Video není dostupné.
Omlouváme se.
How to set Levels to Avoid Clipping (Gain Staging 101)
Vložit
- čas přidán 6. 12. 2019
- ►Contact me to work on your music:
backburnerstud...
How to set Levels to Avoid Clipping (Gain Staging 101)
This video will explain some key concepts to remember when setting Recording levels into your DAW for the home studio.
►How to Record Anything eBOOK DOWNLOAD:
learnaudioengin...
Follow these instructions and you'll get a quality recording that fully captures your voice or instrument, every time.
This method will work in any DAW: Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Reaper etc.
The first key point to take away from this lesson is the balance between Gain and Volume.
And though these often get lumped together they are very different things.
Volume refers to the OUTPUT level of a channel. How loud that one instrument is coming out your speakers.
Gain refers to the INPUT of the amplifier that powers that channel, the pre amplifier. This pre amp controls the tone, loudness, character and saturation of the signal.
There are some key differences between recording onto an analog medium, like tape, and recording into a computer using a DAW.
The ideal recording level for digital doesn’t really matter much unless we go over 0dBFS
This is the top of the digital scale and to your computer, nothing above here exists and it will get turned into a cut off, rounded out, square wave that just reeks of DIGITAL DISTORTION.
Big rule of thumb with Digital:
Don’t record too loud (Never cross 0dB)
so remember this...
The Ideal Digital Recording level to use when setting mic level is: -18dBFS
Aim for this and you will give yourself lots of headroom to avoid any possibility of clipping.
The truth is as long as the audio you record is within that 0dBFS limit it will sound great and react just fine when you go to process it.
A recording with a bunch of squared off peaks, is garbage unless that some sort of effect you’re going for. It best to avoid this because it just sounds awful and isn’t something you wanna work with.
If it’s just a few peaks that clipped, A simple solution would be to:
► Lower your preamp gain level to around -18dB
► Record the passage again, and then
► Comp out those peaks with the new unclipped audio.
This -18dB trick will work for any for signal, because the position you set on the interface is dependent on the source audio, and therefore will always give it the room it needs for a stray peak or an extra energetic performance, you know how drummers like to play much loud AFTER sound check!.
But If that happens mid session, you know what level you’re gonna shoot for.
Aim for -18dB, don’t cross 0dBFS and your recordings will sound great!
►►Use my VIP link to get 7% off your first year at DistroKid:
distrokid.com/v...
►7-LEVEL ESSENTIAL MIXING CHECKLIST:
learn-audio-en...
►PATREON
/ robertlae
►INSTAGRAM
/ learnaudioengineering
►FACEBOOK
/ learnaudioengineering
This channel is great. You present the information really straightforwardly, and you aren't dull or difficult to pay attention to. Keep up the great work!
glad that comes thru! means a lot, thank you. and thanks for watching ! :D
"You know how drummers like to play loud AFTER soundcheck..." Dammit... You nailed us. Great vid. quick and to the point. Appreciate it!
Uh, you need to clarify if you're taking about 24bit or 16bit audio. Actually, -12db is recommended as a max RMS when you're recording at a 24bit depth because you have much more headroom for plugin processing with a lower nose floor. That means that you'll have peaks that can go up to -6db. Now, -18db is necessary when you're recording at 16bit depth but again, that's RMS; you'll still peak at -10db. You don't have as much headroom at 16bit , so the extra -6db will be a safeguard against clipping. To complicate things even more, you may have to lower to the clip gain if you are summing 100 tracks versus 8 tracks. In that case, yes, -18db could be required. However, you'll need a higher gain if you're recording and mixing a few tracks, like up to 8 or less. You probably should have been a bit more exact and clearer. No one explains this right.
The plot gets thicker and thicker 😂 I appreciate the more in-depth assessment. I'm still trying to get this right, so your explaination seems helpful.
Thanks a lot, this was very helpful! I wish you health and inner peace in these challenging days.
thanks for the video
I'm finding that my recordings between -12 and -18 dBFS sound quiet relative to other audio when listening through my headphones plugged into my interface. I'm using a Scarlett Focusrite interface with Logic Pro. Is this something that gets fixed during the mastering process, or should I turn up the volume in my recordings?
thanks!
