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

[@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

[@Goldchunks4]

Can I send you a track for feedback?

[@izfax2215]

Are you going to fix the template download?

[@warpacademy]

@@Goldchunks4 you can hire me to mix and master your track, but I don't do "track feedback" per se.

[@warpacademy]

@@izfax2215 it's working.

[@warpacademy]

@Music Media Productions hey hey. I've actually stopped using the Utility to do anything to the bass. Watch this video for why: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpmxpauOqpWlhbs

[@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

[@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!

[@hollawait]

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

[@djstraathof]

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

[@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. 🤣

[@mvxrex]

I literally refuse to believe its this simple THANK YOU

[@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!

[@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

[@ChaceBonanno]

I saw one of Internet Money’s producer did something similar to this in FL Studio. Essentially monitoring your project with your master boosted and then making sure you peak at 0db and attenuating the master. He just did it with the fader though. Cranked the master fader all the way up, mixed to 0db then set the master fader back to unity. Def works but only if you’re sending to a master engineer.

[@warpacademy]

That's a neat approach too. Thanks for the comments!

[@JulienFade]

This man is an absolute Genius

[@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!

[@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!

[@YaswanthPV]

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

[@RANVAC]

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

[@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

[@theAadi47]

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

[@_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!

[@Karl_Hogarth]

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.

[@victorsaavedra6595]

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

[@warpacademy]

Dope. Glad ya enjoyed it.

[@Inzenzeofficial]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@КроликФлаер]

@@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.

[@sttroemental9524]

Yoooo! I used this the moment I got it and made a new beat, and my quality is cleanest it's ever been. I am instantly more confident to upload my beats to my beats store (I was reluctant coz of the quality issue).:) Thanks a million! Instantly saves me time and increases my workflow TIP: Download Voxengo SPAN and add it to the Ableton rack before saving it as a default Midi track a setup and you can monitor the levels easy!

[@HangtheTyants]

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

[@warpacademy]

Cheers mate. Thanks for watching.

[@buzzevermore9309]

Me too. Helluva guy.

[@RobertCow]

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

[@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!

[@marscrasher]

this is the smartest advice ive ever heard

[@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

[@thimovijfschaft3271]

I personally mix a lot with analog emulated plugins. And even actual analog gear. I personally use a plugin called "front daw" for gain staging. I set the input until the light turns a little bit yellow. Which is the sweets pot for most plugins. This also gives me a little bit of console saturation straight from the beginning. But yes the issue is that I usually end up with either being very close to clipping or I have +1db or something with clipping depending on how many instruments I have. So I also use a VCA that controls all the tracks, and turn that down until everything sits at - 6

[@warpacademy]

Interesting approach Thimo! Thanks for the share mate. Cheers.

[@urigeheadmot1196]

Warp Academy's killing it at the moment!!

[@warpacademy]

Glad you've been enjoying the videos.

[@irbomusic]

One thing worth mentioning about the audio effect rack being the default for audio or midi tracks is that if you have a lot of stuff on the rack, you will get a higher latency

[@warpacademy]

I think you mean a higher latency, but I get your point. Utility devices and EQ Eights don't introduce any latency. They're zero latency effects. It depends on exactly which effects you have in the Rack and what settings they have. Each plugin is different. Some introduce latency, and others don't. For example, if you have FabFilter Pro-Q3 in zero latency mode, it will not create any lag. If you put it in linear phase mode, then you start to get latency.

[@irbomusic]

​@@warpacademy Ah yea, my mistake I meant higher latency

[@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.

[@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.

[@mkrespo2577]

Brutal, big big love my man

[@zackorr421]

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

[@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

[@brendanevo4g]

Oh... oh my God... Literally almost bringing tears to my eyes this is the best video ive watched so far. Ive watched hundreds this first year i've been doing this. THANK YOU

[@warpacademy]

Glad you liked it. I would highly suggest you also watch our follow up video, going deeper into the process and explaining more about 32 bit floating point audio: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXi1pqadbqyhd8k

[@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.

[@Yadozer]

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??

[@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.

[@caseu9]

which one do u use?

[@TWEAKER01]

@@caseu9 analog (SIFAM) meters. Or in the box: Waves, PSP, or Klanghelm are usable.

[@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.

[@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!

[@progressivecfp]

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

[@warpacademy]

More to come!

[@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

[@ramiropiedrabuena3892]

What a smart trick with the +6db on the master, thanks

[@warpacademy]

Happy to help. 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)

[@statmo1]

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

[@majorvyb4118]

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

[@StankerLedley]

The same!

[@Joat_Musik]

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 :)

[@JG_512]

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

[@guycalledguyuk]

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..

[@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.

[@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!

[@TMackOnline]

I subbed when I saw the speaker in the wall 🔥🔥🔥

[@warpacademy]

Sweet. Thanks!

[@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

[@ldvbeats2009]

Bro, the MOMENT you started speaking, I could hear the mad audio processing you have and that instantly grabbed me 🤣

[@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

[@philippmindrin3202]

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

[@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

[@claudiasantos7643]

Woah, great video mate!

[@warpacademy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@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!

[@rellicasrevenge]

Great video! Thanks for the template too!

[@warpacademy]

No problem!

[@frankwyatt1982]

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

[@aftr4485]

Amazing Video and that bus on the master is a game changer for me. Thanks!

