I loved using a cup of water as example and drops of color to justify it. For fader I'd use analogy with other drinks, like cofee, wine and cofee, as you wont drink the same quantity of each. BTW, it mada everything more clear to me! Upvoted and TNX!
Thanks for this, trying to improve my mixing and mastering skills lately and my first hang up was "what's a fader?". I didn't know if they meant gain, volume, or something else all together.
This is a great vid...but have a question....I know the holdy grail number is -6dB for mixing....what if i have it waaay less than that...isnt it better to have it less in the mix so when i add compression and plugins i can boost alot?...just thinking out of the box
Actually, there is no 'holy grail' level in a digital audio world :) Except if you are using plugins that emulate hardware, normally compressors, distortion or saturation. If you are using non-modelled comp, distortion or saturation, then there is no particular input signal level. As to hardware modelled plugins, this is normally -18db. Best practice is to have channel's output into main around -18db and by the time all the channels are mixed and balanced, the main might peak at -6db to -3db. I normally bring all faders down when my main meter is peaking -3db back down to -6db, to leave enough headroom for mastering. Hope that helps.
Hello engineer. Thank you very much. This is the clearest so far for me. However, I am still confused about something. If I gain stage first at -18db, and later adjust using faders, is it not the same gain I would be adjusting? If yes, is there anything wrong if I leave all my faders at 0db and use the gain knob to adjust the relative gains I desire for each element in the mix?
Hello! Thanks fo explanation! I was thinking, that faders in DAW different, than 0 dB unity are losing quality of the signal or something like that. That’s why i consider to use plugin gain knobs: output level, trim, to make a mix, while all faders at 0. Now i wonder to buy or not a Faderport 8-16, but still not sure to use it in Ableton. IDK, maybe in Studio One or any other DAW it’s not like that, but for now i decided to keep away from DAW faders whatever i can. Can you share you experience about it, please?
Please direct me to those misinforming videos, because that is not true. This video about gain-staging should clear things up ua-cam.com/video/9cuOZyUwRuU/v-deo.html Like I explain in this video, people get confused about Gain and Fader. Gain is to get your signal level right, and Fader to balance your mix.
@@RecordingStudio9 I really can't remember which exactly, but i heard many times in gear reviews, that many people of said that thing: "don't touch the DAW faders and use clip gain and plugin's gain knobs". And 1 to 1 DAW compare after render null test. If faders other that unity, they don't cancel each other when 180 degree phase. So, it engages some kind of a specific DAW algorithm of summing. Thank you for a link, i will watch!
@Gr0und zEr0 Maybe, for not to bother anyone or ourselves with that kind of specific questions, we have to go learn at sound engineering university (or something like that) and became a graduated engineers. I think, we're searching for not so important things, to be honest, being just curious.
@Gr0und zEr0 That's great, that you finished a university) Greece is a great looking country! At least in my imagination, whatever i saw on TV was cool: costs, columns etc)) In my case: now i consider of making music instead of searching an unreachable sound quality. And i know it will be more productive for sure :)
Good video. Can you make a balance with just the clip gain? Cause I think that’s what I accidentally did instead of just equalizing the gain of all of the tracks. I’m actually at a balance where I don’t know if I need to move the faders because I treated the clip gains as faders for a static mix. #newmusicproducer
The purpose of the clip gain is to set a good input signal level that follows the rest of the channel to the faders, where you use the faders to balance the mix of all the channels.
Thx for the analogy! This gainstaging making me having doubts how to proceed after having the gain set for each (prominent) channel. Do I levae the faders at unity and first set compressors etc or do I adjust the volume of the faders and do processing after that? I ask this because when I drive the needle of the VU meter vst (calibrasted to -18) to 0, my daw meters, not just drums etc, are clipping. Could you shed a light on this? Thanks in advance!