Since nobody answered, yes you increase the volume afterwards during mastering.
if doing spoken word for audiobooks/voice acting should I be aiming at a constant -18db or peak at -18db?
Dann i also need to know
Look for DYNAMIC RANGE. And don’t get confused between capture and output volume.
I m a old senior masters audio engineer.So is like we should chare more about shaping tone on the rec / production step up to that minus 18 dB digital scale right? So we end up sculpting for fitting in the mix like using substractive eq ! No add eq on mixing right? 😊
The breaking bad clip was class 😂
So lemme think, this -18 db thing that you talking about it relates when you finally mixed everything out and the master track doens't hit the -18 db over, right? For you work with a good headroom and use some resources such as limiter and compressor to raise the thing up, ins't?
Or clip your AD converter on purpose, especially if it has a setting (or soft limiter) for this. Also, you can exceed 0dB in a daw with 32 bit floating point.
Whatever the fuck that means. Those are sure all words. Way to humblebrag at people looking for help 👍🖕
Quick, easy, and no Bull... Thank you.
What would you recommend for a Rode nt2a going into a focusrite interface? The problem is some people say aim for highest peaks to be -6db, others -12db etc? What's the best? And to avoid the condensed mic picking up all that white noise when its super sensitive? The vocals for the track are pretty dynamic, many quiet parts and many loud parts? I'll probably use the waves vocal rider to record also
I would always recommend to avoid clipping at all costs. you can always gain up what is too quiet.
I've never used Vocal rider while tracking, but you could automate your vocal between sections as needed in the mix.
-6 is what you want your Stereo Buss at the end to get to.Between 6 and 3 .
It's worth trying -18 dB at mixing to get a feel for it.I liked it but it also made me worry less about getting up to -12 at peaks when tracking.
So aim for -18 does this mean at peak? at their loudest moment, or should the continuous singing be lower as to leave headroom in case it hits -18
yes, -18 is a safety net to avoid clipping, ideally -18dB would be the peak volume, the average would be lower.
@Gerhard Schöner so would you say that recording an analog signal at -10 would be more beneficiary? and then using a trim plugin to bring it down to -18 to start my mixing process?
that breaking bad clip had me fucking dead, innit 😂 lol thx. 4 this vid. king 🙌
I'm in literal tears 🤣🤣
Question: Does this work with software Instraments??
The bottom of STAV’s “digital skyscraper” is blurred because there’s not enough digital resolution to capture the sound clearly at low gain.
Thank you brother
what about live mixing? should we be going for 0 dB level? or is it intrument or vocals specific?
Short Answer: whatever you're mixing, don't cross 0dB. It will result in digital distortion. It's not good for vocals or instruments. Compression and Limiting are two common tools for keeping things 'loud' without crossing the zero dB ceiling.
Learn Audio Engineering do you recommend -18 dB level for live mixing as well?
@@steverliu1886 just got back from a few live gigs tonight :) I guess it would depend on the board situation. If I've got the luxury of a booth out front I'll pay attention to levels and aim to keep the mix around 80ish dB max. (I usually do pretty soft shit in this scenario)
If it's a bar or tiny little town community hall with a pos analog board, I'm mainly just making sure nothings flashing red, giving most space and attention to vocals and monitor mixes.
The trick there is to get a modest input gain, and still have freedom to control the output gain on the fader.
Then I just go with the audience, there is usually someone who will find you and tell you if the music gets in the way of conversation. After turning down the guitar players amp 3 times I think the mix was peaking around -6. Sounding nice around 100dB in the center of the hall
So, I have an amp sim plug in, when I switch it on, it pushes everything into the red. To reduce clipping, I have to reduce the volume on that track to -42db. Any advice?
Stav....... the Legend...
This is helpful to me. Thanks!
CZcams addiction
All I want to know and nobody seems to have the answer is, do you gainstage before you add effect plugins or after effect plugins have been added. Effect pluggins meaning reverb, compression, Eqing etc??????
This video is regarding your input recording level, so before any EQ of FX processing. You'll want to make sure you aren't clipping at any stage of the signal chain.
Hopes this helps, thank you for watching!
@@LearnAudioEngineering Thx
im recording bass guitar, and if i aim recording at -18db i can't monitor how it sounds using my headphones
Should I gain clip on my interface or inside my daw ?
