Gain staging outboard gear. I have a question about gain staging.

Gain staging outboard gear. so the converter wants to have +4dbu on the in and outputs. H. This is also a good In reality, this whole process shouldn't take long at all, and you learn to avoid problems by avoiding gain ranges that sound bad at any given link in the chain. even if the preceding unit has an output attenuator, forgoing it helps to wring every bit of character out of the unit. Once you get to A recommendation would be to rely on your ears and conversion/monitoring setup mostly when dealing with gain staging and loudness and use good metering (e. This is why “straight into the amp” guitar tones or simple mic+preamp recording setups often sound much more full and robust than expansive pedalboards and chains of outboard gear. Routing Through Outboard Gear If you’re routing your music out of your DAW and through outboard gear, your levels do matter, and will depend on what your outboard gear expects. The way I have mine calibrated (I have 2, with the 3rd coming this week) is so that the converter clips Gain staging in a home studio is most commonly performed at the mixing stage. From what I understand he usually has peaks around -6dBFS or -3dBFS and not -8dBFS/-10dBFS as recommended. Managing Outboard Gear Levels Many outboard units (including some power amplifiers) are designed to operate at “standard operating level”, and have no level or gain controls at all. But to do that, the signal (at its most basic level) must first pass from the instrument into a microphone or DI box, down a line, through a snake, into a console, into a preamp, through an equalizer, OK, my home studio gear has limitations in the fact that my Scarlett 18i8 Gen 2 interface only has 2 outputs which I use for monitors. It's not some special technique or anything like that - it's more akin to tuning and setting up your guitar so that it plays and sounds its best. The issues I want to try and solve: Is there a way that I can use a vocal track (with no effects) that I have recorded to run through my chain to set Alright, let’s talk about a mixing hack that’s criminally underused and ridiculously effective: using your guitar pedals as outboard gear. It’s only important for outboard gear, using external inputs (to reduce noise and keep a good signal to noise ratio), and for analog modeling plugins which state in their manual an input level that is optimal. It is the main console's (or preamp's) job What is gain staging, and what do you need to know in order to record at the proper levels? Learn the essentials you can implement today. Proper gain staging is crucial in Gain-staging is the practice of optimizing audio levels throughout a signal chain. Buy Warm Audio stuff if you want to use it for a bit and then sell it Reply reply More replies Gain staging is pure fundamentals and is one of the first things recording students learn (apart from signal flow). Thanks! (Disclaimer: I am more of a composer/producer than an engineer, so my apologies if this is a dumb question) EDIT: Corrected all integers in front of 24 & 20 to be + instead of As a devout believer in proper gain staging, my faith was recently shaken by heretics who dared question the holy doctrine of gain staging being an important part of audio production and mixing. For a perfect system, all outboard gear would operate in a unity gain fashion. c. #dangerousmusic I hope this question makes sense. How should I set the output gain on my MPC 1000 to achieve optimal gain staging while recording? I'm sure you're not suggesting that gain compensation at the output of a device that imposes dynamic changes is not a part of the greater gain staging effort. If it’s hitting -18db from the mic, try to keep it at -18db the rest of the way. Electronics D-two running into ST2 In. (Really you should ditch the peak meter and use a true I have a question about gain staging. Of this, I was When tracking with outboard gear, remember proper gain staging and record with the appropriate levels at each gear ‘checkpoint. Leveling is different from gain staging. Not to mention, really fuckin useful, especially in tandem with the LA610. I'm looking to understand the best way to gain stage going hybrid. iZotope The videos that say “gain staging” and then refer to a sweet spot on the plugin are wrong. Recommended practice with any mixing desk is that an input signal should peak at 0db on the output meters with the input and output faders set to unity gain. Outboard Gear If you use outboard compressors, effects units, or other processing equipment, then bear in mind that each piece of gear adds an extra gain stage to your signal path. Consoles, tape