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To anyone scrolling through these comments today, have a wonderful day & remember you are beautiful & worth it😊. Thanks for the great videos, Graham.

In logic as far as I know you are by default looking at the output level on each channel. So if you turn down the fader to adjust volume you can still be clipping your input level, and probably are, even though the channel level might look like it’s been attenuated. Which is why I first change the monitoring view to input monitoring, and secondly I always use a gain plugin on all channels. Like this video says basically, your gain plugin is your input level on that channel, before any plugins, and then your channel fader is your output to your master channel, post plugins. Just like on a physical mixing board, Need to set your input gain first, then adjust your output fader levels. this is especially important on software synths that are usually very loud. Great video. Thx!

I like the trim before the main faders idea. I'll try that right away. Makes total sense.

I've been doing them all for quite a while. I've learned a lot from you (and others, too) from these KZfaq videos over the years. This may be a bit more of a niche profession, hobby, interest, and one that, of course, doesn't bring in the views like drama channels do, but you deserve to feel very proud of the body of educational work you've created here. Keep up the good work, Graham.

I am going to do all 3....Thank You SOOOOOOO much for your videos! Cant wait to watch them all!

I generally follow all the same ideas you're talking about in your video. I think my process is more of a Gain Staging methodology. What I've found that works best for me is that I use the AudioSuite to normalize all my tracks to -10db (in PEAK Mode) before I start mixing. This sets my loudest peak of all tracks to be the same and the RMS usually comes in around -20ish.. right to the top of where the green and yellow meet up. It's probably worth mentioning that if all you're looking at is the green in the meter bar, then you're doing it wrong there's more information there then just the average gain level. I've also found that I have better results when tracking, if my input meters are coming in at a max peak of -10db Basically so the green is dancing around the top of the green and goes into the yellow occasionally. I also leave all my faders at unity until I'm ready to start getting a good balance. I've found that getting all these peak levels set the same from the start has helped me a lot to get better final mixes.

Thanks again, Graham! I already use these steps, thanks to some other videos and lessons you shared before. However, it’s always good to review/go over these points again.

RR, your tuts are a living gold. techniques that will reviewed as always. thanks.

Thank You SO Much! I was overthinking this so much and you covered it so well and answered all my questions through the nuances of your explanations.

Hey Graham. As always.. top information 👍

Thanks so much for sharing this video. I read a comment you made on one of your posts years ago talking about aiming for -6 DBfs peak level on the master fader and I've always tried to aim for that mark, and no higher than -3 DBfs. I've been producing audio projects, professionally, for about 5 years and as time has gone on my headroom of my mixes have increased. I now have mixes where the peak level on the Master fader is sometimes as low as -8 DBfs but the volume is sounding much greater than that. It feels good to have this knowledge and it gives me more self confidence as a mixer and producer.

Graham... You taught me this a while back. Yes, it makes a huge difference in the final mix. It also allows your plugins to work at an optimal range. I try to keep all tracks peaking at around -10 DB. No red or yellow indicators...! I also pay extra attention to the actual recording levels when recording trying to keep them under -8 to -10 DB. Yes all of your tracks add to the final sub master or master total. I like to keep my master track peaking around -8 to -6 DB. By doing this keeps your mix really clear and defined. Really appreciate your help. My mixes sound pro...! Thanks...

Hi, first of all, thanks so much for sharing this insight. I only used the HFP for my live Band. Never thought about using it in this way for my mix. Well, honestly inspired by your Tips and Videos I start to go back one or two steps and start by having the focus on recording. As much I’ll be willing to learn about mixing, I will do one step after another. ;-) Once again, thank you so much for inspireing me being creative again.

Great video Graham and thank you for sharing these tips. I have started to use the ‘clip gain’ method with some ‘low cuts’ in the EQ for guitars and vocals. Cheers

thanks man for the tips. Not sure which one, but will keep these ideas on the ready

You’re the most inspiring tutor I found lately...yeah..you deserve it man♥️🔥

Awesome tutorial. Thank you so much ! You are really good at explaining things.

I'm going to use each of these on different tracks. Thanks for some great tips.

Good stuff. Thanks Graham, you're awesome.

hey guys this works, like he said it's sneaky but effective, thanks again graham

Very useful tips! Hpf and lpf are the first things I apply to the tracks before mixing. And cutting the noisy frequencies is the second)) One more tip, that I've learned from my own practice: use the monitors with enough low-end response. So if you don't, you'll be boosting the kick drum too much, as well as the bass and the floor tom, that'll reduce the headroom. If your monitors have not enough low-end, just boost it a little bit on the master track while mixing, and bypass it while rendering.

Amazing tutorial and insight! Keep on going God bless you!

