Cubase Gain Staging Hacks - Simple and Fast

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  • Опубліковано 2 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 190

  • @musicinsession
    @musicinsession Рік тому +24

    I've been following this guy since he had 100 subs!! Hands down my favourite music producer on youtube! Super charismatic, straight to the point, no ego! Thanks for inspiring us Chris!

  • @ramseysounds2086
    @ramseysounds2086 Рік тому +18

    skip to 5.41 for the content

    • @YesRelax
      @YesRelax 8 місяців тому

      😂😂

  • @мигельбасалыго
    @мигельбасалыго Рік тому +5

    the first thing everyone must know before mixing!! thank you very much, Chris!!

  • @magdielrodriguez6437
    @magdielrodriguez6437 Рік тому +2

    Hello Chris, After so many year I can understand that I have been trying to overthink the Gain Staging process, you have explained this so simple and with Impressive results. This is Master class in twelve minutes. Thank you.

  • @CokePaul
    @CokePaul 6 місяців тому +3

    One of the best explanations about gain staging I’ve ever found on UA-cam, that unswears all the questions, nice👍🏻 Thanks!

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  6 місяців тому

      Thank you! Glad you found it helpful!

  • @DavidDavis-FA-photog
    @DavidDavis-FA-photog Рік тому +7

    Chris, I love this high view of gain staging. Seems a lot of people make it a much bigger thing than what it is. Even though it's important, it doesn't have to be difficult. Thanks!

  • @gnt132
    @gnt132 Рік тому +1

    Este canal debería tener 1 millón de suscriptores!

  • @michaelgarding516
    @michaelgarding516 Рік тому +2

    I did NOT know about the clip gain pencil!!! Thank you so much Chris!

  • @athonygraham8353
    @athonygraham8353 Рік тому +6

    This is a really great tutorial, you really have a knack of doing this sort of thing superbly Chris. One thing I really think should be in every modern DAW as absolute standard (I've seen lots of other people saying the same thing) and that is the option to have the DAW Auto Gain Stage on every aspect, from raw files, through plugins internal and external, sends, inserts, automation, all the way through to the stereo bus final out. It really should have been standard many years ago, it's a no brainer and would absolutely savage the time and workflow that doing it all manually takes and it would remove another needless pain.

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому

      Cool idea, but I do like to have control over my levels though :-)

    • @athonygraham8353
      @athonygraham8353 Рік тому

      @@mixdownonline yeah, the options would need to be more than on and off. It's a simple thing and they could easily implement it and leverage existing code. It's all about the workflow and speed.

    • @johntwigg7650
      @johntwigg7650 Рік тому +3

      I agree, auto gain staging should be in every DAW as standard at every stage. It should’ve been done years ago. You can always tinker manually if you want. It would save hours in every week. And that, is what it’s all about. DAWs are all a little bit 15 years ago though, the evolution is glacial and frankly a little embarrassing.

  • @LeonThomasian
    @LeonThomasian Рік тому +1

    That little tip at 9:40, how did I not know this??!!!!! You saved my life. A lot of times, I don't like playing with my volume automation because then it makes it harder to adjust the overall volume with the fader in the mix window while it's on READ, so this will come in real handy. Thank you so much.

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому

      You're welcome! After working with Cubase for 20 years, you get to discover little gems like this one ;-)

  • @sound-engineer
    @sound-engineer Рік тому +1

    I remember you telling me to get rid of the pink noise leveling technique to set channels' level. When I became a pro at gain stating and leveling, I understood how you were right : )

  • @intheboxofficial
    @intheboxofficial 4 місяці тому

    How about selecting all the events and normalizing at the level you want to gain stage at?

  • @madmuso5
    @madmuso5 Рік тому +1

    I use the pencil clip gain tool all the time. On vocals I set my compressor but there may be a few spots where a word or two need to be driven harder into the compressor. Works a treat.

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому

      It's a cool feature!