machines, and outboard gear all had Poor gain staging results in high levels of noise and distortion, as well as a decrease in headroom. My current set up is : Warm audio TB12 - insert sending to an LA2A after the input stage and returning to It matters most when you work with outboard gear or analog emulations because those saturate and start to distort at certain volumes. Gain Staging is just about keeping your signal at a useable level and not over/under driving it somewhere in your chain. How to Optimize Gain-Staging 157 likes, 0 comments - dangerousmusic on December 19, 2024: "One serious benefit of working in analog is gain-staging. It involves setting the appropriate levels for each piece of equipment or plugin in the audio chain, from microphones and preamps to digital audio workstations (DAWs) and outboard gear. Make sure you’re using -18dB RMS for most instruments, or about -12 peak for percussive signals. That's where my gain staging concerns come in. With PFL engaged for gain staging, the levels on the QU-16 run at about -6. Gain staging correctly gives you that flexibility instead of ramming into it and also sets you up well should you wish to incorporate outboard gear into your set up in the future for some hybrid mixing. Avoiding clipping in analog is more important. If your analog gear sounds fine but Pro Tools is clipping, lower the fader that feeds the interface. It sounds fantastic to my ears, I only bring the final level up at the Mastering stage. This is just using the mixer which is perfect for gain staging. So the mic preamp (inside a mixer or external) is a gain stage, the processing in a channel strip (on a mixing console itself or outboard gear that is inserted) is another stage, the buses (mix, aux,EFX, main) are more gain stages, a PA processor or analog rack (crossover and EQ) are another stage, the PA amplifiers or powered This is why “straight into the amp” guitar tones or simple mic+preamp recording setups often sound much more full and robust than expansive pedalboards and chains of outboard gear. Hard disagree about the distressor. i/o level before clipping (measured in dBu) adjust levels on your outboard (by using input and/or output trims) or use line level converters - totalmix can mitigate only some issues. The contents of this article are subject to worldwide copyright Gain staging is most relevant with analog gear or analog modeling, as those tend to have a 'sweet spot' that minimizes clipping and maximizes the signal to noise ratio. If I wanted to say run my guitar track through an outboard eq during mix down, how do I do that? My thought would be to send the track to one of the 4 AUX Understanding Gain Staging: The Foundation of Clean (or not) Audio For engineers and producers moving into more complex audio setups, understanding gain staging is paramount. I respect we all appreciate the distinction, of course. Can do anything, hard to fuck it up, will teach you gain staging. In this video, I talk first the gain-staging part; I want to facilitate several scenarios— run a preamp (or any other unit with gain) really hot into this unit and bring the signal level back to normal for the rest of the chain. Learn more Gain Staging Outboard Preamp into Interface 📝 Reply OPTIONS 18th June 2017 # 1 bbk 🎙️ Registered User My Studio 🎧 10 years Gain Staging Outboard Preamp into Interface Hi all, Gain staging with analog gearGain staging is the action of ajusting the level at each step it is modified by a hardware or a software. | rhythminmind. In digital, after 0dB it's clipping, that means all that goes above is deleted. ’ Re: Proper Gain staging in a world of synths, outboard, DAW' by Graham Hinton » Mon Dec 05, 2011 9:37 pm Gain staging is tough to understand – so let us explain it! In this article, we’ll give you a modern approach to gain staging, as well as a Gain-staging is the practice of optimizing audio levels throughout a signal chain. Check this out : Hardware gain staging (with the DAW in mind). And just like the model 12/16/24 its has build in eq and effects, and compression. Anything will help! Thanks in advance! Audio Student Engineering + Production Question Zone Best gain staging for Lexicon Reflex through Aux send/return on console Hello! We see you've found the Newbie subforum! If you are indeed new to recording and production, please feel free to post a thread topic here if there is something you are curious about - there are no stupid See, I would call this a gain-staging problem. The specs say that the front inputs have a max dbu input of 24dbu while the back ones say 18dbu max input. If you want other types of metering, just use a plugin like SPAN, Fruity Big Meter, make sure they are "Detached" - and away you go. I recently bought a Orion 32 TB interface that is being used along side an RME UFX2 and trying out various gain staging strategies to both calibrate the outputs of the 2 types of D/A so they hit outboard gear and my monitor controller at the same level and also optimize the chain with all components operating in their best range from I record my music alone, I use an apogee ensemble thunderbolt and I have a few pieces of outboard gear, for one a presonus studio channel. But I bought a new Tascam model 2400 console and recorder. 