I recently started to use the Audio Suite Plugin to Normalize every single track before I do anything in my mixing sessions. I found it more convenient than adjusting the clip gain or using trim plugins. I usually normalize the peak of all percussions to -8dBFS and everything else to -10dBFS and this makes it so much easier to gain stage going forward.

Thank You You explain that very well God Bless

Really good information. Thank you!

I do all three. Thanks Graham!

Very helpful. I like the idea of reducing the gain in the clip.

Its always good to go back to the basics. Thank you.

Awesome info! Thanks Graham!

You are a blessing in for us> Thank you,

earlier this year, after having binge-watched tons of tutorials on youtube, i decided to gain-stage every single track to -18dB in every single mix. i am not a pro, though, and am open for different opinions!

Amazing info. Thank you!

so many vids! you're on fire!

great video!

TOo Long Didn't Watch: Lower the gain on all tracks, High pass filter on low end tracks(bass, etc) high pass filters on high end tracks(guitar, etc), and a mid frequency cut on vocals or mid range tracks. Generally speaking - 3 / - 6 db on the reduction size.

I needed this dude thanks :d

Very helpful dude thank you

Great stuff!

Great tips - thanks!

I found it true that db reductions and careful eq-uing gives a clearer mix and more headroom for mastering. 6db is a good target on the Master. When all tracks sound right together, I take the Master up higher to check the quality of the sound at high volume. My idea being that if the music sounds good at low and high volume then I must be doing something right. Good video. I saved it for future reference.

Yes, been using these three for years now. Learned with you in the $300 Dollar Challenge :)

RR is my go-to for tutorials. Been watching for years..sometimes to learn a new technique...often for a refresher. Graham should probably have credits on the projects I've done for customers lol great work as always!

I've done the high pass filter technique live. If the console has it, it can make a difference like nothing else can. Most of the same reasons it works live is why it works in recording. In fact sometimes a low pass can help for some things. not for headroom but to keep an instrument "in it's own lane" so to speak.

The trim was new. I've heard ot the notch, but never really considered it much. I learned the HPF from another of your videos.

Great information thanks 👍

Great explanation. Ty

One thing about having too much head room is that if you export it in that state, you won’t be taking advantage of the full bit depth the software has to offer. In turn this can lower the “resolution” of the recording. If you then attempt to raise the level to a mastered level it can become somewhat apparent in the higher frequencies. It is always best to find the right balance between a good amount of headroom and taking advantage of using the full bit depth. All the tips in this video are solid, but personally I would aim for a bit less headroom than He is to try to take more advantage of using the full bit depth. Great insight though!

Thank you so much

I do some of the eq idea. Though I definitely be more mindful of doing that!

I use all 3 methods and it’s given me way better mixes, just in clarity. Now ppl always comment on how clean my mixes are.

Sick!!! +1sub..... Respects!!!!!!

Taken hours on youtube to find the vid i really need! I fucking love youu

Thanks Graham. Very useful as usual. One point I kind of expected you to mention was recording levels. I know as a novice, I tended to record too hot and now try to keep it much lower. Am I getting this right? Is this also about headroom?? (I found the EQ adjustments here very interesting: I have tried these changes for clarity of sound but never thought about using them to save headroom. Also clearer about average and max signal: Thanks a lot :)

Way 4. Add trim plugin to your master channel and turn it down there. Way 5. The Pro Tools Master Fader is before the master channel inserts in the signal flow, meaning any adjustments you make to the master fader will change the level hitting the plugins. So you could just use the pro tools master fader as the trim plugin that gives you the extra headroom you're looking for in a digital linear floating point system in 2019. We've had practically infinite headroom in the box for about a decade now. As long as you're not clipping the master channel output, or any conversion point, you're not clipping. Gain staging happens at the converter while tracking. Don't clip, record at the level you're targeting, and that'll save you from needing to calibrate your audio before mixing. By the way, if you record at the proper level, there's zero reason to calibrate your audio before mixing unless you're using a hybrid system and sending your track out to an analog eq or compressor. Record it at the right level, turn it down at the 2 bus before the processing chain, and don't clip the output of your conversion points. Problem solved.

thanks!!!

The vocal sounds so clear even before the cut at 392hz. Before you opened the 7band eq on it I didn't see any plugins on it other than the trim cut. For my own vocals I always have to low and high pass filter so much out to get a sound I enjoy (I'm a bass who wishes he was a tenor). How do you get such a perfect vocal? All the performance? I certain mic or pre-amp?

Clip gaining and reductive eq ing basically good tutorials!!!

