Gain Staging & Creating Headroom 101 in Ableton Live
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- Опубліковано 1 січ 2025
- Learn the basics for gain staging and creating headroom in Ableton Live to improve your mixes. I know there's 6 billion opinions about mixing, but I learned these tips from some solid engineers when I started producing.
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This is a pretty solid demonstration. It wouldn't hurt to mention that before adding any inserts, it's a good idea to get your initial track volume averaging at around -18 dB RMS. That way, it is compatible with analog simulation plugins.
I typically start my own chain with the utility in the front of yhe plugin chain to dial things in, with another utility at the end of the chain (if needed) to either keep the chain properly staged or for automation purposes.
Proper gain staging really helped me keep my mixes at a manageable volume. Before doing that, I was always having to turn things down because I was clipping.
Hey thats good point - I've been on some classes with Sie Medway Smith where he sets to -12dB only for premastering - never higher - you lose any headroom for the final mix. He also controls levels initially via utility plugin gain, but thats usually at the end of any chaain, as anything else, like EQ boost to sub will increase level, which you compensate with uitility gain. At this stage - channel faders should all be untouched at 0 - otherwise you have a headache if you want to tweak things later.
I also use a Utility at the front of the chain, -12db, usually leave the kick fader flat and mix around it. After watching this video, though, I may try working at -6 and see how that suits me
a limiter: "basically its squishing them & giving them a BIG group hug" 🥰
Thanks for posting this video - very clear and exceptionally helpful.
Love the information, thanks for sharing!
This was most helpful thank you. For someone thats not an engineer this was easy for me to comprehend unlike some other videos they explain things that makes no sense or wanna use a bunch of plug-ins. A lot can be accomplished just by adjusting the gain, it can really clean up a mix to make it easier for the next guy to mix/master it.
Ive been making music under a diff UA-cam for 2 years now. I enrolled in a music course, ended up being 2. All the "beat your beat block" crap. And uhhh realized. You gotta let the music do itself.. I'm just a vessel. Ive banged my head at trying to get past some learning curves but this video, with the comprehension I have of musical language and audio language, frequency and so forth, has made a big difference in just todays production. Didnt wanna get off snd go to work Lol. But yea. If ur bumping ur head, keep trying snd applying everything, it'll make sense sooner or later
Thanks for the info
Your "everyday" approach to explaining this makes me feel like I have a friend with me in the studio guiding me through the process. Nicely devoid of pronouncements and very helpful. Thanks.
Thanks for this video.
Great window thanks loved the tip on gain automation. i would only add that i would check the gains of each track with a VU meter first aim for 0db on avg, then use gain utility if needed to boost. The volume faders are best thought of output. Think you explain this at the end of your video but personally I find it’s important to the this first or even on the go as you work. And trust me properly gain stages plugin sound way better. Just my way anyways....thanks again
Brilliant thanks buddy!!
Different folks different strokes. I personally gain stage everything to -8 to -10db with a "utility" plugin that way my faders stay at unity. I ride the faders with twin Solid State Logic UF8s during mixing and if you have to move your faders down past -5db the movement is no longer liner but rather exponential; making it rather difficult to make fine adjustments below -5db. Just dial up or down on the utility plugin till the signal in the channel is at -8 to -10 with the fader sitting at unity (0db). If all tracks playing together cause the 2 Bus (master) to go above -3db then pull back on all utility gain levels till the master is hitting -3 or -6db. -6db is better because during mastering you will limit at the very end to push the mix up to unity on your 2 Bus. I find this is the sweet spot for preserving dynamics and also getting the mix loud for release.
Also, I place a "utility" plugin between EVERY plugin in my plugin chains regardless if the plugin has an input/output gain knob. I find it easier to see the meter on the utility plugin to know that the signal going into the plugin is coming out of the plugin at unity for the next plugin in the chain and not exiting too soft or too hot.
Perfect ❤
Wouldn’t you want to lower the volume pre fader? Incase you add inserts or processing, the faders turn down the level of the effects that’s added is it not?
Finally someone who doesn’t confuse between gain staging and volume balancing.
very useful, thanks!
Great video. I did not see you mention how to treat the levels on the groups tho. Can you comment on that please
Have you got a video on how to record vocals on an instrumental?
Thanks! Loved it. More like this! A suggestion would be foregrounding or background competition using EQ and compression. I guess leading to a sidechain and muddy mix discussion?
Thanks for the amazing video. In your effect chains do you make sure that peak volume after each effect is equal to the peak volume after that audio effect. Or you just make sure that tiny meters between effects does not go red?
Thx mate ❤
So its better to gainstage all tracks to - 18 db first, and when its all quite stabil, you put the limiter on the master?
Best from Berlin
Helpful video! I had a producer tell me that a lot of EQing is avoidable and not really necessary if you properly gain stage and that is what brought me here. I am almost done replicating and experimenting with what you did here on something that I have down but I had a question. I have two main leads here (both kinda grungy saws, idk if that has anything to do with it) and after creating the headroom, I went to play with the gain on each one but the only gain knob I can find for either is under a yellow "sub" box. I get if that is just adjusting the very low low but even with turning it all the way up I could not discern any difference. But perhaps if I left it all the way up, it would sound terrible on a large system?
I enjoyed the video and the way you explain things clearly and quickly. I look forward to checking out your others!
If I already have songs made, can i go back in and adjust the volumes of each track, how?
I've been recording all my tracks pretty much up right befor they clip, like an idiot i guess,i assumed they would be too low otherwise if i were to record them quieter, what's the best starting point in volume to start each track?
Where should I leave master volume at?
Sorry three separate questions.
Also, for the ceiling on the limiter--I see it remains at -0.30 dB and causes the ceiling on the master to remain at that. Had we not made the headroom to begin with and gotten everything between -3 and -6, this would be an issue, right? But because we created that room before adding the limiter, this -0.30 is basically irrelevant?
you can clip all your tracks (you probably have more than 1000 db of headroom lol i d'ont know the exact number) just don't clip the master/converter. Analog emulation plugins usually have a specific level to consider, read the manual or use your ears, usually it's 0vu rms but not always
You have to volume down the input not the output...
2:15
you couldnot clip your drum buss because your dw wat at 42%
Delete
As a teacher- you show talk a LOT slower. Sounds like you drank 3 pots of coffee. 👍🏻
is it just me or does this video have absolutely no sound? looks like a helpful vid though
UA-cam is auto-translating video titles and is annoying, so I'm giving you thumbs down for that although is not your fault.