is called "Utility" and it's found in the audio effects folder.

[@HelpMeDevvon]

donfons thank you friend !! This is going to help a lot of people!

[@drulamane]

donfons protools>ableton 😎

[@mrpickenz7760]

@@drulamane nope

[@taliaah]

You're right but i'd say you dont even have to use the Utility audio effect for that.. Just turn it down in the clip view settings. And for instance, if you're using an instrument vst and you want to gainstage, turn down the volume on the vst and not the fader on your DAW.

[@jackhammer8061]

Nah actually Ableton’s Utility plug-in doesn’t do any clipping, it’s just for controlling the gain, width, M/S balance, panning & the phase - but it doesn’t actually clip any peaks.

[@donokon8850]

Hands down the best on KZbin when it comes to teaching and explaining. Never stop bro !!!!!!

[@jonahmiller3551]

Foorrr rreeeallll!!!

[@minicaudio124]

finally someone breaks down just stage gaining i feel this is a topic that gets over look a lot and never gets discussed so thank you for this!!!

[@HelpMeDevvon]

Minic Audio no problem!!

[@theinfamousches1258]

I've been engineering for 3 years. I work at a studio. I make money freelancing. You literally taught me more about gain staging in this video than anyone else that has taught me how to engineer lol

[@johncaccioppo1142]

Maybe you can explain something for me. I suspect that the engineering principle behind this has everything to do with the power quality of each link in the signal chain. If that's true, you would drive your signal from the perspective of not just "how everyone does it", or from one end of the chain versus the other, but rather in terms of the quality of your equipment and its power supplies. Does that make sense to you, and has anyone ever posed gain-staging to you in this context before?

[@xiro4395]

@@johncaccioppo1142 that doesnt even make sense, hes an audio engineer nto a rocket scientest

[@ZZPiranhaZZ]

@@johncaccioppo1142 this is the original purpose of gain staging. the point is to minimize noise at each link (which is why people question its efficacy in a daw)

[@ZZPiranhaZZ]

@@xiro4395 it completely makes sense, audio engineers should know why gain staging is important, its a fundamental of good mixing

[@xiro4395]

@@ZZPiranhaZZ i think i was trolling

[@LeiDontPlay]

Homeboy oughta be a professor. I don’t know anyone who can explain things how he does. Super simple and straight to the point. Thanks again brodie!

[@Jmusiquex]

My man...... I just did this today! TODAY! I’ve been mixing for YEARS!!!! I struggled SOOOO much with mastering. You should hear my mix today, CRAZYYYYYY. SSL is crazyyyyy. Thanks.

[@yawnjones]

I know that feeling bro this was a great tutorial !!! 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿🏆

[@kellv3n]

For FL Studio, my idea is to do the following: - If recording vocals, have the Hornet VU Meter set at -18DB with max peak of -12DB for 0VU. Run a few live takes and see how the gain is adjusted automatically. Set the gain on your microphone or interface to adjust so you are close to this mark. This way you won't be recording too hot or too cold. - On the mixer, put the Hornet VU meter on the first insert of each channel. Run the Hornet VU meter again so it adjusts and sits at that target volume range. - Now you are ready to mix. - An additional step is to put the Hornet on the Master and bump up the volume to whatever level you are looking for (to have the loudest possible mix). I'm new to this so this is all based on logical thinking. Not sure if it will work or not. -

[@aBerryBro]

Shout out to Devvon for posting the tutorials that matter!

[@zian3694]

it's shout out, I thought It was shut up. How dumb I am, My english is very bad,

[@brycemcdonald6621]

I know that this is an old video, but man, I have to tell you that you have an amazing ability to break down complex processes and ideas into simple, easily-to-digest content. Your videos have been tremendously helpful.

[@Melvin7727]

Finally someone explains this in a way that makes sense. Devvon, you have a gift. I've watched a million videos on this topic over the past couple years and not one of them had the explanation you did with how it matters what's going through the inputs of the plugins. Thank you!