    • @TheBarOst
      @TheBarOst Рік тому

      I'm genuinely surprised that such an important feature was not covered in the videe

  • @nabeshin7741
    @nabeshin7741 10 місяців тому

    I think it's also important to note that another situation in which gain staging is highly recommended is when we use VST instruments, however, we can do it directly from them by adjusting the output before even tweaking the pre-gain knob on the mixer 'cause some of these VST instruments are sometimes way too loud by default.
    Anyway, another useful video here on this channel, keep the good work, mr. Selim. 🤝

  • @thomasJcollison
    @thomasJcollison Рік тому +3

    Truly excellent - as ever. Thank you Chris! I know these features haven't been around for the whole 25 years that I've used Cubase, but the clip gain pencil l was news to me, and I've never been near the fader editor. 2 valuable and Instant workflow boosts that will help me out everyday. 😊🙏

  • @inspirationmusic6412
    @inspirationmusic6412 2 місяці тому

    Hi Chris. Can I use the normalize audio function in cubase to gain stage?

  • @lnkd70
    @lnkd70 Рік тому +1

    Very complementary of the Chris’s mixing course in Cubase 😉

  • @LuvHrtZ
    @LuvHrtZ 9 місяців тому

    Cheers for that Chris. I set up my meter the same way but my test audio doesn't line up the blue region at -10 like your demo. It's someone else's file, which is clipped to the max, so I had to combine the clip gain with the pre volume to get it to look right. I'll remix some of my old material and see what a difference it makes.

  • @3dogrecordingstudio628
    @3dogrecordingstudio628 Рік тому +1

    Holy hell! I just use this very very valuable information and man what a difference with my outboard gear! Everything sounds completely different! So much better! Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you ❤. No more clipping into the outboard gear and the headroom is impressive.

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому +1

      There you go go bro! Glad this was helpful! :-)

  • @MorisoniProductions
    @MorisoniProductions 2 місяці тому

    Excellent clear explanations, thorough, easy to understand ... couldn't ask for more! Thank you.

  • @perfasting4342
    @perfasting4342 Рік тому +1

    King of tutorials!

  • @thecoastCoverband
    @thecoastCoverband Рік тому +2

    Tanks Chris greatz from holland

  • @originunknown3209
    @originunknown3209 Рік тому +1

    Incredibly useful this!!! Brilliant!!!!

  • @JanEkbom
    @JanEkbom Рік тому +1

    I just had to watch this again, even if I saw it in your course on Mixdown Academy.

  • @kMaxRx
    @kMaxRx 11 місяців тому

    I didn't realize it might be better to keep the main track meter at zero when possible, but it's good to hear because it just 'feels' better to see the faders at that even mark, and gain staging shows us a way to get the right levels without losing the final resolution of the track fader levels.

  • @grahamwitcher105
    @grahamwitcher105 Рік тому

    Hi Chris. Gain staging really well explained. Excellent.

  • @Tom40Rocks
    @Tom40Rocks Рік тому

    Thanks for showing the drawing tool trick Chris!

  • @franciskwekuosei9510
    @franciskwekuosei9510 Рік тому

    Hi Chris thank you for your videos. Please is there a way i can connect my Bluetooth headphones to Cubase for mix reference? Can you make a video showing how to connect AirPod or any wireless headphones to my Cubase .

  • @sushiside
    @sushiside 9 місяців тому

    You are great , that trick with the meters is so useful. Thanks!

  • @fwr00t
    @fwr00t 5 місяців тому

    Excellent video Chris. I'm a first time Cubase user here, how do you clip gain multiple tracks at the same time in Windows? Thanks!

  • @LondonSteveLee
    @LondonSteveLee Рік тому +1

    My meters are set to something very similar to yours, but my way of normalising (non destructively) is my template has a PSP Infinistrip loaded on every channel with just the clean gain module and autogain (peak) set to -18dB. That means that the gain is ridden downwards on every channel until it peaks at -18-dB. After a single playthrough all the channels are gainstaged correctly to start mixing with the Cubase faders at unity. The plugin uses practically zero CPU with just this one module loaded - I don't even notice it.

