How to Get a Perfect -6 dB Mixdown With Gain Staging

✅ Download my Gain Staging Template: warpacademy.com/vespers-light...
✅ Get 1GB Free Samples, Free Courses + More: warpacademy.com/free-stuff-bu...
6 Tips for Exporting Your Song for Mastering: • How to export your son...
Skip to Somethin'
0:00 Intro
0:23 Why you need 6 dB of headroom
1:20 Intro to my mixing template
2:00 How to gain stage
3:03 Custom gain staging & mixing Audio Effect Rack
4:15 How to get -6 dBFS peak level
4:43 How to set your kick level, & mix around that
5:55 How to view clipping and fix your mixdowns
6:58 Outro
In this video I want to share some workflow tips on gain staging and how to get a mixdown that’s perfectly dialed to send in for mastering. Mastering engineers will typically ask you to render your mixdown so that it peaks at -6dBFS.
Pretty much all mastering engineers use this as a standard because it gives them some room to work with. But how do you mix so that everything sums up to perfectly to -6? Easier said than done. So, I’ve got a workflow and a couple of simple techniques I want to show you that’ll help you nail this every time.
I’m going to show you my personal mixing template and walk you my process step by step.
#gainstaging #mixingtutorial #premaster

[@warpacademy]

Seeing as this video brought up a deeper discussion around headroom & gain staging in 32 bit digital audio, I shot a follow up video. Watch part 2 here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXi1pqadbqyhd8k Want to see someone else explain why gain staging is critical even with digital audio and 32-bit floating point? Watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3yviJWmg9J7na8 Also, see a recent video from the mastering engineer Streaky recommending a very similar process of the +6 dB gain boost on your master: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHSypoJ_gshoaLs

[@wooops6400]

Can I send you a track for feedback?

[@izfax2215]

Are you going to fix the template download?

[@musicmediaproductions]

Great video! Thank you for the amzing template! The download works! This is a great tip and helped us increase our workflow! We really appreciate you taking the time to explain! Quick question: We notice on the utlity plugin you have mid/side selected instead of having it on width and instead of having mono button on, you have selected the bass mono? When you get a chance maybe you can explain! Thanks again so much and hopeyou have a great day! P.S The serum training was amazing!

[@warpacademy]

@@wooops6400 you can hire me to mix and master your track, but I don't do "track feedback" per se.

[@warpacademy]

@@izfax2215 it's working.

[@deadroseofficial18]

Him: “I’m a mixing engineer and a mastering engineer...” Every bedroom/edm producer: “yes”

[@exshenanigan2333]

vespers has been in the game long enough to be called mixing mastering engineer though.

[@deadroseofficial18]

Ex Shenanigan Facts my homie!

[@DominicMusicOfficial]

Lol so true

[@luthiervandros]

Lodex how’s yo SoundCloud doin

[@adintyaannasaidhiakharisma5202]

boi you r8... but he is more professional, i see his trick is kinda unique imo

[@ipLyricx]

why do your voice sound better than my entire EP ?

[@warpacademy]

Glad the voice sounds good. It's well recorded and processed nicely. Takes some time to learn that.

[@Fyrah]

@@warpacademy can you make a tutorial?

[@inwex8350]

😹

[@jlof111]

My guess is the vocals are recorded separate and then edited post and those edited version is used when making the video it's how movies are done too I believe which just hurts my brain lol

[@michaelts7900]

lmao ñ

[@alichamas63]

Don't forget that a mastering engineer is only going to use the 6db headroom to either raise or lower the frequencies you supply, based on the gaps or requirements they identify. If you spend too much obsessing over getting it to peak exactly at -6b while simultaneously over compressing or forgetting about a good balance, transients and dynamics, then you're going to get sub par results. Balancing everything relative to the primary elements of the song, getting great dynamics and transients, and making sure all tracks are as clean as possible EQ-wise is way more important than getting a perfect -6db peak. If your mix is great, the mastering engineer may only need a few db headroom to tame peaks and apply limiter, without needing to correct or enhance your mixdown too much. Remember, -6b doesn't describe your mix quality at all, just the peaks.

[@sharpsetify]

I watched this and redid everything based on the -6db staging. Saw an incredible jump in quality. Thanks!

[@djstraathof]

That +6db on the master is genius. I will never do it another way again. Thank you!