Definitely did not expect to see Bryan Cranston during a recording tutorial. There is nothing the man can not do 😂
So adjust the gain to get it in -18db?
Are you referring to input or output levels?
So Do I Go To My UMC Driver & Limit The Input? If So How Much? -10db?
Can u make video on flute recording and editing
Hello,please help me
..i have a problem i plan to finish my recording-production studio but (for now) i cant afford to isolate from inside to outside and vice versa so i must fiad a way to record-produce without disturb neighbors especially in nights...so which is the optimum recording vocals spot? I mean in db.also how loud can i playback? My closest neighbors is almost 100 metres (maybe litle less)
Try a closet or a bathroom. Hanging blankets over the shower curtain rod (don't make it so heavy it falls- I did 8^P) or the bar you hang clothes from in a closet can help absorb and eliminate some reflections. Trial and error. Good luck!
You rock, thanks.
thank you
Thanks for the tips by the way you look like klay thompson
set my micbuddy to low pre amp gain which is -18 db but my screams are still to loud . help lmao
Hi there, great tutorial, thanks for posting it.
I'd like to ask you, how to gain stage after my song is recorded.
Thanks a lot.
Gain Staging a mix would make a good video!
you the lowest gain setting in my di is -10 db. what do i do
Dude, negative 18db (VU); (m); (lufs); (ppm) - these are all different measurements. May I remind you that you still record trough analog gear? The mic has a self noise, the preamp has a self noise, your interface has a self noise, etc. I know it is much lower than it used to be, but still… and I assume you are referring to negative 18 db peak. This is wrong on so many levels. First - if you are using an analog pre you should hover around 0dbVU on the preamp meter. This is an RMS value (it gives you an average value over a certain time of analyzed signal) it completely disregards your peak levels. By this time you may have clipped your converter already. By the way - on the preamp you should hover around nominal level, because of the noise floor and because that is the point where your analog is calibrated to deliver it’s best qualities. Second - that 0dbVU relates to -18dbfs, but this doesn’t mean peak value. It is still an RMS value. I don’t mean to step on your toes, but I have seen this info going around the net in more then one place an I had the “pleasure” to work with young engineers practicing this… like it was the bible , the secret sauce of experienced engineers. So please, stop teaching this method of absolute gain staging. Thanks! 👍
"Aim for -18 dBFS." I assume you mean Peak level, not average/rms?
May seems like a lot of safety margin at first, but when you're recording live instruments like drums or acoustic guitar, you encounter unexpected spikes more often than not.
Thank you for this video! Subscribed! I just want to ask this as it is quite confusing. What I do is I have track that hits -5 db. I lower the volume on the daw so it hits about -18 or -12 db. Is this method viable? I do not edit the sound waves much but just make all their sizes similar.
I'm still new to this but try lowering the gain of the track with a plug in. Get it to around -18 that way.
Can someone verify? I'm still super new to this.
Don't record at negative 18db. That doesn't even mean anything.
Record as hot as you can manage without going over zero. Then adjust the gain as needed for further processing (e.g. 0dbVU calibrated at -18db if going into an analog gear emulation).
Who can send me a preset project..Logic Pro x
I recorded vocals and they are around -18db without effects and if I mix, they just clip and are still quiet......this is annoying lmao
Awesome vid. 🔥🎯💯 The word SATURATION turned to "SATURN" oddly. 😂
-18 everything right
nice sheep shirt dude
CZcams addiction
-12 to -6
Please don't add background music to your videos! You've got some great stuff to say and the soft jazzy guitar in the background is nothing short of distracting and annoying! It's like sitting in a classroom, trying desperately to hear what the instructor is saying while sitting next to a person who keeps mumbling to himself.
Right on, thanks for the feedback! i'll keep that in mind
I think you may be misinterpreting the skyscraper info graphic my friend
How so?
You should explain your opinion when claiming out someone’s wrong, otherwise it’s totally useless.
WHY IS THERE SO MUCH GAIN!? OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!! HAAALP!
This literally makes no sense. If I have it peak at -18 then I CANT HEAR MY VOCAL
@@Datwheeliethough once you record it at that level, you need to compress it or use a limiter to reach the desired volume :) search for Compression or Limiter on CZcams and you should have it figured out!! Hope that helps