Gain staging in the box.

lesmac · Post by **lesmac** » Tue May 17, 2016 4:54 am

I ran some test tones through a session today using a signal generator and VU meters and immediately came up with a clearer mix.

My mixes have been pretty ordinary lately and I was feeling a bit lost with it all.

After watching some mastering tutorials where the person mastering made the point that gain staging was probably their most important and effective tool I thought I'd go through my DAW and set my monitor levels again.

I'm now looking forward to reading those meters about half way up instead of nearly all the way up.

I found this video afterwards which I'm sure I'll refer to again.

Hope some might find this to be useful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-Qm6NFIY2E

Paulie · Post by **Paulie** » Tue May 17, 2016 12:15 pm

Learning about gain staging is what changed my mixes for the better. It's such a simple concept, yet so vital.

cassmcentee · Post by **cassmcentee** » Tue May 17, 2016 1:58 pm

Good One Lester, Thank you!
I'm jumping down the "Rabbit-Hole" now, hope to make it back out alive...

lesmac · Post by **lesmac** » Tue May 17, 2016 7:46 pm

Telefunkin
Reply with quotePost Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 9:28 am
Re: Gain staging in the box.
This must be where I've been going wrong for so many years. At gigs I've been taking up more and more space with bigger amps, bigger pedal boards, guitar racks, carpets, etc, much to the huge annoyance of the rest of the band. I called it 'stage gaining'

When the rest of the band is in one of your pedal boards you know you've gone too far

Kolstad · Post by **Kolstad** » Wed May 18, 2016 11:28 am

Great stuff, those Klanghelm meters certainly looks like a nice addition!

cassmcentee · Post by **cassmcentee** » Wed May 18, 2016 3:26 pm

I have to thank you again Lester!
I was suffering through a sonic headache yesterday so I used that time to read/watch and learn.
Put the gain staging into practice and it has already made such a difference in my first mix since learning!
Seems like it is going to save my ears as well... so... Kudos!
Cass

P.S. Now subtractive EQ makes so much more sense as well...

lesmac · Post by **lesmac** » Wed May 18, 2016 7:43 pm

Cheers Guys,

it's great to be able to share a good find

sansharbour · Post by **sansharbour** » Fri May 20, 2016 4:40 am

Thanks for posting Les

This is welcome info

Don