[@mvxrex]

I literally refuse to believe its this simple THANK YOU

[@theAadi47]

My dude your work is respectable, this channel is underrated for some reason.

[@jordaneustaquio2897]

You guys are amazing. Literally just had a conversation about this. Came at the perfect time. Thank you so much. Cheers from Las Vegas.

[@warpacademy]

Cheers Jordan. Make sure you watch the follow up video too. It's pinned at the top of the page. Happy music making!

[@WrvrUgoThrUR]

I almost get the methodology behind this and will TRY to implement this into my reference mixes, but this is why guys like you exist. And for that, we thank you 🙏🏽 😁

[@Kalamith]

Begginer here: why -6 dB and not -5dB or -7dB? I mean why that exact number? Cheers.

[@warpacademy]

@@Kalamith It's actually not critical to have a specific number. Just make sure your whole song is not clipping. Best way is to leave a few dB at least. Cheers!

[@CalistheNick01]

This is great advice, especially for beginners. It's very difficult to have low end translate across multiple sound systems for the inexperienced. Your comments on the kick gain-staging was the exact info I needed.

[@madd2377]

Hello, I didn't understand your comment, how did his tip about putting the kick at -10 helped low end to be heard better accross devices ?

[@davinson31]

creo que esta solución no fue dada para solucionar ese problema... si quieres ayuda con eso te aconsejo mezclar con un band pass desde 200Hz a 4000Khz todo debe escucharse así cortes las frecuencias hacia arriba y hacia abajo, en caso de que así no sea depende de la situación deberás usar Eq, Distorción Harmonica, etc.. Saludos

[@Skrenja]

Hell, it's difficult for the experienced! I've been producing for over a decade and getting the low end right is still luck/trial and error most of the time for me. 🤣

[@philippmindrin3202]

i've been looking for these kind of tips for quite a long time so far! you're awesome! thx

[@TheNoiseFloorav]

Tips from 2011 don't really apply in 2019. We've had practically infinite headroom in the box, more than you'll EVER need. We've had that since at least 2011, if not before. Mastering engineers don't need headroom to work with, and no mastering engineer who understands how floating point audio works will send a master back because the mix is peaking at -1. It can even be peaking at -.1. It can even be peaking at -.01. As long as it's not clipping, we mastering engineers can clip gain it down if we need "headroom". That takes literally 5 seconds, while sending it back to the client takes hours or days. What we want is a mix that isn't compressed to hell. As a mastering engineer, I'm sorry but I feel compelled to call this out as inaccurate and outdated. In 2019, why are we still teaching outdated inaccurate mythology about gain staging? You want -6db of headroom? Read your master fader's meter. It'll tell you what the max peak is. Adjust it appropriately. But check with your mastering engineer first. If they tell you something like "if it's not -6db, I'll send it back", then they don't understand how floating point digital audio works and you should shop for another mastering engineer. If they tell you "don't worry, just don't clip." you have someone who understands floating point digital audio in 2019.

[@warpacademy]

Thanks for the comments. A good portion of this tutorial is about training in gain staging, which is a good skill for any producer to understand. Although in Live, inter-device processing can handle overages, many 3rd party plugins can't handle a clipped input well. So headroom inside your project, between plugins and in bus summing is significant. This technique helps achieve this. Also, most producers we encounter are rendering to 24 bit fixed-point audio and not 32-bit float files. So carefully monitoring your levels is advised. A good add on to this, as you said, is to render files to 32-bit float so a mastering engineer can turn them down if needed.

[@TheNoiseFloorav]

@@warpacademy the mixer of any modern DAW uses a 32bit floating point engine, regardless of the bit rate of the audio going through the DAW channels. Watch the video on my channel about Gain Staging, please. Most plugins these days use 64 bit outputs. Gain Staging in digital is not really a concern in 2019.

[@warpacademy]

I suppose it's not a concern until you overload the input of a plugin that cannot handle the overage. Even if most can, some can't.

[@TheNoiseFloorav]

@@warpacademy So why not teach that? Why not teach the difference and how it works in 2019? Workflow practices are fine. If it's an approach that makes sense to you as a user, that's cool. No quarrel there, so long as it's taught as a workflow preference and not a technical limitation. If it's taught as a technical limitation, when such limitations don't exist anymore for most users, then we get people writing me freaking out that they don't know how to get their mix from -6.7dbfs peak to -6dbfs peak, and don't know how to do it without touching the master fader or using more compression. It's confusing to people, because NO ONE is explaining how it works. They merely teach what benchmarks to reach for, rather than teaching people what's actually happening so they can make their own decisions based on their knowledge of their system limitations. We're educators. We can do better.