  • @xXValomatXx
    @xXValomatXx Рік тому +14

    Andrew Schepps: "I never gainstage" I guess he has an intern, who does it for him... :D

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому +2

      I'm pretty sure he will bring down a recording that is too loud, it's just very intuitive at this point that he don't even think of it much. Or like you said, it's the intern's job Lol!

    • @TheRealATema
      @TheRealATema Рік тому +1

      Lol.. True

  • @LDEPOV
    @LDEPOV Рік тому

    Hello Chris. Great video! Question: Cubase has 32 bit Float workflow. Will it change the way we gain stage?

  • @duanetribune4441
    @duanetribune4441 Рік тому

    Awesome info as usual Chris. iBook forward to your videos and refer to your channel often. Thanks for all you share with us.

  • @project1265ffo
    @project1265ffo Рік тому

    Very nice Chris, thanks for sharing 👍

  • @bennyceca
    @bennyceca Рік тому

    I also do this, by setting the pre-gain from anywhere -3 and up to -15 depending on the source material for all the tracks. I created my template like that too, of course, I change it as needed during production/mixing. At the end of the mixdown, I usually have around 6db of headroom for mastering.

  • @yams900
    @yams900 Рік тому

    Good work my friend, information I can apply straight away !

  • @necroticpoison
    @necroticpoison Рік тому

    Great vid. I work only digital and digital type plugins, and a pad on the 2b works well for me, and just put some gain at the start or end of the chains so I can have the faders not far from 0

  • @Ryan.Anderson80
    @Ryan.Anderson80 Рік тому

    Do you have a video on your cubase colour scheme/skin. It’s really nice.

  • @hertzouttahell
    @hertzouttahell Рік тому

    allready owned that knowledge but always a pleasure to watch your vids mate. keep up the good work 👍

  • @roncoleman5007
    @roncoleman5007 10 місяців тому

    Excellent. The key was the moment you changed meters to the input level vs the fader output level.

  • @AnuragDixitMuzic
    @AnuragDixitMuzic Рік тому

    Thank you for this useful information

  • @xinnor2790
    @xinnor2790 Рік тому

    I’m having trouble with a mix on a song. This was an excellent and timely refresher.

  • @PurpleMusicProductions
    @PurpleMusicProductions Рік тому

    This was a nice video. I had already implemented some of it, but linking the channels together at once for gain staging is something I had not done before. Although obvious, I had not thought of it outside of volume control. Hence is why it is good to get exposure to different people's work methods so you can pick and choose. Thank you for that tip and for sharing this.

  • @johntraynor1913
    @johntraynor1913 Рік тому +1

    How about a video about clip gain, pre gain, and normalizing; as in the differences and when to use each?

  • @lorenz3152
    @lorenz3152 Рік тому

    Nicely put.

  • @Gipeamusic
    @Gipeamusic Рік тому

    Great and precise ! ...As usual : ) merci !

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому

      Ça me fait plaisir! I'm glad you enjoyed!

  • @ssrdesigns
    @ssrdesigns Рік тому

    Thank you! Loved the clip gain trick!

  • @vaclav397
    @vaclav397 Рік тому

    As always, the best explanation.👍👍👍

  • @ma3boch
    @ma3boch Рік тому +1

    Thanks for the advice Chris I have a question when doing parallel processing do I use the parallel group fader or send gain to set the required amount of parallel group or is it not necessary 💙

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому

      I would say, watch this video. ua-cam.com/video/dY3jgWxbWwM/v-deo.html

  • @musician-74
    @musician-74 Рік тому

    Excellent tip! Very nice approach and time saviour.

  • @ericfreget
    @ericfreget Рік тому

    Thx for your nice work !
    Problem occurs when you have FX sends .
    Because their level remain at the same level so way too loud. And it's more complex when automation is done on the track.
    Do you have a hack for this case ?