[@Difference8X8]

In FL u can use for this the "Fruity dB meter" and adjust the gain on the channel rack on the fader between the channel panning and the target mixer track to your target value hitting on the dB meter

[@beatluxx]

but it's best to use Fruity Balance a native fl studio plugin to make a good gain Stagging

[@ohhiesse]

I'd like to know in which case this technique should be used. Is gain staging only applied when importing tracks? or can it be used when mixing a beat song in a session?

[@breezyoakk]

or just turn the sample down with the volume knob

[@ohhiesse]

@@breezyoakk That's what I do. I usually lower my kicks and 808's at around -6db and then move other samples around until the whole mix sits at around -3db -2db. I'm always trying to learn new mixing techniques, I'm asking so I can properly use gain staging. Sorry if my question seemed stupid

[@jackhammer8061]

That’s useful but what he’s talking about in the video is using a hard clipper, I’m not in FL so I’m not sure if it has one but I know there’s a dope free one called G-clip you can find in KVR. The thing is if you’re not using a true clipper on your bus/groups then you’re just balancing the plain volume and your limiter will be overworked in the master and you’ll get a more unsteady result whenever there’s high peaks and you won’t be able to push the limiter levels as high as you could otherwise. It’s how producers are getting those insane +6dB masters these days haha

[@dat1beats]

I’m glad someone explained this correctly. There’s a lot of false gain staging videos out there. Some people say that it’s not necessary but it works for me. The only time these rules don’t apply is when you are purposely clipping tracks through an analog plugin and turning the output down on the plugin.

[@lastsaiyanleft]

this is the best video on gain staging. straight to the point no shennaningans. thank you

[@mattcordasco]

I feel like understanding and utilizing gain staging really is the most important thing to improving your mixes

[@hadkmusic]

Bestest gain staging tutorial ever

[@lavtoomuch113]

That moment when he says "In raw form" and I say "The living weirdo" at the same time 🤦🏾‍♂️ ya got me devvon, ya got me!

[@radumarcu3457]

I was always wondering why I was still getting digital distortion even though I dropped the volume in the meter channels. Thank you so much I literally could not get my head around this!

[@jackhammer8061]

Absolutely! For newer producers one of the biggest pitfalls with mixing I think is leveling the dB on/in/from the synth or sampler or the plugins in processing chain of that channel and not on the channel fader level itself - but it’s ALL about the RMS dB level of the channel it’s self POST processing. My shit was jacked up for the longest time until I realized that lol. Hard clipping on the group/bus level is also a amazing “secret” that allows you to get absurdly loud (like +4dB lmfao!) tracks in the mastering stage because the limiters aren’t over-worked with taming a bunch of high peaks all over the place and it’s all perfectly leveled off. It’s how all the pros at the top of the industry are getting such a loud masters right now. This video should be considered a mandatory public service announcement for all producers. Excellent shit.

[@BattlesCinematics]

Wow. As soon as you started explaining it my fuckin' heart dropped and I realised I'd been doing everything wrong and getting annoyed about it for years. I'm both absolutely thrilled and incredibly frustrated at the same time.

[@komet1536]

You really have the talent to teach essential things very clearly.

[@DanielThompson-vz3jc]

Thanks Devon! You're videos have taken my amateur mixes to the next level!

[@jessiethomas7964]

Yo this demo song is literally the best I've ever heard. Love ur vids they're straight to the point and explained well! Thank you!!

[@khalilmadovi.]

There are plenty of videos on youtube on this topic. This is the best one.

[@HelpMeDevvon]

Khalil Madovi 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@enriquejamesmusic]

I love that you explain things so simply and avoid using jargon/vocabulary that people might not know

[@ZIMA.RECORDS]

Even after years of producing still had so much to learn thank you for making such good and understandable tutorials!!

[@renosance8941]

10:14 after probably HUNDREDS of tutorials, over the last 2 years, the way that hit me... finally, I UNDERSTAND lol! Thanks bro! 🙏🏽🔥

[@funkybunky182]

For that reason cakewalk had set a gain fader in the mixer on every fader ;D

[@visionop8]

This is the best I've ever seen gain staging explained. I feel like I just might learn what I'm doing in this scary world I've stepped into.