[@user-fm7eu6gt3z]

@@TheNoiseFloorav Way to speak truth. 90% of the tutorials on YT relating to mastering are wayyy outdated, and usually, I can see why: an older sort of fellow still tryna mix like its Aerosmith's 3rd album. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing, maybe u want ur shit mixed on analog desks (pricey!!!). But if the dudes just go the Protools route he BETTER not tell me to bring my shit in -6db. I've been telling people this for years, just turn down the gain. Simple. But there's a certain truth to tryna keep ur shit at -6. I find its easier to mix @ -12db and then bring my shit to -6 just in case I do take it a pro with a real analog desk which of course, never happens) But yeah 32 bit mastering simply throws the OLD rules out the window.

[@Inzenzeofficial]

Simple but one of the most effective tips I have used, Thank you Guys, helped me a lot

[@RobertCow]

I've been using this technique for 6 months since watching the tutorial and I like the result. Thank you!

[@reaktiv1408]

Thanks a lot for this game changing tip! I struggled for years to get a good, loud sounding mix and with this tip I nail it every time. One of the best and effective technique concerning mixing!

[@warpacademy]

Glad it helped!

[@TKAM88]

VESPERS!! MUCH LOVE DUDE! been a fan for years.

[@warpacademy]

Cheers mate. Thanks for watching.

[@buzzevermore9309]

Me too. Helluva guy.

[@peen2k]

Will definitely add this template and knowledge to my upcoming projects! Thank you for sharing Vespers. This is really useful :)

[@warpacademy]

You're very welcome! Happy music making.

[@izfax2215]

Did you get the template? If so, can you forward it to me? It won't download for me. No email is received.

[@RichardHellier74]

@@izfax2215 Same

[@Joshmosh91]

Same

[@nathansweeting375]

I love the explanation, concept, layout, and sectioned out layout and the description. If I ever make videos, I'm going to be like you.

[@JG_512]

This will save me hours. Thank you so much for sharing the tips and template. Subscriber for life

[@mkrespo2577]

Brutal, big big love my man

[@urigeheadmot1196]

Warp Academy's killing it at the moment!!

[@warpacademy]

Glad you've been enjoying the videos.

[@muxima2004]

Thank you, you smashed it in all the aspects, voice, time, knowledge....

[@zackorr421]

Just wanted to send a big thank you your way. I just used this trick and it worked perfectly! Rave on!

[@BrandedChronicles]

This has been a very helpful tutorial. Thanks so much. I watched this 10x until I got it.

[@warpacademy]

Glad ya liked this one. Happy music making!

[@YaswanthPV]

8 mins..and I got to get rid of 90% of errors i've been doing for months!!

[@joomlaserviceprovide]

I had to watch this 3 times to understand it, and now it makes sense! Thanks!

[@statmo1]

The EQ Channel is a game changer for me bro thank you!!

[@satorrotas93]

You are an absolute Angel for giving this template away for free!

[@begibobokhidze2005]

can anyone send me that tamplate please? they removed it from webpage .

[@nothankyou818]

yeah right its not even there anymore.............way to bait us

[@Skyefaux]

I love the song that's playing during this haha. Also thank you so much for this info

[@warpacademy]

You're very welcome. Here's a link to our release where that song came from: soundcloud.com/warpacademy/sets/darkside-funk

[@2shotDerringer]

Thanks dude. Love this.

[@GaneshGurumurthi]

Yes!.. Your technique finally worked.. Thank you

[@_agN]

This was golden tip sir. Having a utility at start of the master with 6+db and gain staging samples around -16 (kick ) and -14 -12 rest of drum bus ( dont forget always set 0 db on sampler or midi ) gave me absolute control and headroom (better than just turning down fader) with abillity to actually hear good and loud even if you are doing low volume mixing. Just remember to put utility this time always at the start of the effect chain on master and every new tr ack. mixing to 0 db will be after straight -6db after turning off master utillity, with this master db boost i would say mix your kick and drums to be on -6db so without +6db on master u have perfect -12db drum bus.

[@warpacademy]

Cheers mate. Glad you liked the video. Happy music making!

