What Is Gain Staging?

Proper gain staging is critical to achieving the best sound quality possible. That said, many forums and message boards leave much to be desired when trying to fully understand what gain staging is and how to dial in proper settings on your gear. In this video, Sweetwater‘s Mitch Gallagher talks through gain staging and the different ways it presents itself in production and live sound. Check it out!

#Sweetwater

[sweetwater]

Dive into the alchemy of gain staging with audio wizard Mitch Gallagher⚡

[luna]

I am currently attending Berklee College of Music and I have to be honest and say that this video really helped me understand all these topics as a whole in under 5 minutes. Goes to show you how much great legitimate content is out there and how something that is relatively simple can be blown out.

[iainmackenzieUK]

This was a fantastic summary of gain staging for an amateur enthusiast such as myself. I already use these ideas but it was so reassuring to hear a professional summarise the whole process. Many thanks

[cowabungabonzai]

Appreciate these videos. I’ve been running sound for a little over 15 years and I’m mostly self taught. I went to SAE when I was 20 it I didn’t really get into running sound live until I was about 25. I’ve done everything from FOH and monitors in large and small music venues, corporate a/v in hotels, wedding bands, theaters. These videos are great cause I get older I always got younger cats asking me stuff and these things give me a refresher course on terms and ways to explain things 🤘

[WindTreeStudios]

Yet another GREAT summary of a relatively complex topic Mitch! I'm a lone hobbyist home recording guy and you are my "buddy" teaching me the basics. Thank you for this succinct yet comprehensive talk on gain staging!

[NaturalMysticism]

This guy is an absolute Chad always dropping valuable knowledge.

[TheCALMInstitute]

This is the densest, most accurate presentation on this topic I have ever seen. SO refreshing to get good engineering advice, simply delivered. It's clear you know what you're talking about - thank you!

[NWTMasterWolf]

Thank you. You have cleared up some things for me. I am a 57yo who just picked up guitar but I used to be a singer (spoiled asshole who just showed up and expected everything to sound right LOL) But I am now learning sound and music a long with my guitar, bass and keyboard. I really appreciate these videos. Peace love and light.

[StratsRUs]

Thank you for a balanced guidance with none of the irrelevant theatrics.This is the best advice I have seen on not getting freaked out by it all !

[Gordonhermederme]

Who needs an audio engineering degree when you have Sweetwater! Man are these tutorials succinct.

[TeraCulpa]

Let’s take a moment to appreciate Mitch. I always enjoy any video he’s a part of.

[craigturb]

Really nice, well presented and logical summary. Many thanks Mitch - I learnt a few things here!

[quantum_ocean]

Too many Youtubers are too young and experienced and giving bad advice. This guy clearly understands this stuff at a much deeper level

[johnhricko]

Great, concise vid! basically, start slow, don't "crank it", listen, adjust slowly, listen... I basically set everything to 6/10. Go from there. Don't change the final stages (pre & amp).

[mikeillgaming]

I've watched many other videos .. some are 30 min long.... It took this man 5 min smh THANK YOU

[quantum_ocean]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. It helped me understand so many things I was doing wrong.

[jeffreyalanday]

A concise and perfect balance of concept and vocabulary. Thanks.

[devilsinstrument]

Hot Damn! This is the concise and informational source I've looked for on this subject for more than a couple of years! I know a lot of this, but the simplicity with which it is explained here is super informative, and confirms a lot of what I could never confirm before now. Thank you so much, I've taken notes but I'm going to be coming back to this video to confirm my understandings. :D

[djrobflow]

Thank you for doing this. This concept is now sitting in my brain properly 🙌🏽

[kirabarsmith]

Great topic. Gain staging has a huge influence on the end result, and I find most pieces of gear have their sweet spot of how hard to hit it and where to set the output.