[@Prodby_duke]

I like how u put that. It def is scary at times 😅

[@Stratoouttathisworld]

man thank you for the break down! everyone else skims through gains-staging and doesn't give any details! love the channel homie ill definitely be learning more!!!

[@RolandDeschain1]

Reaper has a great function where you can select all of your multitracks and normalize them to whatever volume you want. I Usually I go to -18. Then I check the levels playing the song in mono, so anything too loud really pops out. With those two steps I usually have a really will-balanced mix. I also buss every instrument to a Submix track which I set at -6db. That gives me plenty of headroom into mastering.

[@rufusdoofusmcgoofus]

Clear, concise, and relevant. Nice to watch a video where someone gets right to the point and stays on it! More, please!

[@TheSilverConductor]

I MusicLuv It! My brother you tapped in on the very thing we needed to hear. Peace...

[@dtfluker1617]

That first example was perfect for understanding the signal you need to gsinstage

[@PhilMao]

dude, perfect timing. i was literally researching this topic and just saw a notification about this very topic. thank you

[@CIABU]

Phil Mao lol me too

[@patbeats2669]

Bro seriously you are the truth, everyone can gain so much from these videos. I encourage everyone to keep coming back to these videos, every time I come back to one I learn something new, EVERY TIME.

[@itsmesnooze23]

I've been producing 14+ years & I actually learned something. Good stuff. 🙏🏼💪🏼🎯

[@graysongreen9853]

Wow, Ive been mixing my own stuff for years and this video just changed my life

[@sirvaant]

In Reapee you don’t have to worry about that if the signal is too hot just turn the fader down, and it turns down the signal as well. Thanks for the great explanation though!

[@TheEncouragementKid]

You're so good at engaging the audience, had me hooked!

[@prodbyhushed4712]

Bruv the patience you had to explain these concepts deserve mad respect !!!

[@svndrose3277]

big bro just saved y all A hell lot of time, money and nerves show him some love and smash that like button

[@drum877]

Plug ins work better at certain gain levels. A lot of people do not know this. Nice video man.

[@gidiyongidi17]

Waves plugins reacting with -18 dbfs Finally best results

[@AndrewBawitlung]

Only on analog modelled plugins as they are programmed to distort at certain levels

[@HARSHRIVASTAVA]

My biggest confusion for distortion is cleared today 😭 Thanks a lot man 🙏🏼💯❤️

[@The100CrackFist]

I always wondered why ableton's drum rack would default in at -12db, but now I get it. It's essentially already gain-staging. I remember I turned it up to -0db and my compressors went up into the red instantly. Couldn't work out why. Now I understand. Thank you Devon, you are talented at explaining things clearly.

[@TooruOfficial]

I'm taking a music production master while reinforcing with your videos and it's just majestic. Everything I'm learning makes twice the sense after watching your videos. Thank you Devvon!

[@ajaayv]

He's the reason some professional producers are gonna evolve !

[@randomrandy3059]

Wow. I have been tracking my beats all wrong! And I was asking what the purpose of the dB in the clip. Learned that in this video.

[@MichaelMosca-z1v]

after watching his tutorial on the compressor, i realized i never understood why gain staging is so important. Its not just about compressing the vocal or instrument but its about blending them into the whole picture

[@Jsoundz]

damn, ive been dropping the faders down for years lol!! glad i reached the channel

[@thenotablestranger]

Finally, someone who explains this in a way that is easy to understand! Top marks.

[@kevcoverssolos]

Man, I know nothing about mixing but you explained this so well. You’re an excellent teacher and an amazing producer from what I hear. Very rare combo.

[@reeldirtyfishin]

Literally could not have come across this tutorial at a better time!🙌🏾

[@howischris_]

Devvon, bro, you changed my life today. thank you!

[@ridgio_]

This man love what he do. That helps with learning fasho

[@MelodiousEtude]

this has by far been the most helpful video on gain staging/signal flow in general I've ever watched. THANK YOU

[@MrAbeck1]

I've been checking this topic out and watching loads of videos on this topic, and Devvon is the only one who takes it right to basics and explains it in perfect simplicity. Thanks so much! I finally got gain staging after this video!