[@claysoul_music]

Hi. just a question. If I set Simpler/Sampler at 0dB and them a utility after reducing to -16dB. Is that any different to setting the Simpler/Sampler at -16. And should I be concerned about sending a signal into EQ8 at 0dB?

[@warpacademy]

Hey hey. If you're running a sample or simpler, then put a Utility after it, like you mentioned.

[@berlinshow591]

icame back to this tutorial to learn more about gain staging.maybe it it is not much important to others but i like gain staging ,because i wanna produce my song with safe levels and i saw these comments , especially from some mastering engineers "the noise floor" , guys why are you here? this is not a mastering tutorial. this tutorial is more for bedroom producers like us. this is helping us. why is it so bad to learn about gain staging ? i want to do as much as i could before i send my track out to the engineer just to improve and understand things better. And thank you Vesper for helping us..

[@warpacademy]

Hey mate. Glad this tutorial has been useful for you. I respond to some of the comments, I actually did a follow up video that would be worth watching as well. Cheers! kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXi1pqadbqyhd8k

[@ericmelanson2435]

Thank you, best video tutorial for gain staging!

[@marscrasher]

this is the smartest advice ive ever heard

[@cameranwolfgramm8175]

You're the man. Thanks for the tips!

[@sosexii1925]

I’m wondering where did I get lost at

[@djwrmboy]

Loool #relatable

[@djsebleb]

lol 2:55 onwards

[@kbmadethatshit6364]

He didnt really explain everything nicely sadly, he was very ableton and EDM music specific, and didnt even go in detail on what to do he just kinda went over it mixing words up

[@maxxz3633]

@@kbmadethatshit6364 i dont really think u actually listened to what he said when you write a comment like this.

[@kbmadethatshit6364]

@@maxxz3633 i listened to everything even tho i k ow how to do gainstaging perfectly in studio one which i work in, just a little misleading with the quickness in my opinion

[@sjfleishnetworkportal]

GENIUS!!

[@realtomc]

thanks for sharing this! this is gold in the right hands :D

[@BIG_PASTA]

Awesome idea, I was totally thrown off when you first mentioned boosting the master by 6db (or any db for that matter lol) but when you explained why, I was like 🤯 ohhhhhh wow! So thanks for that!

[@warpacademy]

Cheers!

[@Ds-rv5wd]

Hey, i have a question since a long time, Should i put the plugins i use after utility or before utility? Ex: eq, compression, saturation, etc, thank you very much!

[@loganengland1996]

Good question, I would experiment with both and see what has the best results

[@portnoi3533]

after!! they are probably calibrated to have an ideal input of -18db (0VU)

[@RANVAC]

Wow…of all the content out there…this is GOLD

[@Iliveinthedream]

Awesome video, I have been struggling with a lot of this and will watch it again to help me. Many thanks

[@warpacademy]

Glad you found it helpful.

[@GuyHarwood]

Great template - thank you. One thing - when i add extra plugins into the device rack, i gather they should come after the utility that reduces the gain, so that any plugin modelled with low headroom / hot clipping would have the necessary headroom when the signal goes into it?

[@warpacademy]

You're very welcome. Yes, typically you'd put emulated plugins after the gain stage down. Unless you want to intentionally drive their input and you like the color they add. Cheers!

[@begibobokhidze2005]

can anyone send me that tamplate please? they removed it from webpage .

[@mikemccann2220]

@@begibobokhidze2005 it’s still on there. Got it yesterday. Just have to put email address and will send a link..

[@marksantos2837]

Hey this video is very interesting, thanks for uploading it! But I was wondering if I should add my own EQ/compression/saturation before or after the -16 gain on my channels?

[@Ds-rv5wd]

Same question here, please answer :)

[@dominicklicciardi]

Before

[@aquariphonellc.1217]

@@dominicklicciardi Is it probably easiest just to put all the effects before?

[@Prodby_duke]

Good question. I suppose you could try both methods and see which one turns out the best, that seems to be the only way of knowing. Cheers

[@deecodeproductions2368]

Thank you so much for sharing this gift! Keep up the great work fam!

[@begibobokhidze2005]

can anyone send me that tamplate please? they removed it from webpage .

