The #1 GAIN STAGING Mistake

The #1 GAIN STAGING Mistake
The first step to getting a professional-sounding mix is with proper gain staging.
Getting your levels right can be the difference between balanced tracks that sit perfectly in your mix and tracks that clip, distort, and ruin the song.
So what’s the best way to ensure that all your tracks are properly gain staged?
In today’s video, I’m going to share with you the #1 gain staging mistake I see and how to fix it.
I’ll also walk you through how I set the levels in Cubase and give you tips on how to gain stage after you’ve started adding plug-ins to your channels.
Timestamps
0:15 - Download your free guide to the Perfect Mix Template
0:43 - Gain staging definition
0:54 - Why gain staging is important
1:36 - How gain staging affects fader resolution
2:45 - Improving plug-in sound with gain staging
4:14 - The gain staging “sweet spot”
4:40 - The #1 gain staging mistake
6:27 - Gain staging techniques in Cubase
7:50 - One of my most helpful gain staging tips
8:40 - How plug-ins affect your gain staging
9:37 - An example of gain staging with a plug-in
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[@olivercahalane]

Honestly I’ve watched about 100 vids on gain staging (all of which have their merits) and this is the only one that has answered all the simple questions I’ve had. Clear, simple and internet approach to teaching. Awesome vid.

[@andor3442]

Been mixing tracks for almost a decade & Now just realizing the importance of Gain Staging... I've always had pretty solid mixes, even without knowing this, so hopefully now my mixes go the next level. Salute

[@SanktMagnus]

Everytime you teach me something I feel I need to go back through all my old projects and start again :D At least there is progress. Thanks a lot man, useful information perfectly explained as usual!

[@mixdownonline]

You're welcome :-)

[@GeneSchmidt]

Same here

[@diy4life-keigo]

haha,same. me too.

[@heaaarthat]

For real 😂

[@Emiziki]

He is a great Teacher

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Chris, To my "NOOB" mind, this may be the single MOST helpful of ALL of your helpful videos to me! I look forward to the day which I can sign up for your course (I am still acquiring basic Virtual Instruments which I need and are on "Designated LIST"). And, after I have these and then my keyboard (Hopefully native instruments will have a MK3 Kontrol by then so that I don't buy a keyboard on the way out), then I will be taking your course so that I can learn to properly lay my tracks.... And then mix them. Thank you for ALL OF YOUR AMAZING and GENEROUS work. (also tweeted)

[@MagneticPool24]

This is by far the most helpful video that has improved my mixing. I tried all of your tips last night and my mix sounds so much better. Thank you for your help Chris!!!

[@mixdownonline]

That's great to hear, thanks for sharing!

[@LondonSteveLee]

I set my Cubase meters to change colour at -18 and aim roughly to hit that point on individual tracks without plugins - I never have to touch my master fader. 90% of the plugins I use are modelling types - this really does make a difference.

[@mixdownonline]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@atomas59]

Well my Cubase meter change colour many time, at -18, -10, -5, -1,1 (my aim), 0,0 and +3(definitely clipping). For different reasons. It's not totally accurate, but at anytime I can do a quick check of my peak or average, and keep most thing under control, or close, I really like that feather in Cubase. I like to work with both visual and audio clues, but at then end, it's diffinitly how it sounds..))

[@chillindillon1889]

Damn, all these years I've been f'ing up. Thanks for sharing. Awesome info!!!!

[@StratsRUs]

It reminds me of playing a guitar through a row of pedals.It's up to the player if they want to raise or lower the gain at each input and raise/ attenuate it at the output of each. To treat each insert like a pedal. Thank you

[@mantax55]

So happy to see someone else mix with unity point! Gain stage through plugins till they sound good and the last plugin that isn’t an insert effect (reverb/delay) dictate that final output (essentially the final fader). Then like yourself, leaving the mixer fader available for better movements and automations. Thank you for the video; definitely gets easy to get caught up in that number at times!

[@mixdownonline]

You're welcome and thanks for your comment

[@MorisoniProductions]

Chris, you have an uncanny knack of making videos on precisely the issues I am currently working with! Many thanks as usual.

[@mixdownonline]

Lol, good to know!