101 // Gain Staging The most important thing that we as audio engineers do is get signal from instrument to speakers. Yes, you read that right—those little stompboxes gathering dust in your studio could be the key to unlocking some serious sonic magic in your mixes. Am I correct in understanding that whatever I select for Help with the gainstaging outboard gear into interface 📝 Reply OPTIONS 26th June 2019 # 1 Dricks123 🎙️ Gear Nut 🎧 10 years Help with the gainstaging outboard gear into interface It then provides guidelines for proper gain staging, including starting with the best possible sound quality, turning up mic pres and mixing with faders, using pads and filters judiciously, managing EQ settings carefully, accounting for outboard gear, mixing multiple sources properly, and setting the power amplifier level. This guide gives you a better understanding of gain staging and offers five Noise, as opposed to clipping, isn't happening because of gain staging. So my question is this. Hello everyone and hopefully someone here can help me figure out my gain staging. Any ideas on how to get the levels up? I am asking Gain staging tutorial helps optimize audio levels for better sound quality and prevent distortion. It’s affordable, it’s creative, and best of all, it’s probably something you already The volume levels are not marked on the MPC 1000. O. I recently exported a bunch of my midi tracks into audio files in a project of mine. Learn more 📝 Reply Options 36 minutes ago # 1 arj. All contents copyright © SOS Publications Group and/or its licensors, 1985-2024. (Options are -10dbv, +4dbu, and high gain) Likewise, when sending from the RME to outboard, should the outputs be set to -10dbV so I can turn up the outboard more, or set to High Gain so I drive the inputs of the outboard more? So many options! Gain staging is the art of knowing how much signal to run through a circuit to get what you want. I am *assuming* my analog gear wants to be fed an average signal level of +4dBu = 0VU. There will be just noise left. Gain staging is a term you may have encountered from time to time, since it applies to both live performance and recording and it also plays an Gain-staging is the practice of optimizing audio levels throughout a signal chain. Home The Forums High End Lynx Hilo Noise Floor Gain Staging When you buy products through links across our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The MASTER’s twin input controls make it easier to hit your outboard gear’s sweet spot and to glean the optimal sonics from the rest of your equipment—like a recording A/D converter, tape machine, or other capture device. You're going to have to clean up the noise in the DAW. How high your signal should be recorded depends on your gear and metering. 4 mic/line inputs and 4 line inputs on the back. There will only be a flat line left. That RMS level is TOO loud and can cause gain staging issues. There might be a small amount of gain staging involved, but what is the alternative? If you use an outboard AD converter and then send that to the Apollos (via adat or spdif), there is still a gain stage involved, between the preamp and the Apollo. All in all things that professionals take for granted but which aren’t obvious to many non-pros. It’s often overlooked when accustomed to the forgiving nature of digital processing, but in the analog world (and in managing your digital headroom effectively), it is the difference between pristine Gain staging with DAW - plugins, distortion, optimal performance factors, worth fixing? At what level should you hit the compressors and what level should they go back in? It depends on your particular outboard gear and converters. How to Optimize Gain-Staging I am looking at a few different audio interfaces and one that I really am considering buying is the Focusrite Clarett 4 wich has 8 analogue inputs. I'm still really new to this. A snare drum has a GREAT difference between its peak and RMS I would like to pipe in and add that if you are recording external sources, you need to be matching impedances, such as with a microphone and preamp, but it rarely applies