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I am trying to understand how to properly gain stage in the mixing window at the start of my mixing session. If I take a track and move the slider until the highest graphic peak on the slider meter hits around -6db I had assumed that this was a peak track value of -6dbfs true peak which seems to be a common target value. If I add a plug-in to the track however like the S1 level meter or a fab filter L2 I see short quick transients going over 0dbfs which I understand is to be avoided at all cost. Can you help me understand what is happening here? Thanks,

George

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by snb1 on Mon Jan 03, 2022 6:28 pm
Gain staging is volume adjustment before plugin processing. The console faders adjust the volumes after plugin processing. So you'll have to adjust the volumes with the knobs on the console shown in the gif. Use the wrench to open the console settings and select Input Controls if you don't see it.

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Screen Shot 2022-01-03 at 4.17.19 PM.png

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by georgegidzinski on Tue Jan 04, 2022 1:51 am
OK got it, thank you. My meters all agree now.

Next question: If i take a track and adjust the level coming into the inserts/plug in processing in the track in the mix window so that the peak is -6dbfs TP, have no plugins, track fader at 0 and then go over to the master fader which also has no plugins pre or post fader with fader at 0, why does that track now peak at -9 dbfs TP? Why did the signal level lose 3 db?

Thanks,

George

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by Jemusic on Tue Jan 04, 2022 4:37 pm
Its a slightly complex subject that cannot be answered here quickly in a forum. You are better off going to YouTube and doing a search like 'Gain Staging in DAW's' and you get results like this:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... in+DAW%27s

Deeper research is required. Watch most of those videos as well, not just one. Many will be saying something similar about the essentials.

The real secret is understanding rms values of signals. Signals levels have two components, rms and peak. Not one but two components. RMS levels are referenced against a calibration level.

eg 0 dB VU = -18 dB FS.

So good gain staging techniques will involve rms levels and VU meters as you will see in these videos. Its about looking after them from tracks through to buses and your final mix. The peaks take care of themselves when you look after rms levels. And you will never see a clip light anywhere either when you gain stage rms levels correctly.

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by mycbeats on Tue Jan 04, 2022 9:53 pm
You don't necessarily want to use peak level when gainstaging. You want more of an average level like RMS.

I don't go by any hard or fast rules or level targets, I just don't want faders to be at -30dB or turn on a plugin and its saturating at minimum.

My rule of thumb when I'm mixing is I pick a sustaining track that I know will be the body of the mix like a pad or bass - something where peak and average are close enough that I don't need a dedicated meter and I can just use the channel one. I set the input trim so that it hovers around -18dBfs. Then I do a rough mix of all other tracks in reference to that on the input trims. This establishes a base point in my mix where I can then add plugins and use the faders from. And make sure to gain match before and after each plugin.

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by chrishopkin on Sat May 14, 2022 5:33 pm
Does this file demonstrate peaks at around -6 db and RMS around-18 db? Is this what we’re all shooting for?

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