[@SonicVision]

Yup, like others said here, I watched a bunch, many so long and confusing, this one nails all the points perfectly clearly. Thanks.

[@nathanbryers]

Me too! Mix before the volume fader - I love those desk emulation plugins

[@mixdownonline]

Same here, love desk emulation plugins

[@walterwa256]

This is awesome . I have learned that the gain staging is done at the beginning of the chain before the inserts and fxs . Thanks so much Chris

[@angelodiaz7570]

Wow After 5 years of professional Mixing, this Video helped me a lot. Used to mix anlog a lot. Didn’t thought of digital gain staging in this way. Big thnx.

[@aspsa6246]

Thank you for another well-executed and informative video. As noted in passing in this video, I might add one must also consider carefully gain-staging across an insert plugin chain, which is simply an extension of what you presented here. Do not mess with the pre-gain control (in Cubase) after the fact. Instead, adjust the output gain of a plugin at the channel's insert point. In the case where a plugin may not have an output gain control, then dedicate the following insert chain slot to a trim control. Chris, please consider a follow-up to this video that details how you gain-staging complex insert chain on a channel, demonstrating through metering how each part of the signal chain provides the optimal gain level to maintain that "sweet spot" range.

[@ciscofuentes1428]

You really simplify things and help to break it down and simplify all the technical stuff that handicaps a lot of us. Thank you!

[@mixdownonline]

Glad to help

[@LanewoodStudios]

Noooo ... was just finishing a video on gain staging as well, what are the odds 😬 With a bit of a different focus though. Very nice overview in this one 👍.

[@mixdownonline]

No way! Lol!

[@mrratskins]

Excellent explanations! This made so much sense. Subscribed.

[@originunknown3209]

Brilliant! An extremely logical process indeed, and necessary, you absolutely cannot mix properly without this process! 👏👏👏👏👏

[@mixdownonline]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@zofo264]

I was wondering how to gain stage with inserts and this video nailed it - thanks!

[@user-co6fw6ql7h]

The best way to learn is hands on. My first few projects were horrible because I really didn't even know what gain staging was until my 3rd project. Once I figured it out... and yeah that -10 to -18 especially if you have a ton of channels. Once they hit that master fader they really overwhelm the signal.

[@nomorebushz]

This was terrific so thanks. I'm a Cubase user now 12 Pro, and I've never used the Pregain feature, and understand the exponential differences on the Level sliders in the low -db areas, which would keep the adjustments in a finer capacity nearer 00db, using my CC121 🙂 Coming from tape analog machines, then to digital recordings... the rule is to get the cleanest, hottest signal in, no matter what! Without distortion. Then ruin it any way you want with inserts and sends, or make it better, which Cubase always gave the gift of for us. lol Anyway, I've never really worried about gain staging let alone thinking about it. But I like the idea of the mixer levels closer to 00db, a lot! I'm going to use it, so thanks again! Z Of course my Master Fader stays put at all times at 00db. Most freeway overpasses on the highways put up height limit signs, to avoid distortion, and crashes too...

[@jamesrossmusic6013]

Very thorough and complete. You have covered all the angles. What I have especially learned here is adjusting the gain of the plugin after insertion not the pre-gain amp. Very good... Thank you sir!!!

[@bx2tx789]

Answered my question I’ve been asking people forever. And I figured it was this.Thanks Lad💪🏿💪🏿

[@profdraper]

Nice tute, a coupe of observations in my experience with Nuendo: Better to use clip gain vs Pre. The Pre function in Cubase /Nuendo is post clip and certainly drops the level into the strip but does not deal with the gain of the original clip itself. Some may prefer this because the waveform display stays the same etc. However, I much prefer to drop the clip gain itself (either via the clip gain handle or via gain processing) because in many files I record or receive these are recorded at 32bit FP & so where there may be slight overload of frequency issues, these can be recovered and staged properly within the file itself. Other point re. output levels on a channel strip after plugins etc: I run instances of VUMT set to -16 in my preference, as both first and last in the strip. Ditto in the buses and ditto on the Master but that last one set to maybe -12, -14, -16 depending on workflow. Mostly I'm metering that back from analogue summing into a print track, say -12 & K14 on the main (depends, maybe off to Wavelab for mastering). Otherwise, Nuendo is always set to monitor fader input. Like someone else said here, I simply add a colour break point in the Nuendo meters, for me at -16, green below, yellow above. Makes it easy & quick to grab the handles & drop to get it all in the zone.