to digital sources, as most modern gear uses 600ohms standard, HZ. I run my hybrid rig at approx -18dBfs conversation through DAW processing into outboard chain back into DAW. Just bring the gain up to that spot. Gain staging is reducing distortions and noise via adjusting gain throughout a routed signal in But is that really true? I mean, gain staging was born out of the analog era. We’ll dive into both analog and digital workflows, reveal how to maintain healthy signal levels, discuss whether 0 dB is still the magic marker, I have an Apollo x6/x16 and am trying to figure out how to set my meters in Pro Tools for best gain-staging of my analog outboard EQs and compressors. Gain staging/converter calibration is all about clip points and getting them aligned to maximize the system's dynamic range capabilities. How do you guys gain stage from mic to pre Gain Staging: How To Control Gain Throughout a signal chain, there are many places where gain can be affected. A VU meter is a good tool for proper gain-staging. None of that gear is exactly pro-grade. It's happening because of the source material or the gear itself. The noise isn't that bad where id use a noise reducer and im going to get noise using gear regardless. If you want a general rule of thumb: for analog gain-staging, use your ears above all else; once it hits the interface, do whatever it takes to prevent clipping. Besides that in the digital domain nowadays, it doesn't I record my music alone, I use an apogee ensemble thunderbolt and I have a few pieces of outboard gear, for one a presonus studio channel. I realize this might seem to be a noob topic, but it’s always good to return to. . Can anybody explain this to But what is gain staging exactly, and why is it so pivotal? Whether you’re an up-and-coming bedroom producer or a studio whiz looking to refine your workflow, this article will explore the ins and outs of proper gain staging . Recently I bought an outboard 1176 and 2A clones. g. I was told that the law of staying under 0dB at every point in the signal chain is an aimless practice in the digital era, due to modern DAWs' ability to handle internal clipping. I know it's not exactly "the way to do it" to record something (say a vocal) with the apogee preamps and then send it through the presonus for color, because one preamp to another preamp yada yada. If you have some vintage outboard gear then you may want to look into it. All rights reserved. net Share Reply Quote 28th September 2013 # 18 What are the key things you’ve learnt about that hidden stuff? I’m talking gain-staging, phase, polarity, high pass/”rumble” filtering on mics and other things (what other things?!). masters 🎙️ Here for the gear Joined: Mar 2023 Posts: 10 Lynx Hilo Noise Floor Gain Staging With my Hilo, I use an outboard mastering chain (Hilo > API 2500 > Neve 542, etc) Gain-staging is the practice of optimizing audio levels throughout a signal chain. I have a question regarding the gain staging in electronic music. Now also assuming that I am running a couple of pieces of outboard gear ( EQ, etc) using the main out from the mixwiz and not the insert, would the next steps in gain structure after setting the trim pots be to set the outboard gear to just below clipping and then set power amp sensitivity levels to just below clipping? proper gain staging in the analog domain, mostly defined by the piece of gear with the lowest max. How to Optimize Gain-Staging Normally, a preamp will be patched into an Apollo instrument input. Proper gain staging helps Gain staging is tough to understand – so let us explain it! In this article, we’ll give you a modern approach to gain staging, as well as a Just trim until it sounds good? Just want to make sure I'm gain staging with outboard correctly to ensure best/max headroom as well as limited noise. However, with thoughtful gain staging, any chain can sound its best. But it actually applies to any audio system where you Working With Analog Gear in the Analog Domain Now in my early days of recording in analog I worked with tape based reel to reel machines, So what on earth do I automate before adding compression? Do I automate the gain whithin gain staging? Or do I automate the volume fader on that channel of a dry vocal, bounce as a new WAV and THEN gain stage and add plugins? I've searched around for a bit but never found an answer. i/o before clipping and then lower clip gain by a small margin (say 3-6dB). This is the real secret in using outboard gear with your interface because if you don't do this step, it sends your signal through Many outboard units operate at "unity gain," and do not have any level controls -- what comes in (magnitude-wise) is what comes out. You definitely don’t want to send a clipped signal, so make sure your peaks are well below 0 dBFS. C. How to Optimize Gain-Staging Re: Gain Staging It would be nice wouldn't it. Any tips on how to best use outboard with a daw? What is gain staging and how can it improve your mixdowns. 