[@dwevlmusic1550]

thank you my friend! i will check

[@JacobMarkman]

Hey thank you for the tutorial! Will it make sense if I mix with even lower peak db levels during mixing, so that there is not even a chance that I'll be clipping, PLUS I'll have lower peak levels than -6db at the end? Does that work as well? or am I missing something?

[@badnrad]

Dang 2 years and no response! This is a great question! I'm no expert, but I think the issue is that you would then end up with a mix that (for electronic/club/bass-oriented music) could potentially have excessive dynamics. So when you squash it down for mastering, the peaks and valleys of the final mixdown would make the devices used for reducing dynamic range in mastering (compression/limiting etc) work much harder to bring the desired consistency of perceived "loudness" into focus. There IS a limit when mastering, a point where those peaks in the waveform just don't sound good being limited and squashed down to such an extreme. Because the real point when mastering dance music (which relies on a more consistent sense of "loudness" than most genres) is to enrich the mix by making sure everything is heard, even if it comes off as subtle comparatively to all the elements as a whole. So the more distance between those peaks vs the valleys in the waveform of the mixdown, the more they get squashed since the volume HAS to come up overall to achieve consistency. So imagine you're mixing that way, essentially making it impossible to peak, and as a result your loud parts have no "limit", therefore song's possible shortcomings in regards to dynamics are never really revealed. And so the eventual desired perceived loudness and quality upon mastering the final product is compromised greatly. The less they have to shave off the top, the better it will sound in the end. Because when they're mastering, they're essentially just trying to bring everything UP in volume. You don't want them to have to squash it down. But if the peaks are too far apart from the valleys, when they attempt to bring up the overall volume and hit that max they'll end up having to push it too hard to match any sort of industry-standard loudness. An overly simple way to demonstrate is when you put a compressor on any signal and make it work too hard, the result is mushy because of how much the loudest parts of the sound are being limited from going any further. Sorry this is an excessive explanation but hope you find it helpful. It's been two years though so who knows, you probably know more than me by now!

[@badnrad]

Ok great example, theoretically you could just keep bringing down the master volume while you mix any time it peaks right? The reason people don't do that is because you just keep widening the gap between those peaks and valleys, which restricts the ability to get it LOUD without sounding awful. I used to do that and I'm pretty sad I didn't know better because the songs were good but the mixes were horrible lol.

[@martinlovegoodie]

Been watching since 2011 I've been able to create an amazing sound album. Thanks .

[@warpacademy]

Nice one. Congratulations Martin!

[@martinlovegoodie]

@Subzone absolutely!! This was in 2014 and I've even got better kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXTKdJWFlp6ef5o

[@victorsaavedra6595]

DUDE GAME CHANGER!!!!! The -16 db concept is great!!!

[@warpacademy]

Dope. Glad ya enjoyed it.

[@JayThomasofficial]

thank you!!! this is the holy graill.. .. i cant wait to watch more of your work!! thanks !!

[@maxlarsen]

One tip from me is , let kick hit on -12 and then mixdown the track so it sounds good, then the entire track should be -6, or else your kick is to weak! now you know that to as a bonus!

[@spectralspecies]

Mix roughly atround -12dB average, -6dB max

[@yurianvise1672]

@@spectralspecies my mix always have -12 or -9 at final is that good?

[@spectralspecies]

@@yurianvise1672 when you're mixing in 32 bit floating point you can theoretically not experience digital clipping, using in th ebox plug-ins only. When using external which mimic oldskool equipment you do want to keep -6dB as peak threshold to consider headroom for an external mastering engineer. -6 db will leave you with plenty of dynamic range for a proper mix.

[@shalaremcurrambo-music]

OMG that was great guys thanks i love this channel and ableton live cool

[@warpacademy]

Thanks Shalarem. Stay tuned for more videos and stay in touch!

[@shalaremcurrambo-music]

@@warpacademy sure i will thanks

[@nobosnobo]

Thats really smart dude. Love it

[@user-tw5ek1gg8j]

I like the template, makes our lives so much easier. Thanks

[@yadinmichaeli12]

i really like the intro music track what the name of this pleaseee?

[@samwintersound]

It's the demo track of a Serum Preset pack called "Darkside Funk" released by Warp Academy :) Here's the origional song: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iH20hIeao86SaLs You can also get the project file of this song if you purchase the Preset Pack over at: www.warpacademy.com/store/darkside-funk/ Cheers Yadin!