[@mixdownonline]

Thanks for sharing your workflow Paul, I do the same with my meter colors, it's such a time saver. I do like to clip gain also but I go with what is faster and more convenient. My mixing sessions are at the same bit rate (or higher) as the recording is.

[@nelsonmoloi3767]

👌 super explanation Chris your a star

[@Katalysaattori]

Thanks ! I must go back to my home studio and do my project again..👍🎶

[@willgoldstone]

Hi Chris thanks for this, was discussing this technique with a lecturer on a mixing course i'm doing remotely, and he said (not recently a cubase user) he is unsure of it because its pre-gain we are adjusting and that you're taking some level away from various inserts that might use it, eg compressors. Love to know your take on it! I know its just one technique among many. Cheers :)

[@jmoemorris4133]

Wow simply put ,no confusion I really like that!

[@MCForty]

In that final step when you regulated the volume via the plugin's output control, I would add that some plugins; depending on their nature don't have output controls, so if you're ever faced with that scenario you can just add another insert immediately after in the chain; a volume control insert or plugin and turn it down that way. I don't know if Cubase has a volume control insert but there are lots of free volume control plugins out there, and even if you don't have a volume control plug in you can simply use any non-sound-modifying plugin such as a vu meter or analyzer and use its output control to turn down the sound.

[@Jim-iw1yd]

Good video, well explained, thank you.

[@wasp6439]

That was awesome, thanks Chris!

[@itscoleyp]

Thank you dude! You helped me relax about my mixes. Really appreciate your knowledge and perspective.

[@jeffschwisow]

Chris, I just dig the way you bring things into totally ‘digestible’ terms. I do a lot of self-recording so getting ideal levels at the time of recording can be ...let’s say ‘hit and miss’ 😏. Knowing how to gain stage properly is pretty valuable to me. Are gain adjustments in the Pre fader section of the mix console and adjusting the the clip gain the same thing? Also, I’m presuming that volume automation is actually an automated fader adjustment...true? Keep those videos coming. I watch them even when I don’t think they relate to me and still usually learn something! 😊

[@Am6-9]

The pre gain and clip gain do basically the same thing: changing the level. There are some differences of course: Clip gain comes before pre gain, cannot be automated and has a smaller range for increasing and deceasing the level.

[@jeffschwisow]

@@Am6-9 Thanks for this clarification...Cheers!

[@mixdownonline]

Nothing more to add :)

Merci Chris, je te suis depuis quelques années et même si tes tutos ne sont plus en français, je comprends ce que tu dis, Bravo !!

[@rogereriksen726]

Learned a lot from this video!

[@mixdownonline]

Glad you did! :-)

[@Ludvig-Pedersen]

Good video! Easy to understand! How about a video about gain staging live drums? Poeple tend to forget about that, now that samples are "taking over"

[@TokyoSpeirs]

Been mixing at fader unity using K-20 metering for years. It's so liberating.

[@mixdownonline]

Can't go wrong with headroom :)

[@Pax30001]

Thanks for sharing!

[@truthseeker630]

Always the best info on the internet. I've searched a lot of videos about gain staging, and this one has it all with the best explanations and examples. Cris, you're the man!

[@mixdownonline]

Wow, thanks!

[@karlwebb116]

Chris, as ever another informative and fundamental video regarding Gain Staging. Great stuff.

[@testing3379]

Sir, this tutorial is so good. thanks man

[@mixdownonline]

You are most welcome

[@robertmacbean8890]

Thnx! All very usefull, Chris! Great!

[@MarvelJAM]

Chris. Great video. I would like to add that sometimes the mix output (especially instrument amplifier plugins) tone will change at the master out. In that case, insert free/paid plugins that just allow you to change the gain to bring the gain back down. Cubase, sadly, does not include such a plugin minus using a digital EQ. I recommend the free Blue Cat's Gain Suite. It does that and more. Blue Cat Audio is a known excellent company that knows how to make great plugins. Just my 2 cents.