You need to know what the difference is between gain and volume. You have to be sure not the mix the 2 up because they're very different. Most people tend the think they are the same thing since both can raise and lower the volume. The reason you gain stage is because only gain can overdrive, distort, harm, alter, etc.... the signal. A volume control can't alter the signal in any way. That's why you never hear the term volume staging. Since excessive gain can harm the signal, you have to make sure you set the levels correctly. The goal is to set all of your gain controls high enough to do what you need them to do, but no more. Once you have all of your gains in the signal path set properly, that's it. You no longer have to worry about damaging the signal. You can set your volume controls wherever you need them to be. Just as an example, if you know you have all of your gain controls set properly, and you red line using volume controls, it doesn't matter. You can have them solid red, set as high as they can go, and you're not damaging the signal one bit. I'm not saying you should red line just because you can. But if you end up in an odd situation where the levels are not typical, gain is what you have to get right. One other thing worth mentioning is, if you're using a DAW, some of your gain and volume controls will be analog, and some digital. Its more important to get analog gain right over digital gain (trim). Making these types of adjustments in the digital domain works a bit differently than analog. Digital levels are done by manipulating the bit rate where analog is pushing the signal strength. So, you want to get all of your gains set right, but your analog gains are the most important.
@@052RC many thx for your extensive response. Much appreciated. I know the difference between gain and volume but my question had to do with how to proceed after gain is set. First processing (so keep faders at unity) or first set volumes. I know now that I can set volumes and process after that.
Thank you my friend how do you record with to mics or more going into yamaha mg12 xu mixer using cubase I cant figure out how to get another mic working to record
If you are trying to record multiple microphone inputs individually in your DAW/recording software, the USB connection is only a Stereo 2in/2out, not multi-channel.
Why -18 though, that smashes my sound? My gain is usually anywhere from -6db to 0, and my beats sound absolutely fine, and I can still sing over top of them, and it is not too loud? Is -18 db just your preference? Could you please explain why you do that? Thanks...
If your bottle is full at 0db, you add more, it will spill out, in audio sense, distort. By leaving space, you get to add more before spilling. You probably using a limiter that pushes your audio down by compressing it.
Sorry, but please let me see if I have this right. So I adjust all of the individual clip gains to -18 (for example), then set all of the faders to unity? Then after this, the clip gains are not touched again, is this correct? All of the level tweaking from then on would then be done via the faders. I hope I explained this clearly. Thank you.
Dear Sir, I need to know l that when we use AUX sends to stage monitors, should we use TS (mono) or TRS ( stereo) quarter inch jack? Is AUX send is a mono or stereo output??
99% of AUX outputs are mono audio signals. Budget mixers would most likely have TS (unbalanced) output where more expensive mixers use TRS (balanced) outputs. P.S. TRS does not always mean stereo, but also balanced output.
I watched a few videos on gain staging but yours is the only one I am able to understand straight away. Thanks !
Good explanation! Great analogy. By far the best on UA-cam
I loved using a cup of water as example and drops of color to justify it. For fader I'd use analogy with other drinks, like cofee, wine and cofee, as you wont drink the same quantity of each. BTW, it mada everything more clear to me! Upvoted and TNX!
Thank you, you are the only one that has explain gain staging.
exactly what i needed, thank you!
Thank you - wonderful explanation, i always come back here if I forget - when i need to explain about gain and fader
Excellent tutorial for visual learners. Great job!
The best explanation I have ever heard. Hopefully there will be more of these
A wonderfully clear explanation! Thank you.
Thanks. That's a great way to explain it. It makes more sense to me now.
Thanks, this was a really clear explanation. Helped a lot.
best explanation ive ever heard !! thankyou !!
Thanks
Digital recording: Make sure you have enough water in the glass to work with
Analog recording: Fill the glass to overflowing
Great comment.
great lesson so easy to understand!! thank you so much what a big help :')
Just come in to gain knowledge and say thanks. Dee, from Laos.
Vatche, write a book. Your analogies and explanations are brilliant. Keep up the great work. 👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏🙏
Great way of explaining. Exactly what I needed
Very simple. Great analogy sir.
Glad you liked it
Perfect explanation.
Thanks 😊
LOVED your analogy !!
Thanks again for sharing !
Thanks
Thanks for this, trying to improve my mixing and mastering skills lately and my first hang up was "what's a fader?". I didn't know if they meant gain, volume, or something else all together.
*Thank you!* Very clear explenation! It helps!