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому

      Yes, I always Gain Stage my recordings before starting the mix with plugins :-)

  • @nyniomusic
    @nyniomusic Рік тому

    what do you have on the walls? it's somehow polyester

  • @svetokustura9606
    @svetokustura9606 Рік тому

    Hi Chris,When I adjust the balance some channels must be quieter (e.g. pad, etc.) for me it's still difficult to keep the fader around the 0. Please explain how to adjust it?

  • @LaurentYvanFrancis
    @LaurentYvanFrancis 6 місяців тому

    I love your beard and your videos! Thanks a lot for the help! One Love!

  • @kevinanderson7243
    @kevinanderson7243 Рік тому

    Chris can you tell me can you chop up the think break by Lyn collins a drum and base song. Is this possible in Cubase 12 Artist

  • @ndtunes8731
    @ndtunes8731 Рік тому

    After gain staging and applying my effect process while leaving my faderw at unity,do i still balance up my mix with the individual faders?

  • @diegoalejo15
    @diegoalejo15 Рік тому

    good hints as always! my tip is to start every Cubase session with a template in which every track is set to Pre gain -10

  • @dk_original
    @dk_original Рік тому

    Just wondering if there might be a way to create your favorite starting point (sweetspot) automatically by using a key command (or Macro)?

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому +1

      I don't think there is, but I would do this manually even if there was a way

  • @Slinky1973
    @Slinky1973 8 місяців тому

    hey there, i was just wondering if you could tell me the keyboard shortcut that is similar to clicking the Q link button so i can change several pre gain or any parameter for that matter of many selected tracks? i saw it in another video but i can't recall which....its something like CTR+SHIFT+COMMAND (maybe + ALT too...?)...any help appreciated, joey :)

  • @jeremythornton433
    @jeremythornton433 Рік тому

    I have trouble selecting groups of tracks. How exactly do you do it?

  • @bassic6959
    @bassic6959 Рік тому

    This video was helpful but it also helped me figure out that gain staging is not done with the faders. (I know now that I say that I sound very dumb) I have done this for years and I have always gotten frustrated by it

  • @jasonalexander5253
    @jasonalexander5253 Рік тому

    Awesome simple explanation. On another topic, I know you have done a lot on coloring of tracks, but can you share your track/mixer brightness schemes please? Yours are clean & clear without being garish & overly bright. I cannot get mine to look as nice as yours. cheers

  • @ontrackrecstudioavk3881
    @ontrackrecstudioavk3881 11 місяців тому

    😊very nicely explaine you are great

  • @jaymehta7756
    @jaymehta7756 Рік тому

    Please make video on phasing issue in stereo tracks.....how to get rid of it...

  • @danpettimusic
    @danpettimusic Рік тому

    Is that manual feature with the pencil not available in Cubase Elements?? I've been constantly trying and I can't get it working

  • @petetk
    @petetk Рік тому

    Thanks Chris!!!

  • @peterdnayak
    @peterdnayak Рік тому

    So useful, thank you sir ❤ love from India 🥰

  • @HeatStoker69
    @HeatStoker69 23 дні тому

    I'm testing out Cubase 14 but can't see the RACK toolbar in the mixer window. Did they remove that in the latest version?

  • @shari_8410
    @shari_8410 Рік тому

    Hi Chris nice & really Helpfull Videos on This Channel :) especially about Cubase 👍 but One Question about your Statement in terms of the Sweetspot Level for Plugins where're emulated of their Analog Hardware Dudes or Nowdays Hardware . As i Know so far : the VU Meters on these Plugins and on the Hardware Gear back in the Days do have a Delay of arround 300 ms and reacting very Slowly ...So should it not be -18db RMS instead of -18dbFs Peak /True Peak in Digital World ? As i can Remeber right i read somewhere , that the Digital Plugins which are Vintage emulated needs +4dbU=0VU which is equal to -18db RMS Input Gain not -18dbFS Peak/True Peak for Digital Plugins ( Emulated ones ) in Todays Times .
    Cause so many People get confused about that if they should set it on -18dbFs Peak/True Peak or -18db RMS (cause the VU Meters Reacts with 300 ms Delay ) which makes a lot of sense to me :)

  • @mgmthegrand
    @mgmthegrand 11 місяців тому

    Please help me understand. I thought the pre-gain controls the input level just like clip gain. However, I noticed that when the meter position is on input pre-gain doesn't affect the meter reading at all. This is with the channel strip in pre position as well. Could someone please clarify?

