The No.1 trick for LOUD mixes - Gain-Stage like a PRO in Cubase #cubase #mixing #gainstaging

On this video, I show you how to gain stage like a PRO in Cubase - the king of Gain Staging amongst all DAWs.

[espenstoro]

Nearly 20 years in Cubase, and NOW I learn about the pencil on audio events?
This is embarrassing! I would automate, and then bounce before compression.

[charley]

It is almost spooky how much i learn from this channel.

[regismel]

OMG the pencil thing.... you killed me

[Cchogan]

I cheer every time I hear someone say, "don't use compression to fix things!" That was driven into me when I started in engineering in the late 70s. And on analogue, it was even more important because of noise.

In fact, with the exception of the pencil tool (something I have loved in Cubase), so much of what you talked about comes from the analogue book. We always recorded at as high a level as we could get away with because of noise. The higher the signal, the lower the noise - simple. So, in theory, everything on the 24 track was the same level, more or less. At mix time, the first thing I used to do was put all the faders at zero/unity the whole way down the desk, then do a very rough mix using the channel gain knobs. (And for those who haven't played with a desk, the input gain is attached to the input amp on the channel circuit - it is the first stop from the tape machine).

I much preferred using PPM meters (they are easier to watch because of their slower release and fewer fussy markings). I would end up with a mix that was just a little bit low, but all the faders were still level. As a note, I almost never had to turn anything up - always down.

The other thing we did (pre automation) was to bounce things like vocals and ride the fader constantly as we did so - the manual version if what who you did with the pencil tool. Sometimes on Cubase I use a plugin called Vocal Rider to achieve a similar result. Very useful!

The platform might be digital and computerised now, but you have stuck wonderfully to those old analogue rules that were developed over decades, often because of the limitations of the equipment, but also because people had the same ears as you and wanted lovely, clean mixes.

[lucianappleton]

30yrs in Cubase and the pencil tool made me feel like a fool. It even ryhmes. Thank you!

[MrHatmando]

Bloody hell Mr Sigalas, I'm astounded! You have produced the ultimate guide to Gain-Staging in one brilliantly concise, no nonsense YT session in under 18 minutes. Absolute genius work Dom, I just wish I'd found you sooner!!!!

[simonesalvatore]

The pencil trick is just AWESOME! I was automating all the breaths for years, now I know how to do it in the right way! Thanks Dom!

[CircusNormal]

Fuck me, I've been using Cubase for about 15 years and I had absolutely no idea the pen tool did that, absolute fucking game changer!! Kudos to you mate!

[bandninkasimusic]

I recently used this gain staging technique this week on a recording of an original song of mine and it totally transformed the song. The final result was a revelation. It wasn't that difficult to implement either. No more recording "hot" from now on.

[sangorilla]

I'm absolutely inspired by your obvious passion for helping people understand how to use this product AND put them on the path to creating their own music.

[MiguelMoerman]

Dom, you are such a good teacher, I have learned so much from you, and truth be told, one is never too old to learn new things! The way you deliver your teachings on this channel, and with so much passion, is simply sublime!

I've been active in the audio industry in Belgium since 1993, I have done editing, mixing, mastering and composing music for fiction series, and I have been a Cubase aficionado (also Nuendo) and user since 1999. Now I also teach Cubase (and sadly also Adobe Audition) in high school in Belgium. But the way you are making these youtube tutorials and videos, really helps me at delivering my teaching methods to my pupils. I am much older than you, but then again, I consider you as my role model, to teach my young audio padawans in school. ;-)

I'm a big fan of yours, and I also redirect my pupils to go and watch (and ding your notification bell and subscribe to your channel) all your videos on Youtube here. Normally I have to make my own videos to explain stuff to them, so they can watch them again, but with a knowledge-source like you, I can let them watch all of your videos and hope they absorb as much as they can. It really helps me out.

Continue your good work, I will continue watching everything you deliver.

Greetings,

Miguel

[matthewfritz]

Holy crap, Dom! THANK YOU! Gain staging has been eluding me a bit and this was the most concise and straightforward explanation I have seen. I actually have a workable process now, especially within Cubase.

[BirajGautamofficial]

You teach in such a way that anyone can easily get it. Cheers hope to get more tutorials on mixing.

[antoinemontmory]

I'm new with Cubase LE 13. Thanks a lot for your help. Cubase releases the dream you want !

[CinderellaVasia]

Dom, your explanations and every detail and tip you provide are exceptional! I can't wait for your next video! 😃

[miro.hristov]

Even though I am a Reaper user, your videos always help me a lot. They're so universal despite they're Cubase focused. Thank you.

[whoisjinx]

Even though I'm a long-time Cubase professional, I always look forward to learning new tips and tricks, and I'm usually amazed at how I could have lived without them before. Thanks for helping to elevate all our Cubase games.

[crowbarproductions]

The more of Dom's videos I watch, the more I'm convinced he is the Jesus of music production in Cubase. Absolute godsend! Thank you Dom! <3

[randallnielson]

On of the best of Dom's tutorials. This might be the most important thing I've learned so far. I'm totally comfortable building a solid gain foundation for each mix now. Dom, I knew a couple of the concepts you taught (headroom at -18 or -12, for example) but I had no idea of the order these moves should come in, or "where" these moves existed in the signal chain (like knowing that pencil adjustments should come before fader automation, etc.). It makes total sense now ... but it might have taken me months, even years, to figure it out through experience on my own. Really appreciate this lesson. Immediately, immediately helpful and impactful.

[eleuvisa]

Thank you so much for helping me learn and understand Cubase. I've used Reason since ver 1.4 I had always tried to learn Cubase and couldn't find the gap between projects. Now that I have, you have certainly helped me make the jump. Once again, thank you.