This is a great vid...but have a question....I know the holdy grail number is -6dB for mixing....what if i have it waaay less than that...isnt it better to have it less in the mix so when i add compression and plugins i can boost alot?...just thinking out of the box
Actually, there is no 'holy grail' level in a digital audio world :) Except if you are using plugins that emulate hardware, normally compressors, distortion or saturation. If you are using non-modelled comp, distortion or saturation, then there is no particular input signal level.
As to hardware modelled plugins, this is normally -18db.
Best practice is to have channel's output into main around -18db and by the time all the channels are mixed and balanced, the main might peak at -6db to -3db. I normally bring all faders down when my main meter is peaking -3db back down to -6db, to leave enough headroom for mastering.
Hope that helps.
Hello engineer. Thank you very much. This is the clearest so far for me. However, I am still confused about something. If I gain stage first at -18db, and later adjust using faders, is it not the same gain I would be adjusting?
If yes, is there anything wrong if I leave all my faders at 0db and use the gain knob to adjust the relative gains I desire for each element in the mix?
Gain is adjusting input level to the Comp and EQ, that may add extra gain, especially EQ, then the fader will balance the levels.
Greeeat Question.....I always wonder about that but couldn't find the words to explain it....
this is the question that has been troubling me all the time... Finally got the answer...Thanks to you!!!!!!
Wonderful analogy!
Wonderful explanation!
Perfect explanation. Thank you very much.
That's a lovely sweater.
Orange is the happiness colour :)
I’m telling you. Had the ahh “” moment by the 2:00 minute mark
When you set your gains at -18 are your faders all set at 0? Where are the faders while setting the clip gain?
That is correct. Fader is at 0db, if you are using the metering on a channel or the main bus, which is also set to 0db.
Cheers John Turturro.
Great explanation 👍
Man... you're sooo good!!!!
Glad it was helpful
amazing explanation, thanks a lot!
Excellent analogy!! Thanks!
Great explanation thank you.
Yes I understand now. Thank you sir
This guy is good 👌💯
Adding that purple color basically some dj skrew musik lol
Hello! Thanks fo explanation! I was thinking, that faders in DAW different, than 0 dB unity are losing quality of the signal or something like that. That’s why i consider to use plugin gain knobs: output level, trim, to make a mix, while all faders at 0. Now i wonder to buy or not a Faderport 8-16, but still not sure to use it in Ableton. IDK, maybe in Studio One or any other DAW it’s not like that, but for now i decided to keep away from DAW faders whatever i can. Can you share you experience about it, please?
Please direct me to those misinforming videos, because that is not true. This video about gain-staging should clear things up ua-cam.com/video/9cuOZyUwRuU/v-deo.html
Like I explain in this video, people get confused about Gain and Fader. Gain is to get your signal level right, and Fader to balance your mix.
@@RecordingStudio9 I really can't remember which exactly, but i heard many times in gear reviews, that many people of said that thing: "don't touch the DAW faders and use clip gain and plugin's gain knobs". And 1 to 1 DAW compare after render null test. If faders other that unity, they don't cancel each other when 180 degree phase. So, it engages some kind of a specific DAW algorithm of summing. Thank you for a link, i will watch!
Well unless you pont out , i can't correct a video that is misinforming everyone.
@Gr0und zEr0 Maybe, for not to bother anyone or ourselves with that kind of specific questions, we have to go learn at sound engineering university (or something like that) and became a graduated engineers. I think, we're searching for not so important things, to be honest, being just curious.
@Gr0und zEr0 That's great, that you finished a university) Greece is a great looking country! At least in my imagination, whatever i saw on TV was cool: costs, columns etc)) In my case: now i consider of making music instead of searching an unreachable sound quality. And i know it will be more productive for sure :)
Good video. Can you make a balance with just the clip gain? Cause I think that’s what I accidentally did instead of just equalizing the gain of all of the tracks. I’m actually at a balance where I don’t know if I need to move the faders because I treated the clip gains as faders for a static mix. #newmusicproducer
The purpose of the clip gain is to set a good input signal level that follows the rest of the channel to the faders, where you use the faders to balance the mix of all the channels.
its helpful, thank you!
