Here's the final mix of my track "The Pulse." Feel free to download and listen so you understand how tracks are grouped/bussed and that it is quite possible to get a polished final mix without fancy 3rd party plugins and advanced techniques.

+++This is not a royalty free give away, for educational purposes only copyright Eric Louis+++

Gain Staging

Gain staging is a boring un-sexy topic but if you understand how it works you'll be that much closer to final mixes that sound dynamic, alive, musical, and open.

While it sounds esoteric and can be rather complex to understand, the short version is that if you've ever worked with the trim knob on DJ mixer or DJ software, you'll be able to master the basics.

While the trim on DJ mixer adjusts the level going into the fader on the mixer, in a DAW, there is not a preset trim. As a result people send signal to their plugins that are too hot. You see, plugins have a sweet spot (Thanks Graham at Recording Revolution) but most people don't know about gain staging and don't insert a trim on their tracks in Ableton or another DAW. Most tracks are recorded too hot, most samples are also too hot. This means most people are sending too much signal to their plugins (EQ's Compressors etc) and as a result they get digital artifacts.

Watch the video for a simple explanation and walk through.

Read this post for extra info. If you've used a DJ mixer you already "get it."

Gain Staging In Ableton or a DAW

Be sure to look at each track and make sure that if it's peaking louder than the idea -12-18 range that you insert a utility plugin in Ableton or if you're in another DAW, use a trim plugin to lower the input so that the fader is reading in the -12-18 range. Again, the purpose is to not hit plugins too hard and most samples and recordings are already too loud. Without doing this you clip the plugins and create digital noise. The Faders in the DAW much like the faders on a DJ mixer only control what you and the listeners hear, not the level of signal going into the plugin.

Watch as I go through and make sure all tracks are in the ideal range before signal hits a plugin or fader.

Why You Should Consider Landr & a Human Mastering Engineer

I've found it very effective to use Landr while I produce and mix. Do you give your tracks a Car Check or ever play your works in progress on your ear buds, or someplace other than your studio? I'd think so! Go ahead and use Landr while you produce and work on your final mix. Once your done hire a professional human engineer. Like Rob Small or Nicky @ The Fat Mastering.

Watch the video to learn more. I do a blind test, I think you'll agree that Landr gets "in the ball park" of what a pro would deliver. For me personally it's faster and less costly to buy Landr for a year versus buying and learning the plugins I'd need to do something similar to what I'd get from Landr.