[@TWEAKER01]

"perfect -6dB"? Here's a tip: add a software VU meter to your stereo monitor buss. Set it so 0VU = 18dBFS (digital). Mix (by *ear*). If peaks often hit around 0VU you're *fine*. Don't overthink it - peak headroom is built in to this method (just as with analogue VUs). Check mono. Keep it 24 bit/native rate, check the export, label it and send to mastering. There is *no* "perfect -6dB as it depends on the arrangement and density of your mix. How it *sounds*, believe it or not, is what counts. - M.E.

[@sergiocruz6416]

which one do u use?

[@TWEAKER01]

@@sergiocruz6416 analog (SIFAM) meters. Or in the box: Waves, PSP, or Klanghelm are usable.

[@anileated]

Useful and to the point, thank you for sharing.

[@warpacademy]

Cheers mate!

[@ItsWesSmithYo]

Just stumbled on this one looking for some fresh gain staging insights…even though it’s 2023, still hits. Warp Academy has been in my go to for years…thanks freaks 🎉🦕🍩🖤

[@gomesdiogo]

So you don't mess with the faders of each track, basically you let them at 0db, and you control it with utility plugins, -16db on each track and +6db on the master, ok. Then you process your kick till it peaks at -10db (or get a sampled one). From there you mix your tracks all around that kick's peak/volume, and in the end, get out the +6db utility on master channel and do your mastering (or send it to a master engineer). Is that it?

[@warpacademy]

Yep, that's my process. Now, if you're not using analog modelled plugins with required (lower) input levels, you may not need to peak as low as -6. I did this follow up video that goes a bit more in depth: www.warpacademy.com/headroom-gain-staging-clipping-in-32-bit-digital-audio-mixing-tutorial/

[@martinbielke8301]

In the video, the utility for the kick ist set to -10 db. So he doesn't actually "process" anything there...

[@SHIFTandCo]

@@warpacademy Hey, should the kick peak at -10dB on the master after counting the +6dB or on the kick's track ?

[@baltaza]

It's even more simple, put the master at a higher volume, so when you turn it down. It's over, has headroom

[@jorritk1698]

@@warpacademy Do you have any recommendations on volume control plugins? I'm using FL but I can't find any standard plugin with which works with db's.

[@frankwyatt1982]

wow, who'd a thunk? this is a stupidly simple idea. appreciate it very, very much.

[@fateoftheunion]

Bro... setting the 6db output gain is simply brilliant and brilliantly simple. Liked and subbed just for that. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@warpacademy]

Awesome, thank you!

[@mohanshiva_musical]

U increase the master fader at 6b? Or gain plugin??

[@ebolantigua3201]

This is the most overlooked yet most important process, and yet you’re the only one who put it so simple and honest to print, thought I had to replay your master gain theory @4:45 to let it sync in - max illusion , min voltage- you have the level your which you can balance and then take it back down (your words “remove”) think I had to tell my self he meant +6 at the master for monitoring your mixing decisions only - 100% to even the mindset it engineering before you even think of mixing ... phenom- you’re dope my friend ..

[@warpacademy]

Cheers Ed. I'm glad you've found some value in this process and template. Happy music making!

[@majorvyb4118]

Can’t get template from the link. Never comes to my email. Not even the spam folder

[@StankerLedley]

The same!

[@matthewmizzi8082]

check the social folder

[@RichardHellier74]

Same

[@RichardHellier74]

@Accurate Records & More I did get mine eventually dude but I'm happy to email it if you're bored waiting :)

[@dj_khayleb]

oooo damnnn the track got me grooving and distracted. I forgot I was watching a tutorial loool :) Release dates PLEASE? if none let me buy or pay to collab on the beat please! I'm a Producer/DJ/Songwriter

[@ScottFergusonFRR]

Really smart! I’m going to add some of these ideas to my starting template in Logic!!

[@mariodrumz8228]

Great advice! Thanks 🎛

[@JOVANNEMUSIC]

Can we get PLEASE a gain staging in a fruity loops session ?? That would be awesome!!!thanks 🎶🎶💥💥

[@PostInquiry]

the concept is the same regardless of daw

[@warpacademy]

Yes, I'm pleased to say we will be making an FL version of this. Soon. Cheers!

[@peachyaudio]

Hate to break the myth but the mastering engineer can bring the volume down if they need to and they probably will. Just don't go above 0

[@warpacademy]

That's a common comment which I shot another video to address: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXi1pqadbqyhd8k

[@claudiasantos7643]

Woah, great video mate!