Hello myfriend can you please do a video on recording with a condenser microphone. distorted guitars through amp with the Yamaha mixer into cubase
Thx for the analogy! This gainstaging making me having doubts how to proceed after having the gain set for each (prominent) channel. Do I levae the faders at unity and first set compressors etc or do I adjust the volume of the faders and do processing after that? I ask this because when I drive the needle of the VU meter vst (calibrasted to -18) to 0, my daw meters, not just drums etc, are clipping. Could you shed a light on this? Thanks in advance!
You need to know what the difference is between gain and volume. You have to be sure not the mix the 2 up because they're very different. Most people tend the think they are the same thing since both can raise and lower the volume. The reason you gain stage is because only gain can overdrive, distort, harm, alter, etc.... the signal. A volume control can't alter the signal in any way. That's why you never hear the term volume staging.
Since excessive gain can harm the signal, you have to make sure you set the levels correctly. The goal is to set all of your gain controls high enough to do what you need them to do, but no more. Once you have all of your gains in the signal path set properly, that's it. You no longer have to worry about damaging the signal. You can set your volume controls wherever you need them to be. Just as an example, if you know you have all of your gain controls set properly, and you red line using volume controls, it doesn't matter. You can have them solid red, set as high as they can go, and you're not damaging the signal one bit. I'm not saying you should red line just because you can. But if you end up in an odd situation where the levels are not typical, gain is what you have to get right.
One other thing worth mentioning is, if you're using a DAW, some of your gain and volume controls will be analog, and some digital. Its more important to get analog gain right over digital gain (trim). Making these types of adjustments in the digital domain works a bit differently than analog. Digital levels are done by manipulating the bit rate where analog is pushing the signal strength. So, you want to get all of your gains set right, but your analog gains are the most important.
@@052RC many thx for your extensive response. Much appreciated. I know the difference between gain and volume but my question had to do with how to proceed after gain is set. First processing (so keep faders at unity) or first set volumes. I know now that I can set volumes and process after that.
Very helpful, thanks
Thank you my friend how do you record with to mics or more going into yamaha mg12 xu mixer using cubase I cant figure out how to get another mic working to record
If you are trying to record multiple microphone inputs individually in your DAW/recording software, the USB connection is only a Stereo 2in/2out, not multi-channel.
@@RecordingStudio9 thank you myfriend
Thank you for this video.....
Why -18 though, that smashes my sound? My gain is usually anywhere from -6db to 0, and my beats sound absolutely fine, and I can still sing over top of them, and it is not too loud? Is -18 db just your preference? Could you please explain why you do that? Thanks...
If your bottle is full at 0db, you add more, it will spill out, in audio sense, distort. By leaving space, you get to add more before spilling.
You probably using a limiter that pushes your audio down by compressing it.
Helpful expectations. Cheers
Sorry, but please let me see if I have this right. So I adjust all of the individual clip gains to -18 (for example), then set all of the faders to unity? Then after this, the clip gains are not touched again, is this correct? All of the level tweaking from then on would then be done via the faders. I hope I explained this clearly. Thank you.
Yes, you got it.
Dosent this volume sync at normalization?
Normalizing audio will increase the gain of the audio to a set level of the peak audio signal. Not the same as gain staging an audio signal.
Thank u so much sir
Thank you!
Simply amazing
Thanks.
Idk about this analogy but I really want to drink a class of water right now
Dear Sir, I need to know l that when we use AUX sends to stage monitors, should we use TS (mono) or TRS ( stereo) quarter inch jack? Is AUX send is a mono or stereo output??
99% of AUX outputs are mono audio signals. Budget mixers would most likely have TS (unbalanced) output where more expensive mixers use TRS (balanced) outputs.
P.S. TRS does not always mean stereo, but also balanced output.
@@RecordingStudio9 Thanks
fabulous!
amazing
perfect.
Not a good analogy re compressor and EQ just adding colour, as both compressor and EQ definitely adds or reduces level, not only colouration
Here I’m not talking about audio characteristics, but a metaphor.
:)
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Thank you!
You're welcome!