[@warpacademy]

No problem!

[@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

[@tredfxman]

Gotta luve thiz guy for knowing exactly what hes fregging talking about!

[@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.

[@joomlaserviceprovide]

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

[@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

[@LeftCat]

This is really smart. I was already mixing with my levels down and adding a volume utility, but it was mostly so I could hear it louder. Using the 6 db bump to spot clipping will make spotting issues sooo much easier!

[@djMartirena]

A icndcxs uzapiza⛵️🛰️🏥🏪🌄🚇🌄🌠🌄🚆🛬🎑🗿

[@warpacademy]

Cheers mate. Glad this one helped.

[@moroniofficial]

Interesting if nobody had “invented” gain plugins 😂😂

[@Kpophansba]

that +6dB master bus trick.

[@JackDeeper]

I've been learning music production for 4 years and since I saw this video some months ago and started to use this template I've been able to finally balance my tracks well and jump to mastering in a heart beat. Thanks a lot man, you really changed my life. I came back digging this video because every time I start a new project I think of you and did'nt even left a like on your video, shame on me. Just subscribed , now I feel in peace 🙂 Thanks🖤🖤🖤

[@warpacademy]

Hey Jack. Thanks for letting us know how the videos have been helping out your music. And, of course, thanks for liking and subscribing. Cheers!

[@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

[@PedroNogueiranunes]

Amazing. Your channel is one of the best

[@warpacademy]

Glad you think so!

[@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.

[@riverkelly3025]

I've had the hardest time with mixing and mastering mostly because I have so many songs that I don't want to send to get mastered because they are just not something I'd release or I don't have the money and for mastering I'd like to save me good songs that I plan on releasing ! but I was never sure of how to mix because I just brought my master fader to -10 and then I would just end up making things really loud and when I tried to use a limiter on the master it just destroys my tracks ahah but I'm learning , this video was really helpful I'll try it on my new songs ! thank you :)

[@warpacademy]

Glad this was helpful.

[@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.

[@ar_snl]

Awesome video. I added a limiter ceiling on the master track at -6 just to make things loud. I guess my goal was to make sure the mix is balance in volume.

[@warpacademy]

No no no, please don't do that. Don't use a limiter to control your peak level. Do the actual thing and gain stage properly without using a plugin that will create distortion. Never use a limiter on your master when you're sending the song to a mastering engineer.

[@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

[@cameronspears3032]

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

[@warpacademy]

You're very welcome!

[@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

[@MollyWi]

In Ableton live it is fine you can go +60dB over the red on the individual channels and still bring it back completely unclipped in the master. I can't say it is any easier to gain stage, however you certainly can still avoid clipping the master with a utility.

[@warpacademy]

That's a very broad generalization that is often incorrect with certain workflows. Here's why: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXi1pqadbqyhd8k

[@killezbeats]

"Pshhhhh" ... 😂

[@Lordxfx]

Thanks to you I've been working like this for years. DnB tracks 30 parts deep, not an issue with this method of working. Currently I'm in the proces of building this template in BitWig. I know, but I've seen and heard things on the other side that can not be reversed.

[@Lordxfx]

Up on reviewing this. -16 dB on track all tracks ok, but why not +10 dB instead of 6 dB on the master channel to have that -6 dB render?

[@Lordxfx]

A bit of a monologue here, but I think understand it. You are referencing against the peak level of the normalized kick at -10 dB. : )))

[@warpacademy]

Ah, this is an important point. It's because you never start with a perfect mix. You don't just put your tracks in and magically you're peaking at -6 dB. You mix by turning up what you want to hear more, not by turning everything else down - that's way too much work and a bad workflow. I start by turning everything WAY down at the beginning, in the template, and then leaving myself tons of room to push volumes up as I mix. When I see myself clipping the master, which eventually happens, I know I've reached -6 dBFS and I need to adjust the mix more delicately and strategically at that point. As I've said on my follow up video, -6 dB is not a required or magic number. It can be -1 dB. But I like -6 as it leaves a nice margin for error.

[@warpacademy]

Yeah, kind of. That's honestly not even necessary because that's a peak level. You can have 2 kick with a sample peak of -10 dB but they can be wildly different in loudness, meaning they'd need to be mixed at different gains and processed differently.

[@Lordxfx]

@@warpacademy Thanks for getting back on the subject. Really appreciate it!

[@GaneshGurumurthi]

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

[@jonathankevinpick]

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

[@warpacademy]

You're very welcome.

[@papahuge]

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

[@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 🎉🦕🍩🖤

[@nickcopia]

Best video on this topic and there is a shit ton. Good work Vespers 👍

[@warpacademy]

Cheers mate.

[@rokthatsun]

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

[@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!

[@muxima2004]

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

[@nathanjean1744]

Brilliant! Thanks from South Africa

[@warpacademy]

Cheers!

[@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!

[@daveaufradern6658]

Great tutorial, thank you ! Constructive criticism: I find the music in the background distracting.

[@ericmelanson2435]

Thank you, best video tutorial for gain staging!

[@RenniefosterRF]

Rock on Andrew!

[@roheetshrestha5922]

BROOO thankyou so much, this really helped and the tutorial was really easy to use as well :)

[@warpacademy]

Glad it helped!

[@gypsydisc2019]

Really helpful tutorial!

[@warpacademy]

Cheers!