[@warpacademy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sokoleski]

I really like how you think and present that ! Very inspiring stuff. Many thanks!

[@warpacademy]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Happy music making!

[@thisisMRJAMES]

you got a live 9 version for all of us broke mf's?

[@warpacademy]

Hey mate. We don't, but it would be straightforward to make one. I'll see if we can post one soon. Cheers!

[@thisisMRJAMES]

Warp Academy thanks 🙏

[@DJ_Victor_M]

@@warpacademy Much appreciated. Thanks

[@KevinStCroix]

The part that really matter is dynamics, not really where dbfs is. Lufs or rms is key, leave it dynamic, not squashed. Math on every track vs just your master fader in a 32bit world is better.

[@joechill772]

Kevin St Croix yep! LUFS are better way to watch for dynamics and to meet an overall volumen and punch. I like -12 or -11LFUS for my mastered instrumentals. -8 or -7 LUFS for my mastered songs.

[@gaskomusic]

Yeah lol, pulling down everything with one fader pre-master really is the same as pulling it down in the mix cause of 32bit. Not sure why such an emphasis is still placed on gain staging, besides for analog emulation

[@CardnylMusic]

Why work in 32 bit vs 24bit? I mean you'll just have to dither it down for like platform right? As opposed to 24 bit, where you'll only have to dither down for platforms that need 16bit

[@rokthatsun]

Work in every single of my mixdown, perfect template, -6, thanks you🔥

[@PedroNogueiranunes]

Amazing. Your channel is one of the best

[@warpacademy]

Glad you think so!

[@killezbeats]

"Pshhhhh" ... 😂

[@moroniofficial]

Interesting if nobody had “invented” gain plugins 😂😂

[@Kpophansba]

that +6dB master bus trick.

[@cameronspears3032]

this is so smart. thank you for including the template for free. I will absolutely use this.

[@warpacademy]

You're very welcome!

[@progressivecfp]

I saw your videos 10 years ago! Cool to see you are still posting videos :)

[@warpacademy]

More to come!

[@animatter2000]

Just mix to a sub master Aux to control the level going into master....BOOM!!!

[@warpacademy]

It's not that easy when you're using analog modelled plugins, which most people are these days. Check out the follow up video here, which explains a lot more: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXi1pqadbqyhd8k

[@gulagwarlord]

It IS that easy, because dude was most likely talking about OUTPUT from those plugins, not input. He's talking about premaster. See BROSTEP for examples.

[@warpacademy]

@@gulagwarlord Okay, let's walk through this. Take the example of using a kick from a sample pack. That kick is going to be at 0 dB, normalized (as are pretty much all audio samples in packs). If you're not gain staging that kick down, it's going to be peaking it's own track, as well as any AUX mix or sub-master also at 0 dB. If you're using all 32 bit, non-analog modelled plugins, then you're fine. However, if you're using analog modelled plugins (such as ones from Waves that I showed in the video I linked), then they could be distorting or producing unwanted artifacts due to the input level being so high. This is why using a sub-mix alone doesn't resolve the issue. The output of a plugin can be turned down, but you're clipping the input.

[@gulagwarlord]

@@warpacademy I use UAD plugins, my favorite being my API and Neve 88rs channel strips. The best sounding out there, btw. I can drive the input as hard as I want to taste, like a real pre I even know the sweet spots for non-linearity. . As long as my output on the plug isn't clipping... it doesn't matter what the daw fader is doing because it is floating point data. More than enough headroom on good plugins as long as the input/output doesn't clip. As long as the little meter on the left and right of the plugin ( in ableton) isn't red, everything at the fader is just for control. The op was just stating this fact. You can mix hot, and then bring it down before the master clipper/limiter. Btw. I don't use waves plugins for modelling, they usually sound like shit.

[@gulagwarlord]

@@warpacademy Also, I rarely use mastered samples... I try to start with intact waveforms and clip ONLY when I want to, at several points in the mixing/bussing.