  • @sixstring3639
    @sixstring3639 Рік тому

    Thanx Chris

  • @joeowensuk
    @joeowensuk Рік тому

    What is the disadvantage of setting all clips to (say) -18 dB via normalise? Love your vids, very helpful.

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому

      I will make a video on this soon!

    • @joeowensuk
      @joeowensuk Рік тому

      @@mixdownonline Looking forward to watching that one Chris.

  • @bennyceca
    @bennyceca Рік тому

    Chris, one request, thanks for all the tips so far, always appreciated.
    Please do a video for mp3 exporting once a track is mastered, I have found Cubase to truly suck the life out of a track, the sparkle and brightness is gone, the 24bit wav file sounds pretty good, but high quality mp3 is poor, not sure if this is a Cubase problem (if using Cubase to master) only or just me? Listening to other mixes online, they sound good, are there any tricks for getting the mp3 to sound better? I know you cannot compare a 24bit wav file to an mp3, but the difference can be radical. Do you master differently for mp3's? thanks.

  • @INNERLANSCAPE
    @INNERLANSCAPE Рік тому

    Hi Chris, I did Google it and did some searching, but do you perhaps know how to disable the peak hold on the master out. It seems that the highest peak keeps showing, even when I lower the gain. I always have to manually click on the value to get the new peak value.
    Grts Marco

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому +1

      Not sure there's a way around this expect to click on the value to reset itself

  • @AndrewEccles-l3i
    @AndrewEccles-l3i 2 місяці тому

    What would I do without Chris Selim? Thank you my friend.

  • @LawrenceRainwater
    @LawrenceRainwater 5 місяців тому

    what is the green circle when I guess you are clicking or selecting something?

  • @joseantoniogazzo2875
    @joseantoniogazzo2875 Рік тому

    Chris, what about Normalizing tracks before all that?

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому +1

      I never normalize tracks for that purpose. I will make a video on this :-)

    • @joseantoniogazzo2875
      @joseantoniogazzo2875 Рік тому

      @@mixdownonline That would be great!

  • @kajammusicent.-djwhiteknig2931

    great tutorial

  • @westIab
    @westIab Рік тому

    Thank you 🎉

  • @musicandartmakers8785
    @musicandartmakers8785 Рік тому

    Hello Chris, thanks for your video. Like you, I am careful about the levels of individual channels and their sum to the stereo master bus, however, Iin the case whereby my stereo master bus is too hot, I just use pregain to drop it a few db. If all other channels are not clipping, then what is your thoughts on this approach? Thanks

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому

      Yes, if nothing is wrong with the other channels, as far as the gain structure goes, that will work for sure :-)

  • @RogerBadgerDSFlyer
    @RogerBadgerDSFlyer Рік тому

    Awesome, thank you.

  • @SevenTausend
    @SevenTausend 20 днів тому

    Wow Super!

  • @JohnJeevasingham
    @JohnJeevasingham Рік тому

    Hi, Chris! Thank you for the great video! What colour pallete are you using in Cubase? Is it custom?

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому

      Yes, it is! I will make a video soon on this!

  • @kdcyp
    @kdcyp Рік тому

    Hi Chris, great tips! Is there a way to lower multiple/all tracks after inserts etc. As that’s where the real time wasting happens when we find the master too high once we’ve mostly mixed a track so we don’t want to change the clip gain or pre gain as we would have to tweak all our compressors etc. One thought would be to add a plug-in like MV meter2 that has a gain adjustment, to all tracks after all inserts but is there an easy way to adjust all this plugins at once please?