Sir i am reallyy your biggest fan and am following yu from very long time but i have so many problems and i have many questions to ask yu so my first question is that is it necassary that professional sound can only be obtained with costly equipments those analog types which we find in studios???? My second question is that plzzz pzlzzz plzzzz make video on how to make our vocals stand out i mean really standout like wide spacious 3d u know what i mean sir, and here standout means no panning and all no not that i really mean that how to make a single vocal which is ofcourse mono to sound like live not dead not straight..plz answer me back here in india there are many artist who wants to learn this secret tricks..

What about just creating a VCA fader (not an aux that affects the pre gain) for your track groups E.g Guitars, drums, bass, keys, FX grouping them, assigning it to VCA or you can even set VCA for the entire mix. I like to keep my plug-in usage as minimal as I can. Or turn down the post-gain included in some plug-ins.

awesome

Usually use all 3 at different points already, especially when I get tracks from others that come in super hot

I've always grabbed my faders of my balance and pulled them down. Is that wrong? I never usually peak past -2 but i then grab all my faders and adjust to get a peak of about -5. Not sure if my way is proper.

I'm already using a high pass filter on all tracks and sweeping for unwanted frequencies. I need to begin lowering the gain on each track instead of on the mixer to get my desired volume

lets say I produce in one daw (Ableton) and then export the multi tracks for mixing in pro tools. Should I do gain staging in Ableton before exporting to pro tools, or leave everything as is before I export the audio?

Another two good tricks: 1. Multiband sidechain compression. For example: duck a little bit of 50-150 Hz on bass buss on kick drum punch. 2. When song have a lot of double bass parts. Put an EQ plugin on kick bus, make a little bit (2-4 DB) cut on 60 Hz and somewhere in low-mids (300-600), little boost on 2 KHz. Then you need to automate your eq plugin. Turn it on when fast double bass parts going on and turn it off on slow parts. It makes mix overall more clear and save you some headroom.

Hi, Thank you! Great video! If I understood well, I have to record just above 0 -1 to use the totality of 24bit and 48kHz(or more) and have low noise and then trim my tracks to create headroom? If I record my tracks directly to -15 I will have more noise/signal and not use all the 24bit and 48kHz (or 96 or 192). Am I wrong? Thank you in advance. :)

Thank u

Thanks for this! Do you always keep your master buss at 0 or is it ok to bring it down a little if it’s only slightly hot? After all your tricks have been used ..

What about using compression? I avoid natural peaks above -6dB as a rule, but I got some really great takes today that went into -4 territory. Salvageable?

Thanks for sharing. I leave some headroom but shoot for the volume & sound I'm happy with, without the mix clipping....Don't always leave it up to the mastering engineer to get you there. #GoingBareMusic =)

Is there any issue with using a mix bus on your instrument groups for gain reduction? For example on my drum mix bus, I've found that the more I lower volumes on the mix bus the more I'm reaching to turn up the individual fader in that group. Like my snare for instance, I often have to remove it from the drum bus entirely (send it to main) inorder to still get enough power/punch and volume control. It seems like the lower the mix bus the more lifeless the drums become. Also do you recommend using compression on only the mix busses or individual tracks as well. Thank you so much, really appreciate it.

you are awesome. Love from India.

Headroom to sound musical, Don't worry about if it's quite, we can increase the loudness in mastering later. THIS IS THE MAIN POINT.

thanks

I have a super dumb question. I’m obviously a beginner. I’m all mixed and happy with the sound. Nothing clips, but my master buss is peaking at -0.2 Can I just turn the master fader down to get the headroom, before sending to for mastering? Will that work? Thanks.

I always remove some mid from the vocal so I've been doing that already

You are very very good at searching out offending frequencies to clean up tracks. Question: Do you ever use frequency analysers for tracks that are hard to pin down, maybe more than one frequency. Could you do a video on frequency analysers? In response to your inquiry. Gain staging and proper mic distance are always the first line of defense. Digital signals are totally unforgiving. It took me a long time to learn that. Thanks for all you do.

In The Mix says you can drop 20hz and lower off every track, including bass and kicks. There are inaudible bass frequencies that actually move the speaker cones.

I used all of them, but definitely not enough. I too rarely cut away low frequencies (because I'm concentrating too much on making the solo tracks sound nice). I should aim lower for single track volume (used to target around -12dB which gets too loud in sum easily). I almost never cut offending frequencies in sounds because I don't trust myself to identify offending stuff and not the good sounding stuff (also again too much weight on individual tracks). I found this extremely useful, although I knew every trick I now realize I have to do all of them more aggressively.Thank you very much!

Band and song name? Big fan of your work!

how to show db meter in mix window fader ? im newbie

Is trim like a gain plug in?

