Proppa
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Gain Staging... THE SAUCE
🕑 Added 2023-01-27 17:56:13 +0000 UTCAlright alright alrighhhttt. So I wanted to do this as a video but I figured I'd do it as a text post. I think it'll be a lot easier for you guys to pull the information this way.
This is a resource I've offered to my students in all of my time teaching lessons, finally opening it up to my Patreon subs!
These numbers are a general target area of where I keep all of my sounds in my mix pre-master. Keep in mind, everyone is different. Everyone likes to choose sounds with different characteristics, and use plugins in different ways. So if anything, this is more of a guide than a rule set. 10000% use your ears and best judgement before going strictly off of these numbers.
With that said, here's my gain staging list!
- Kick: -11dB to -10dB
- Clap: -13dB to -11dB
- Basses (w/out sub): -16dB to -13dB
- Sub Layer: -17dB to -15dB
- Basses (w/sub): -16dB to -13dB
- Main Lead Synths: -16dB to -11dB depending on the sound
- Support Synths/Pads: -20dB to -14dB depending on the sound
- Ambience: -24dB to -18dB
- Lead Vocals: -12dB to -10db
- Support Vocals: -16dB to -14dB
- Full Vocal Stem (Lead + Support): -11dB to -9.5dB louder = more popular style tracks
- Hats: -14dB to -12dB
- Shakers/Tambourines: -20dB to -14dB
- Support percussion (extra claps, snares, congas, etc.): -22dB to -15dB
- FX: -25dB to -14dB depending on sound
- BUS/Group Output - Synth/Bass: No more than -8dB overall
- BUS/Group Output - Tops: No more than -11 overall
As I said before, definitely take this with a grain of salt. However, this is how I've structured my gains for the last 2 years and it hasn't let me down!
Love ya'll!
Comments
Dan Matthews
very cool yeah i do a similar thing around the -12db area is good! :)
Garrett Matheson
HOLY SHIT THANK YOU
StrangeMinded
your goated for this
Robert lemiesz
Mr. Gain Stage
Mr. Happy
Awesome
Antonino Munaco
thank you brotha!!
Not Yurs
Screenshotting this
Proppa
You already knowww
Barclay Iversen
Ever since I started using this my mixes are way more balanced
