Gain Staging is a Myth (Let me explain)

***The thumbnail is not a reference to any political stance.

Gain Staging is a Myth unless dealing with analog or analog emulations. It’s not the magical answer to making your mixes better, however the practice of the process when there is no signal to noise ratio to avoid, does allow for a more meticulous leveling outcome as it brings awareness to signal flow. If you only watch a minute and respond with a rebuttal that signals that you didn’t listen to the entire argument, I will delete it. Otherwise, I’m stating that you do not have to mix with the gain knob on the mixer, as a subscriber claimed in another video.

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#GainStaging #GainStructure

[SeligVideos]

I REALLY appreciate keeping the terms accurate, and indeed have been preaching that Gain Staging is an analog concept that doesn't apply to digital systems for years. I never "gain stage" working ITB, BUT I always keep ALL channel audio levels to peaking around -12 dBFS, something I learned early on from folks far smarter than I. Been doing it for 20+ years now, and no it's not about "better" sounding mixes - it's about predictability and smooth workflow with no surprised (like a clipped mix, etc.). Rock on!

[wakegary]

Thanks J - there's this one old Reason video about how gain staging is mandatory. I followed that advice to a tee for a long time. It never felt right zero'ing everything out to -10 no matter what. This is helpful.

[mikecolbert]

“The Earth doesn’t have a compressor!!!” Quote of the year Jack!!! Love it. Dopeness Pimpin. 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[graytechnics]

New subscriber here. Thank you for breaking this topic down. Just starting out with the mixing and mastering process and got overwhelmed with different techniques and information other Youtubers were demonstrating. I've watched a few of your other videos, and it's been extremely helpful, especially as a fellow Reason user. Thanks for the great content.

[Roo]

You should see how many people in forums respond to questions about beginning this whole music production process. Posting paragraph after paragraph of all this dbs, meters, clipping, gain staging. As a beginner, I appreciated the info, but it left me feeling for so long that I couldn't move forward because I'm missing all these things. Now what you're saying is making me finally understand!

[TheHouseofJukebox]

YOU SHOULD DO MORE VIDEOS LIKE THIS. This has helped me understand and debunk this whole gain staging narrative. Especially to do with working in the box and digital audio. Thank You

[gardgrady]

Thanks for this very useful video please do more debunking videos on such myths that haunt inbox producers.
Would love to see you debunking the Mastering myth.

[TheKingFriday]

I was about to comment and say it's not, but then you explained about live instruments. I was like "if I crank my preamps on my Soundcraft 500 board, I'm gonna blow out my converters." But with what you're saying, totally correct.

[jayindalbc]

so do I need to worry about gainstaging if im just making my beats in the box and recording my own vocals though an audio interface like the universal audio Apollo and nothing else?

[j.lindback]

Well spoken, you're absolutely right!

[TheStudioborsbeek]

It's not an emulation it's a modelation in the visual way not the way it sounds

[kidstax]

I knew this but I'm glad you used your platform to explain

[graykeyzmusic]

Mind blown!! 🤯🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 you brought that heat!!! Preach!!!! also, I’ve been gain staging my ass off with no discernible difference. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 thank u for the sawce!

[jamludentertainment]

Thank you for this, keep debunking the myths

[richardconstance]

I hear you on snr, but if you bounce a lot it's worth keeping things near hot, for bit depth reasons. If you use half the headroom, then turn up that bounced stem in Logic or whatever, you're essentially bit-crushing to a degree. (which can be cool). Love ur channel BTW

[jayonbaby]

I was screaming “preach” the whole video. 🔥🔥🔥🙏🏽

[feltfive]

Please more debunking information so these people can get it. Thank you and this was awesome

[BigChiefPrinceVision]

I was startingbthing like this as well, you just helped it make more sense, full circle. Yes keep these type videos up,

[profuzebeats]

Great topic to clarify, love your theory on this one, agree 💯

[djsilent]

You know I rock with you.. But I for me I don't fully agree with this one.. Again, just me. And just this subject.. I know where you are coming from. And I never touch the gain knob. I always use the faders. There is no need to use the gain knob...