Gain Staging: Mix Safety Warning

Guys, I’m worried. Gain staging has caused an epidemic of confusion and stress in the modern mixing world.

It’s dangerous out there. And it’s too late to stop it…

But we can all take steps to keep ourselves safe in the studio. So, if you’re experiencing symptoms of clipping in your mix, such as audible distortion or red lights on your DAW meters and plugins, follow these guidelines to stop clipping in its tracks.

Stay safe, friends - save mixing.

[sebastiandiaz]

Thanks for doing this, I'm really tired of some engineers talking about it like if it was nuclear physics

[HangtheTyants]

I had to turn this up because it wasn't clipping hard enough...

[diegooliveirabenjamin]

Love the irony, gains staging was never a problem for me, even when I was a newbie, now I even let some plugs stay on the red and it’s good! Great video man!

[MixChecks]

If I had gain staging when I was 20, I'd be a billionaire by now...

[docrob]

Thank you! We're not in the analog world anymore, there's hardly a noise floor at all to deal wih so no point in gain staging every single step of the way! If it clips and sounds bad JUST IT DOWN, lol!!

[JesusArmasOficial]

The best video you’ve ever uploaded here man!
Sometimes these issues have the easiest solutions.

Thanks for sharing it man!

[darrenross]

Thank you Jordan, i clipped my audio once in 2006 and rotates head from side to side ) i was devastated, Youtube mix doctors said there was nothing i could do for the 2006 event as it had already passed, looking back i probably should just of turned it down. Thanks again, have a great day, all the best.

[MartinArchea]

I like the crunchiness of digital clipping.

[thegozzy]

Jordan is about the only producer whose material I can follow without feeling like I'm missing chromosomes.. oh, and +1 for the right mix of dramatisation & sarcasm :D

[amirgrant]

I think the reason Gain Staging is made such a big deal is because in the analog days, there were several points of no return where as in the digital era, there are several points you can simply adjust the level and return to a point where you are safe.

[tompung]

Some youtubers experts will tell us how to gain stage right. And everyone of them will let us know their way is the right way to get the maximum out of a plugin. And here comes Jordan and tell us to simply turn down the volume, something I have done for years. Now this must be a follow up where the YT-experts will let us know what Jordan is telling us is both wrong and dangerous. :-)

[heathd]

Since I watched your older Gain Staging video I laugh at the others I see on Youtube.... They freak out about it!!! So in my head its burnt in as "Just turn it Thanks man...

[daveydumpling]

If it’s too loud turn it down. Thanks.

[lascosascomosean]

DON'T GO OVER -9bs ANYWHERE IN THE SIGNAL FLOW (IN AND OUTOF EVERYTHING) ...UNLESS IT IS ON PURPOSE! That's it!

I love this. I needed it. Looks like after 2 videos trying to make everyone happy you realized, the only getaway is comedy!

This like the eternal fight between bedroom guitar players about modellers or the real thing. Get on stage!! Does it work? Do the members of your band or the audience notice any difference? HAHA

[sebastiansampson]

Side effects may include better sounding mixes

[eliaskapravelos]

If it sounds good it sounds good, oversampling also helps if you must have everything loud af

[scallionboy]

But the red lights are the prettiest! Dan worrall did a nice video on this subject debunking a few myths! But honestly i used to do FOH mixing and we usually had lots of gear in the racks by the console that was unused as most of the set ups didn't need it, however it was always running audio through it so the nice LEDs would light up and make it look fancy for anyone who happened to be looking! 😄

[michaeltablet]

Great video! But you left out the disclaimer. some assembly required, batteries not included, void where prohibited. Must be 21 to enter. Side effects include constipation, castration and decapitation. If itching persists for more than 3 days see a Dr and remember, only you can prevent wildfires.

[chris.bradshaw]

I use the red, yellow & green traffic light system. When it goes pop you stop

[sylzysylzerz]

what if you've finally finished a nightmarish 100+ track project, where post fader/pre fader sends are all over the place, automations everywhere, but the master bus is hitting something ridiculous like +16, can you get away with just putting a trimmer on the master bus?