[@mixdownonline]

For sure, that's what I demonstrate later in the video ;) No need to add a gain plug, most amplifier plugin will have an Output knob that will do the job pretty well, like shown in the video.

[@prenumenumedefamilie3418]

I think i have one more ! Like you mention for ex ; a effect distorts !Lets think about that !how much of it we imagine having it !?Still gain staging same as input could end up lowering our outputs and as result we end up no goal !I mean we have to hear first to decide how mush and then gain staging as for tweak's-flows! Almost all vst plugins have some sort of output level even compensatory welcome or even a input when required triggering some add actions as well !Unless we can introduce a add vst just for gain staginess or splitting the signal as well! In your case Cubase has multiple options !

[@davidmaraisthecampfireguit2596]

I'm a new subscriber and I'm loving your videos, Chris. I've just built my studio and I have SO much to learn and find your channel to be very well produced, highly informative and cogent. Thank you!

[@mystikrebel1089]

The video i needed before i start mixing in a few days.

[@mixdownonline]

Glad to help!

[@dannyho6786]

Very helpful thanx!

[@Wangavision]

Always insightful, useful and well explained.

[@mixdownonline]

Glad it was helpful, thanks!

[@mitchvantine4250]

Thanks for all the knowledge Chris! Love the videos!

[@mixdownonline]

Glad you like them! Thanks!

[@mcdebugger]

Thank you Chris! I gain stage the same way but even though I found some useful insights in your video :)

[@mixdownonline]

Excellent! thanks for sharing!

[@sunpointstudio4472]

I began gain staging using the method described by Paul from Finishyoursong years ago. Later I simply looked for the loudest passages and set the gains to roughly -15 to -18, possibly tweaking if necessary. Cubase's meter coloring abilities make this much easier.

[@mixdownonline]

Cool thing :)

[@prenumenumedefamilie3418]

hello selim ! of of course ! Please let me point somethig about this topic.Same terms others goals in live or studio productions! zero unity rules for boths !Other astpect on your studio role maybe zero unity or near for exporting or rendering tracks or stems for sure! because mess up ballance is a big nono when rebouncing on mixing sessions !

[@mittelrongdi9038]

Good luck Brothet 🌿🌿

[@conrow1157]

Perfect point!!! Was searching for this!!!

[@stevenspencer9104]

Thank you brother.

[@korkenknopfus]

I remember this ooooold video of yours (almost beardless) about gain staging. Before that I was trying all kind of weird things to avoid the master to clip. A couple of days ago I did a test record and mix, recording a choir singing a single chord, with 4x4 voices (16 tracks, four of each note). I set up gain in the interface to achieve -18 dBFS at recording and later, before mixing, I re checked gain in the pre section (without freaking out about the -18) to correct deviations due to different volumes of singers. I realized that after this there was no necessity of adjust track volumes, it was all already balanced. I did just some eq, comp, magneto, reverb and panning and the result was great. The beauty of this is the fact that the voices were mine and my wife’s, but... we can’t sing ( think on someone that sings bad, we are even worse). Well, now we can, as a choir.

[@mixdownonline]

That's so cool! So there's hope for me to sing then! LOL

[@Am6-9]

If you ever want to form a choir of people who can’t sing, hit me up ; )

[@fivebyfivesound]

Very helpful, thank you. I’m finding that lot of the videos on YT about premix gain staging are pretty polarized-either that it’s an absolute necessity or not important at all. Great to hear a detailed explanation that recognizes when gain staging is needed vs when it’s not as much of a concern. Thank you.

[@mixdownonline]

You're welcome!

[@maxuno8524]

Cinematography on point!

[@albertofurtado2038]

You're a very nice communicator! Top tips! thanks!!!

[@mixdownonline]

I appreciate that, thanks!

[@moisefpsound]

thank you 4 the last one !

[@mixdownonline]

You're welcome!

[@lionelc2378]

Thanks a lot Chris! thank you for explain the principle of gain staging with plugins. and thank you for lighting up this famous -18db ... as an engineer says and you must know him (CLA) give meaning to your mix ... without it being boring... thanks again...

[@mixdownonline]

My pleasure! Thanks Lionel!

