Once you know all the rules feel free to break them! Afterall it is YOUR record and/or mix!.If you have gain-staged everything correctly and still want to hear everything louder…turn up your speakers!!!! This way you wont back yourself into a headroom corner.
This means that lowering the fader lowers the volume but does not lower the level going into the plugin.
Then adjust the output or makeup gain of the plugin so the outgoing audio hits the next plugin at its sweet spot. In other words use a trim plugin or the plugin’s input to hit the plugin at its sweet spot. If using more than one plugin on a track gain-stage each one.Most manufacturers tell you exactly what it is. When in doubt check your plugin’s manual to find your plugin’s sweet spot.This will mean your signal is correctly gain staged to hit the first plugin in its sweet spot range. BEFORE you begin mixing your recorded masterpiece set all your levels to around -18dBFS (RMS) with an input trim or gain plugin.Most DAWs also ship with additional metering plugins.
I use the meter bridge in iZotope’s Ozone 5 but there are plenty of other options. Use a ‘Peak & RMS Meter’ plugin to gain stage instead of your built-in DAW meter.Remember the -18dBFS Magic Number applies to average levels (RMS) and not peak levels.When recording into a DAW set your levels so they are hitting around -18dBFS (RMS).Gain stage everything – your recording sessions, mix sessions, laundry sessions and shopping trips!.You are the master of your ship and are free to do whatever you like! But if you consider the following guidelines you may find it easier to get the most out of your equipment, plugins and sessions. But before we go I thought I’d offer up some suggestions for setting levels in real life situations. I hope the fog has begun to lift and the whole topic of setting levels is a little clearer. Well my friends we are nearly at the end of our time together.
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