I don't use limiter at all. I like dynamics in my music. I just use compressor to shape and balance instruments but i don't do any limiting or compression to the masterbuss. So i have always lots of headroom and if you use 32bit float it will save you sometimes

How the compressor react if we decreased our gain?

what is a trimer in fl stu?

Can you use the "gain" plug in Logic has as a substitute for a trim plug in to achieve the same result?

good

we push the threshold in mastering session. master peak -6db, limiter threshold -6db = master peak 0db, limiter threshold 0db(not moving) in my view, there is no difference. even though it's over peak level, we can low the volume(gain) of master bus. DAW has a lot of headroom already. I think we don't need to care headroom in digital domain. our goal is just balance. what do you think about this?

Also i want to know that when we take different takes so during mixing vocals when we play whole vocals of different takes it sounds like sometimes low volume somtimes high sometimes thin sometimes thck so how to make it similar or in level so that it can sound like one vocal take completely??

A little confused now: Don´t you take care of it with a proper gainstaging? All tracks balancing around -18db? It may save you from adding the trim plug-in?

hmm..i guess my comment didn't publish; but in an early video by Graham, he mentions using the all button on the left side bottom (pro tools)...click on it and you can bring down the whole session...all your faders will lower so you will have to normalize your mf and aux's but it works very well.

Anyone know how to reduce the gain of individual audio clips in Logic? They don't seem to have the button used in Graham's daw just to go in and reduce each piece individually

Wha if you think clipping sounds good?

surprised nobody's asking what the song's name is. Sounds good

Ηi Graham....is it the same if we just cut (for example) 5 db of gain on the the stereo out of our project( if our daw has that ability) instead of cuting 5 db in each track (for exmple 30 tracks) or not???? I guess its not the same...we should do it in each track like you mention in the video..

But if you reduce the gain after you have already used compression then the compressor will react differently to your audio, no?

Graham I also have a SOLITAIR black acustic Guitar in great shape still and I bought one mic The Mp65 that matches supsobabley My Boss KATANA 50 amp it has a switch button on mic I know I need a condinsor mic I'll but next month plus You teaching course that's 1500 or 1600.00 but is what I have enought and is the lap top and Guitar amp right or do I need diffrient of both or rather? Let Me know please thank You Your a ready a blessing I'm 61 years old I use to operate an old mixer when I was 15 16 17 years old at My Grandpas Church He Pastored but I found out I can't go back to doing plumbing remodeling plumber no more cause My back I had two operations got to have two or three more I been told say a prayer to please all comes out ok I still until a year ago use to ride My Diamond surf board and motorcycles that's now all history Doctors said so I'm going to getting ready to be prepared for the FIELD GOD showed Me even thou I don't know where the FIELD is still at GOD showed me but it's a big field I saw it litterley in the VISION so I was dying of cancer in 2005 but now they tested My for three years and Doctors said N/D I asked what that meant They said none detected so I had cancer that's not suppose to be cured but it's not in Me no more so I have GODS WORD WORDS OF TRUTH and thy TESTAMONEYS I know what GOD can do so I'm getting ready .I need You to teach Me mixing now days and Edditing I be Glade to pay Your fee by December sometime I'll have 1600.00 for You let Me know if I got wrong equipment or not enought From what I hired You say I got more but I got to get it the best I can for GODS GLORY and to help strengthen people.

How to fix peaking? Turn it down. Got it, thanks

Graham I been watching listening to You :You got a lot in You I'm Impressed I have a new Mackie pro 16V3 mixer and a Boss Catarina 50 amp and a TC HELICOM Acustic play black box all brand new but I also have a Dell Extrerm 4500Grafic laptop it has Data 500 and Two 16 GB in it windows icore 7 My Question is if I put up a lot of plugins Like I m getting Pro tools and Sound waves also with all going thru My lap top and mixer will My laptop handle all I put up on screen do You know My laptop is maxed out with hard drive and memory I not put any on it yet and I have a Fire 8 new tablet to ples page Turner and can You teach Me when I get all this I bought new hocked up together or do I need a more up date laptop or a diffrient amp insteade of My new Boss Katana 50 amp wi You let Me know if I need to exchange something for something diffrient or if My Guitar Boss Katana Amp will work or not and I'm buying head phones and the White monitor 700.0/ speakers for my recording studio I'm setting up I been injured at work hafe to take brakes about every 20 to 25 minutes cause of back has to be operated on again I have a vision of the FIELD GOD showed Me all thou I still don't know what the FIELD is at yet I know why GOD showed Me in the VISION in 2005 going into 2006 so I'm getting ready plus I got to buy at least two power speakers I realize for live when I do step up and GOD STANDS me.is this all enought or the right thangs to start to do live and record later to arrange record and eddit it will what I have work or not?