'gain staging' is about making sure that outboard gear is dealing with equal max. each to a stereo channel on a console. I'm interested in bussing drums, guitars, vocals, etc. Maybe he sends a higher signal to distort his desk and has calibrated with an Is -18-ish really best when starting a mix and paying attention to keep it around there as you add inserts in the chain? And, after a mix before heading to the mastering stage, would it be advisable to keep the headroom in that same area before sending to mastering outboard gear, like the Xmaxx etc. Hell - I’m hoping someone teaches me something i don’t know here. Like the 560, the distressor is a great intro to outboard compression. Leveling is just adjusting volumes/gains. With proper gain staging, every device in a So im a little confused on how to gain stage with outboard gear on the 2bus. Is there any way to think about those things Hello! We see you've found the Newbie subforum! Outboard Mic Pre's and Gain Staging 📝 Reply Options 23rd November 2017 # 1 jonny117 🎙️ Registered User Joined: Nov 2017 Posts: 9 🎧 5 years Outboard Mic Pre's and Gain Staging Hi everyone, Gain-staging is the practice of optimizing audio levels throughout a signal chain. Gainstaging with outboard pre's - HELP 📝 Reply OPTIONS 20th December 2009 # 1 springer 🎙️ Gear Addict 🎧 15 years Gainstaging with outboard pre's - HELP We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. for the sake o Hello everyone and hopefully someone here can help me figure out my gain staging. But when gain staging is set properly, This is why “straight into the amp” guitar tones or simple mic+preamp recording setups often sound much more full and robust than expansive pedalboards and chains of outboard gear. With proper gain staging, every device in a chain receives an optimal input level and sends an optimal output level to the next piece, minimizing noise, distortion, and signal loss while achieving the best possible tone. I use logic and Somebody told me that I should put a gain plug-in on each channel and to leave the faders at zero and never touch them and do all of the gain reduction/adjusting In the gain plugin. Hello, I see that people always talk about gain staging, something I even try to follow, but I have noticed that CLA does not usually keep things as "controlled". My current set up is : Warm audio TB12 - insert sending to an LA2A Other than the gain staging topic that I still have to figure out, I must say I like outboard: the workflow, the sound you get. Gain staging refers to the process of managing the levels of audio signals at various stages of the signal path to ensure optimal performance and minimal distortion. Good luck & have fun! When you buy products through links across our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. ? Just wondering what you find works. Good day all. I am confused as to why one would do this versus just using the fader. Done. I'm just worried that there's going to be so much movement on the individual tracks that it's going to put the level hitting the analog F. Does this mean the front inputs are better? Also, since the front inputs Gain-staging is the practice of optimizing audio levels throughout a signal chain. Last edited by Deleted 98f2a1b; 26th February 2021 at 07:39 AM. This is a two part question: How are you guys gain staging in general (which method seems to work the best) I have a T. It’s important to be aware of Thanks for your reply - I see your point, though I think more of it in terms of prepping the tracks for mixing, that's why I write gain staging - adjusting the gain properly to be fed into plugins, outboard gear, etc. Cranking their recording levels up to a very high RMS level (say -5dBFS) is not necessary and can be a problem when you either use a modeling plug-in or go outside the box to a console/summer or outboard comp/eq. I know it's not exactly "the way to do it" to Every chain is different with different passive and active gain stages with different effects when pushed at different levels, and it's up to you to really take the time to get to know Getting good gain structure requires doing things in the right order and a bit of back and forth if you are starting from scratch on a system you aren't familiar with. I can’t get the levels to go much past the halfway point on the unit itself. tbsd pxgl kmkf anxlstf kov pdcbsgxy dmia ayenw bylny vvfgo