[@contraspower6302]

Very helpful 🔥🔥 thanku🙏

[@mixdownonline]

You're welcome 😊

[@hettovennik2887]

Excellent & complete explanation

[@mixdownonline]

Glad you liked it

[@chrismaister721]

Excellent video. Really nice the way you explain it. It helped me to understand it better. Thanks.

[@mixdownonline]

You are welcome!

[@roxnroll8050]

Love this vid! Made even better by adding the Cubase tips to achieve the tutorial/tips! Thanks!

[@mixdownonline]

Glad you liked it!

[@musicinsession]

Man I love this guy!!!

[@mrrobot7185]

excellent video, thank you.

[@mixdownonline]

Glad you liked it! You're welcome!

[@petarkolarski1446]

Great explanation but basically (if the numbers are ignored) it starts from the wrong logic. We all know that Cubase is actually a mix console emulation. Pre gain staging is the point where the sound/stage technician delivers the sound/signal to the sound engineer with the words "here's a signal without distortions and at maximum levels so you can enjoy your coffee while mixing the session". Another mistake that is being made in all schools on the Internet. -> Faders are special units designed for a sound engineer to balance sound sources at his own taste (not taking into account the technical characteristics, but only his personal experience of the same). Therefore, the rule of faders should be at zero is a fatal limitation of the creativity of a sound engineer. The golden rule is -> if gain staging is done correctly and well, and something is not right, do not touch the trim knob, but change the source (often the musician :p ). In short, the complete recording process or live session is divided into two parts. The first part is technical, in which we take into account the technical quality and possibilities of what we do (even numbers :)) and the second part is artistic. If we accept this logic then it is so natural that Gain Staging is the point where technique ends and art begins. Use Gain staging to free your brain from "technical nonsense" and concentrate on the art part -> faders.

[@Stanacturproducer]

U are very good . Nd also good in teaching. So explicit

[@mixdownonline]

So nice of you, thanks!

[@ross9868]

I have to gain stage the plugins. It's to hard to A/B when the plugin makes something louder or softer. Plus if you decide you don't like that plugin, you can remove it without affecting the plugins after it too much.

[@mixdownonline]

You're doing this the right way :)

[@atomas59]

Well this part is the easiest, what ever plugin I'm using, I always make sure to keep the same level when the plugin is on, or by pass using the output of the plugin. If I use the input of a plugIn, I always make sure, that the level remain the same with the plugin on, or bypass mode...The only thing you gain is the effect of the plugIn..))

[@briancase6180]

What we need is a plug-in that is a container for a plug-in. Then, the container can automatically do an input/output level match. You know, the equal gain button. In this case, the plugins' only purpose is to provide a container with that button.

[@hanisiblini]

Very useful video on gain staging, merci Chris

[@mixdownonline]

My pleasure! :)

[@davddazemusic2642]

Great video.

[@denisbeaupre109]

Je viens de terminer la section Gain Staging et 8 tips de ton cours en ligne... Enfin, une réponse à mes questions de niveau, ce sera vraiment utile. Beaucoup de bonnes informations dans ton cours. Merci Chris... je continue. Excusez le français.. Do you mind ? Denis B. Lorraine

[@mixdownonline]

Bien heureux que la formation est utile pour toi :) Oui, tu peux m'écrire en français si tu veux.

[@joseferro1432]

Excellent video. Thank you!

[@mixdownonline]

You are welcome!

[@KI2LA]

i never cared about gain staging ... i just try to record at a level where nothing is clipping... -6 to -12db does the work... nothing is peaking everything is well balanced 😁 and if something needs adjustment ill tweek some knobs ... just don't think to much

[@mixdownonline]

There you go :)

[@justynwclark]

-12db in CuBase seems to work really well for me as well.

[@mixdownonline]

The goal is not to get headroom and not peak your master buss, the rest are just numbers ;-)

[@jasonchu4400]

and thats when you start clipping once your mixing and adding effects.

[@OmarDiazpianista]

Very good. thank you 💪🏼👍🏼

[@mixdownonline]

Thank you too!