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому

      I always gain stage my tracks before I start mixing with plugins. When you're need the end of a mix, Pre-Gain is not an option at this point, just use your channel Faders, and bring them down

    • @kdcyp
      @kdcyp Рік тому

      @@mixdownonline Thanks Chris. I suppose can always use the pre on the stereo bus to keep the fader at unity, then adjust any inserts accordingly just on that bus.

  • @1loveMusic2003
    @1loveMusic2003 Рік тому

    How are you liking your WA-MPX pre amp? I've recorded bass and didn't even use any amp sim or cab sim just Di doubled Low and high. Not many pre-amps can do that. IMO

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому

      It's a great Preamp...working on my video at the moment :-)

  • @davidhellegouarch1622
    @davidhellegouarch1622 Рік тому

    Thank you for sharing these tips ! So you have every tracks at around -18 dBFS. How do you place tracks that need to be quiet ? Do you send them to a group to keep resolution with your fader ?

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому

      I gain stage first, and then if during the mix I need to bring down a few Faders very low for some reason, I just do it, I don't overthink this.

  • @StayFunKey
    @StayFunKey Рік тому +1

    If the channels are not clipping but the master does why not lower the gain on the master?
    If you lower the clipgain you can always increase the view of the waveform back to become bigger I believe.

  • @mandolinskiorkestarokruk6053

    when I put meter position to input and change value of pre gain,nothing hapend because pre gain is actually post gain(post fader), what is very different to real pre fader....Please explain this;

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому +1

      Pre-Gain is always Pre-Fader- Pre-Instert etc...However, the input metering will only look at the Wave Audio Recording, and not the Pre-Gian value. So Clip Gain an audio recording will be shown on the Meter when set to Input, but not Pre-Gain.
      This is actually something I would like Steinberg to modify in a future Cubase version, Pre-gain should affect the meters in Input mode like CLip Gian does, IMO

  • @johncostigan6160
    @johncostigan6160 Рік тому

    I forgot that plug-in models of analog gear have a different sweet spot. Thanks Chris for the review. I'll try not to blow anything up...

  • @soundengineeringstudy
    @soundengineeringstudy Рік тому

    Always usefull tips

  • @call365
    @call365 Рік тому

    what mic is that? 1:01

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому

      Sennheiser MKE 400, it's a camera mic

    • @call365
      @call365 Рік тому

      @@mixdownonline thank you so much!!

  • @juliasdemta2976
    @juliasdemta2976 Рік тому

    Superb sir...grt

  • @IniresMirrors
    @IniresMirrors 10 місяців тому

    The idea of setting the meter colors to your preferred range made me smack my forehead so hard it woke my kids. And then the draw function... it kills me that some lowkey CoolEdit functionality was staring me in the face this whole time.

  • @aloisraich9326
    @aloisraich9326 Місяць тому

    Changing the pre gain level with the maus is really clumpsy, what you can do is, 2x click into the gain stage bar now use arrow up down to chane db. I think he might be using a shortcut.

  • @rolandgerard6064
    @rolandgerard6064 Рік тому

    Great!

  • @jithin9494
    @jithin9494 Рік тому

    This is the most simplest way of doing gain staging!

  • @sideast
    @sideast 2 місяці тому

    Is this version 12 or 13 ?

  • @kyleritter3074
    @kyleritter3074 Рік тому

    perhaps I don't understand, but most of those tracks are in fact peaking. Clipping. @1:38

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому

      Yes, that is before I gain staged those tracks :-)

  • @brianlespoir6287
    @brianlespoir6287 Рік тому

    I leave my Master channel at unity gain as well, because I learned so, but I have no clue why.

    • @mixdownonline
      @mixdownonline  Рік тому +1

      Lol, it's a good habit to check IMO, but there's nothing wrong on moving the Master Fader if you need to.