[@genowilliams8470]

Enabling pre-fader setting is easier. Will give you the original signal on the meter from the start. Nice video gave me another way to control clipping. Thanks

[@HelpMeDevvon]

This isn’t a good work flow in my opinion because now when I tell u to turn down your mix you will be turning down the prefader signal which messes up all the signals feeding your plugins. I’d wind up super upset if I did that

[@CORPSEGVNG]

This basically serves as an affirmation to what I was doing, and corrected a coupled of my mistakes. I appreciate these videos bro, thank you!

[@alias-_unknown9999]

I was just gain staging and clipping my projects during quarantine and you uploaded this in perfect time!! Thank you bro great video, let’s me know I’m on the right path even though I use FL in comparison to your DAW🙏!! Keep up the great work please 💪🏼

[@HelpMeDevvon]

Alias- _Unknown aye doesn’t matter what program you use!! I explained it for any DAW!

[@alias-_unknown9999]

Your right it works In anyone! Thanks for replying , have a great day 👊🏾

[@LitBoxTv]

That beat is on fire. 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@MadACeTeeMack]

That's exactly how to gain stage; great tutorial 👍🏻 👌🏽

[@jakehettinger1087]

I am a beginner producer in this is the best tutorial I've found on gain staging. Thanks for this!

[@chrisfelixmusic]

Devvon, seriously, you’ve helped demystify mixing for me. I’ve learned so much from your videos. Love the quality content. Music is 🔥🔥🔥 too!

[@antoine.2018]

I find your videos today and you are now my god. thank you soooo much

[@tunevenguada]

“When you clip glain” lol thank you Devvon!!

[@artezworld.8471]

I think this is one of the best chanel for producers in youtube

[@fakshen1973]

In the days of analog, we would gain stage to in order to keep each track as far above the analog noise floor as possible. That was important. If I had 24 tracks playing from a 2" tape, that's 24 TIMES the amount of noise versus one track. You'd also worry about the amount of noise coming from each piece of gear in the chain (EQs, compressors, reverbs, etc.). All gear would add its own amount of noise. So we'd worry about gain in each STAGE of signal flow. Now the term has been carried over to the digital realm. But you're really not fighting noise anymore. There are problems inherent with digital signal flow, though. But that's another discussion.

[@dhananjayalakshan953]

Thank you for your Cristal clear details.

[@yuulian4776]

I already know gain-staging, but this is wonderfully explained! It's kinda hard at the beginning to grasp the post and pre fader, haha. Marvelous!

[@darkadore]

I have seen mad videos on gain staging and this is the first time I actually understand what it is and how to do it, thank you Devvon. You a blessing

[@mitchelldavid2916]

sick video thanks man! It's called utility in ableton, This video cleared up all the confusion I had around it! You are a great teacher.

[@dipanjanacharyya1345]

Bro, universities should pay you for this kind of an explanation! Love your content.

[@BENCHAMBERS]

So well explained. For Ableton gang, I think what you're looking for is 'Utility'

[@myjciskate4]

Devvon!! Can you do a tutorial/tips for fast singing? I find it’s extremely hard to hit certain notes while simultaneously doing multi syllable rhyme schemes/fast flows. Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks 🔥👍

[@theiriscen]

If your raps sound nice when you perform them live and only sound weird (out of sync) when they are recorded, then maybe the problem comes from your recording process, specifically latency issues. I had the same issue. I used to record 20 takes of the same verse cuz i was never happy about the outcome. Something always sounded off to my ears. I did some digging and found out about latency. It seems all DAWs automatically make up for any latency but my DAW (reaper) never completely makes up for it dunno why. So what i do before recording is i record a click track and do a latency test. To see how much i gotta nudge my recorded tracks. So after i record, i nudge them to the left. It works well most of the time, but they are certain raps that sound better when they are a lil off sync. (Groovy). Also, i recommend to have your vocals playing in your headphone as you record them. That’ll give you better confidence and better cue to lay your vocals as you can hear how they sound as they are being laid. Now if your problem is breath control or rap skill or something, then disregard what i wrote above.