[@ariwildemusic]

Thanks for the video, you always show tips useful on how to use Cubase. Actually you shew different things I use especially because..... I often DO NOT folow Gain Staging Rule ^^ !! When in the audio world, one talks about Gain Staging, I always feel that it is overratted or overthought. As it is implied in the video several times, it is more a matter of workflow habits. It may be good practise for beginners or people not very confident with technical details or for experienced engineers that use to work with those rules. But that's it for me. When you understand well the details of how the sound is managed by the DAW or by the Hardware, you can do what you want with gain/signal level. The signal level is crucial only when analog is involved (plugin emulation indeed, audio inputs, Stereo Out). For example you can have individual tracks in the red well above 0dB and have a clean sound on your speakers as long as stereo out is not over 0dB because the sound is coded with a huuuge dynamic in the digital world. I use a lot the gain knob on Stereo Out to get the headroom I want. I think this feeling of freedom in a evolving process such as mixing is helping me. But I guess every one has its own habit !

[@ariwildemusic]

That being said, one of the gain staging rule I always follow is to keep the signal level about the same before and after applying effect to keep objectivity and to get fair A:B comparison.

[@mixdownonline]

Totally agree with, a lot has to do with workflow and it's ok to have different workflows to get to the same results. For me, even if it's hard to peak a channel cause of all the dynamic range we have, I still take the habit to gain stage since I work with a lot of analog emulation plugins, sometimes re-amping and also some outboard gear. So gain staging my session (which takes me around 5mins or less for a full mix) is liberating for me. P.S.Definatelly a system bug (for your first comment) I would've never delete such a comment.

[@mixdownonline]

2.Gain Staging as you go with plugins is also part of my workflow (like shown in the video) ...Thanks for your comments on this bro!

[@Emiziki]

This is really good. Thanks Chris

[@mixdownonline]

You're welcome!

[@Sol-In-Seoul]

You can just normalize all tracks to -22 LUFS (or whatever level corresponds to 0VU based on how your I/O converters are calibrated). As opposed to playing with individual gains randomly, this is faster and has actual mathematical and practical meaning. Now faders at zero means a known identical loudness value.

[@VolkanErmanOfficiaL]

Great tutorial! Really this is correct %100

[@mixdownonline]

Glad you think so!

[@LeopardBull5trik3]

Very helpful Chris thank you

[@mixdownonline]

Very welcome

[@SouthYarraMan]

Hi Chris. Hope you are doing well in your new studio. Thanks for uploading this guide. Exxcellent tips. Do you reccomend the project files to all be normalised to say -6dB for the sake of uniformity and even Stevens? Would doing that help to gain stage more easily? What fader dB rresolution are you defaulting to, ie: 24dB, 48dB, 60dB, 72dB, 96dB or 120dB. What dB fader range is optimal? Many thanks.

[@thejacksontwinz]

Thank you so much, loved the video.

[@mixdownonline]

You are so welcome!

[@Fabiencalabria]

ty Negan

[@frankpanconi7691]

nice 1 thanks

[@javiermegias5519]

I usually don't use the mixconsole pre-gain leveler. I charge the tracks I want to reduce in the offline processor and apply the normalizer to the desired level. It's very fast when you have to do it with multiple tracks.

[@mixdownonline]

A thing to remember is this will normalize all your tracks to the PEAK signal, so if you normalize to -18dbfs, your tracks will end up too low, only the peaks will be at -18. Experiment with this...-9dbfs can be a good start point for normalization

[@javiermegias5519]

@@mixdownonline well, I use it when somebody sends me tracks that have been recorded at too high levels (with peaks dangerously near the 0 dbfs), otherwise I normalize around -12dbfs. When I do the recording in my home studio I always try to have my tracks around -18dbfs with peaks that maybe can reach -12 or -10, mainly with vocalists and some bass players, sometimes acoustic guitar players too.

[@lassevestby1491]

How did you get that Wonderful gap between the channels in the mixer??? That is very handy :)

[@janjohansenmusic]

Does youtubers earn more money if they keep the audience watching for a longer time? Is that why some KZbinrs repeats them selfeand say things that doesn’t really matter sometimes?

[@ianditwin7443]

I know right!

[@prenumenumedefamilie3418]

You might accept using as a advice from now either you work on digital or analog mode the VU dB scales instead just Vu that s more stands for analyzers in general but nquorate !

[@candlerain77]

Good job, Chris!