[@matt7212]

uhmmm just lower the volume lul

[@enhancdreality]

surely this is a joke

[@matt7212]

@@enhancdreality nope, literally does the same thing

[@enhancdreality]

@@matt7212 Yes but that misses the point of gain staging and it would be much worse without it - cymatics.fm/blogs/production/what-is-gain-staging

[@paukin9344]

@@enhancdreality this is really just adjusting the metering rather than gain staging. There is no sonic difference in mixing to 0db and then turning the master down to -6 peak. It's good to have templates and structured workflow but there is no right way to go about it really. Actual gain staging is more important between plugins to make sure everything his working as intened, especially analog modled stuff.

[@enhancdreality]

@@paukin9344 gotcha. Thanks

[@JulienFade]

This man is an absolute Genius

[@cliffgarrett11]

AWESOME

[@verdoemusic265]

The whole -6dbFs is nonsense. A mastering engineer doesn't need "headroom" to master. They can just peak normalize. If you're talking about AVOIDING clipping for sonics purposes, that's a different thing... Most mastering engineers know how to deal with headroom with literally one click on Sequoia. I don't think you actually understand what headroom means in mastering. Most important thing is that it sounds right. And btw... MOST MASTER FADERS ARE PRE FADER. Meaning that if you're clipping in the master, AND DROP THE MASTER, you're actually not clipping anymore (it's PRE FADER).

[@zonasound]

WRONG, I have worked with some of the top mastering engineers on top A list projects, they have required me to give them my tracks anywhere from -10 to -15, this is so they can have room to eq, compress and limit, without headroom they cannot do a great job. Peak Normalize is not mastering...see bernie grundman, infransonic sound mastering and many more

[@mrbones102]

@@zonasound I'm not a mastering engineer by any means so I googled Bernie Grundman and found this video, here he states (somewhere in the 10-12 minute area I believe) that the mixer had left about -4 db and he agreed that this small wiggle room (but no more) is totally fine.

[@zonasound]

@@mrbones102 Well i've had 4 records that I mixed mastered by Bernie Grundman. They asked for my mixes to peak at -10db. All you have to do is look up mastering audio wikipedia or any mastering facility. Which state if the mastering engineer doesn't have headroom, he or she can't do their job bcz compression, eq, imaging, limiting add volume and effect. Infrasonic sound prefer -20 db bcz they use much analog gear. This is my experience.

[@THALL0120]

its mainly to avoid digital clipping.

[@nomadptgalexandrecarvalho2133]

Are you real? Serious, are you real or a troll? And all those 40 likes are trolls also, ignorant.

[@braunhausmedia]

It's digital. The only gain staging you need is the master bus.

[@warpacademy]

Many have said this, and so I've created a follow up video to explain more in depth why this isn't always the case. There are some significant oversights in just assuming that digital always has infinite headroom: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXi1pqadbqyhd8k

[@kimkatzer6487]

Thank you for sharing such a well thought out template. I appreciate that you have shared the culmination of years of work for free. Your presentation was clear and I was able to understand and integrate the template quickly (ok, I watched the video six or seven times... so it was kind of quick). I will definitely come back and review what is on your site.

[@warpacademy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@RokSivante]

golden. ⭐️

[@EricDez]

This is awesome! I have done all that gain structure workflow (at -10db)... almost exactly, using the same type of self created audio effects racks, Except i didn't do the -16db and the +6db on the master, instead i used to use a mastering plugin to listen to the mix at 0db... this had its obvious problems. Your technique fixes this workflow perfectly! I feel silly that i didn't figure it out on my own, i was so close. I have struggled with this.

[@warpacademy]

Glad this helped with your workflow. Cheers mate.

[@ingemann_]

Very helpful. Thanks dude!

[@warpacademy]

Cheers mate.

[@jordanquim]

Thanks sooo much !! Definetely helped for better mixdowns, better workflow and a big dose of motivation too :)

[@warpacademy]

No problem!

[@rem7502]

this video has been game changing for me. Thank you ! :) much love.

[@warpacademy]

So glad!

[@papahuge]

This is good training wheels for people just starting out. Nice.

[@BravadoRaps]

Dope strategy! Thanks for sharing!

[@warpacademy]

Cheers mate!

[@soffiatrinidad8388]

Ima download it thanks for sharing!!

[@sensitiverambo]

Great advice. Cheers

[@jonathankevinpick]

I can't believe I've never though of this!! THANKYOU!!!

[@warpacademy]

You're very welcome.

[@ProfessorSaibertin]

Thx for the tips.

[@dinodark3100]

the first time I did not even understand, but it is very interesting. )) Thank you!

[@kingcondornev]

🔥 vid!