[@hellhedoublellimitlesslumi7897]

hail satan and roll your eyes back, easy as pie, and yo bish lol jk jk

[@bobbyblueflame]

Punch in dude problem solved

[@kidhouse23]

I have watched 4 videos on Gain Staging and only this video explained why I should be doing it.Subscribed!!!

[@Albozofficial]

You actually explained this even better than anyone here on youtube, the funny thing is I don't even use protools. I use logic pro x and I understood your explanation perfect. Thank you for this Devvon, much appreciation!!!

[@buddywedlake]

holy crap, this guy is knowledgable, and I don't believe this could be explained any better. had to subscribe.

[@supa-hero7184]

Video was incredibly helpful, now I clip glame in every session

[@alfredog2921]

You are the best techer. Thank you very much. I Learned a lot again👍.

[@MIKE-zf7pq]

This is the best free software Ive seen. Respect.

[@frodarola]

Devon, I use Machine and I went about gain staging the way you explained and man my sounds are outstanding. my before music was all cloudy and distorted and then u brought the light. Thanks Devon

[@HEMPHILL84]

U da man, we crownin ya bruh... aka Professor Devvon R.A.W.E., had to put some respect on it lol. Preshate it fam, thanks so much

[@SamChampagneNYC]

Hey Devvon! I am so thankful for all this information. I was wondering if you could go in depth about how you capture a good vocal recording. Because no matter how great of an engineer you are, if you get a crap vocal recording, you shoot yourself in the foot before you start. Even some tips and tricks would be helpful.

[@HelpMeDevvon]

Sam Champagne I got ya!!

[@deejayworlhed738]

@@HelpMeDevvon Video link please

[@theiriscen]

As i was watching the video, i was thinking “What is this fool even talking about acting like this is rocket science” Then I remembered simpler times when i didnt know about gain staging and it blew my mind when i discovered it. All in all its really important... Thanks for all the work and efforts in making these videos.

[@Prodbykogah]

Now everything makes sense lol man what a great video

[@Lossothechin]

wow bro you are the real deal now i do understand whats gain stagin you saved a soul bro much love from Africa

[@GhostsInSpace_]

Watched probably 10 other videos from credible and well known sources, and this was the best. You're talking at my level and its awesome. Subbed!

[@michaelmunroe4694]

May god bless your soul. You don’t even have to be doing this 🤦🏽‍♂️ thank you for being able to explain this in a humane way .

[@ayyonmichaels9731]

excellent teaching

[@BeatsByKobi]

Dope tutorial man! I feel like a lot of us have actually beeen gain staging, but never knew the process had a name lol - thank you!

[@kwavs7879]

ive been producing for 2 years through mainly youtube, you explain what's needed to be explained as good as anybody on KZbin. Thanks man.

[@metalfather8139]

You are a smart engineer....i do technical metal and use some of your tips. And loved your dangerous video

[@invisigoat]

I’ve subscribed and now I’m going to mine all of your videos because I know NOTHING about mixing. THANK YOU BRUH!!!

[@FolksWhite]

Incredible tutorial. I'm confused on one thing though- you copy over the -5.6 gain to every track, but shouldn't you customize the gain for each track so that it tops out at -5.6 or -10 or whatever you choose?

[@MtZaba]

This. The way I think of it is you adjust the sample volume if you want the sound adjusted BEFORE you add processing(plugins). You adjust the mixer fader volume(if needed) AFTER processing. If your mix sounds good but something sounds lower or too loud? Just adjust the fader in the mixer. You should’ve already adjusted the natural loudness of each sound in your mix by that point.

[@xnnyboi7237]

Every time I watch one of your videos I get a better understanding of music production and improve my skills, thank you!

[@Learning863]

The most important question Do the fader stay at zero and use gain knob to mix or do you mix using fader knows after it’s gainstaged. All KZbin videos are missing that part including this one.