[@mixdownonline]

Thank you bro! :)

[@soulstalgiarecords77740]

If I make it to heaven one day (apparently we will be very rich up there with huge living budgets), then I will pay you in lots of gold for these invaluable lessons of yours, cause I feel like I owe you big time sir...

[@stevelabrecque]

Hi Chris! I am a subscriber of both your Cubase and Mixing courses and always appreciate your videos. I am glad you did another video on gain staging as recently I have been questioning my approach. When I gain stage the way you recommend, I notice that the input level into certain plugins appears low (judging in some cases by input LEDs for example). I find myself "cranking up" the input level inside the plugin GUI and then adjusting the output level of the plugin down (again inside the plugin GUI) quite a bit to maintain the desired gain staging level. My question is...if my input level into a plugin is in that -18 to -12 range, can you ever see a situation where I would need to increase the input level inside the plugin to achieve the desired performance of that plugin?

[@mixdownonline]

Usually when a plugin has an Input level, there's a good reason, an 1176 plugin for example, so the way you work is ok, that's what I also do on my side if needed.

[@danpettimusic]

Are there some plugins where the pros don't bother pulling down the output to keep the level similar to when the plugin is bypassed? I thought that was common practice, but I've watched some pros mix, and I saw them add a compressor or saturator, and when the level went higher due to the effect, they left it higher. It sounded great cuz it was loud, but I wonder if there is a criteria for when it's ok to do this, and when it's better to lower output to keep it even? Thanks

[@neilkendall5499]

Hello Chris, excellent video and great channel, I am new to gain staging and so on and I think I can learn a lot from you. I recently recorded a song but think I recorded the guitar and vocals too 'hot' because I didn't know about what you teach here . With the guitar tracks I recorded, they use VST Amp Rack for the amp models and distortion, and when I bring down the PRE gain in the Mix Console, it lowers the gain/drive of the distortion sound on the guitar, making it into a clean sound! Not what I want at all, as I want an overdriven rock tone on my guitar. So I think the solution, like you say, would be to lower the output level of VST Amp Rack, presumably that will work and still preserve the gain of the distortion from Amp Rack? Anyway I've subscribed to you and look forward to learning a lot more from you!

[@mixdownonline]

Glad you like the channel. You said you recorded too hot, but the reality is that if you didn't peak the signal on your way in your recording is fine. From this point, the levels can be gain staged in your project with pre gain etc...or with the Output level of a plugin like the Amp Rack. So yes, the Output level of the Amp Rack will preserve the gain coming into the Amp Rack so your Distortion tone will stay the same :)

[@neilkendall5499]

@@mixdownonline Thanks Chris, I think the tracks will be fine if I gain stage them like you teach. Btw your colour coding of the channel meter to enable you to check if everything is in the 'safe zone' is pure genius!

[@neilkendall5499]

@@mixdownonline Ok great, that seems to work fine. Quick question - when gain staging already recorded tracks, do you move all the faders to 'unity gain' (0 position) and do you have the global meter setting as 'Post-Fader'?

[@tomox]

Thank you for this great video, Chris. Please let me drop a question: When I gain stage my channels with the pre-gain to around -18 dbFS , the plugins on that channels barely kick in. For example, the needle of Magneto II almost doesn't move, same is true for a VU meter plugin, although I thought the VU meter should be around 0 db etc. I don't think this brings the level to the sweet spot of the plugins. Do you have an idea what I am doing (or thinking) wrong?

[@loyidkj6747]

Sir, i am a big fan of u....i am from india...u are my master....❤️

[@mixdownonline]

Happy you're a fan but not sure I'm your master ;)

[@sdutresources123]

How is it possible to keep the fader at unity gain yet peaking around -18db? Because different tracks need different audible levels in the mix my faders are usually all over the place.

[@martywhite2988]

Can you make a video explaining gain staging?

[@anoopkvpoduval]

Great points Chris..I learned some of it through a lot of trials and errors.. Got a question : With my input interface at its 0db setting, I still get a recording too quiet for these standards (lows are around -24db and -30db. Should I be worried about it, or just clip gain (to bring lows somewhat above -23db) and proceed?

[@Getemprod.]

depends on the instruments,bringing up the levels might also bring up noise so try record hot as possible and aim for -12 db or -18 db when recording