Recording levels, Decibel, & Gain Stage
Understand how to set up the proper gain structure prior to any recording is key to get a well-sounding track. But the question is "How Loud should you record?"
What you will learn:
In this lesson you will gain a deeper understanding and learn:
✅ How different meters, VU, Peak, and RMS
✅ To understand Decibels in all its forms dBVU, dBFS, dBu...
✅ How to integrate Analog equipment with A/D and D/A Converters
✅ How calibration works and why it's so important
Get ready to make great-sounding recordings from now on!
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#recordinglevels #decibel #gainstage #musictechneversleeps #avid #protools
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Пікірлер: 164
Finally someone who knows what he talking about. We need a part 2 !!
It’s refreshing to hear someone who actually understands what they’re saying talk about this stuff. There are a lot of people out there educating who don’t seem to really understand what they’re saying, but they say it with confidence. Great channel! Looking forward to watching your older videos as well.
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
2 жыл бұрын
I appreciate your words 🙏🏼 thanks for the support. Stay tuned for real content dropping really soon! And if you haven’t yet please subscribe. Ciao!
@intheblink
2 жыл бұрын
@@musictechnologytipsandtricks I can’t wait! Definitely subscribed. You’re a wealth of information. Good to see someone so intelligent and informed sharing their knowledge. One note, I noticed your recent video was set to “for kids”, so I can’t comment on it or minimize it in the app. Just a heads up :)
Holy cow. Finally! Someone who knows what the hell they're talking about. I've watched two hours worth of videos about "proper record levels" and every one of them believe recording around the -6 (on their digital meters) to be the "right spot". You're saying (and I believe) that -18 is the sweet spot. I do voice over and record professionally daily and my "digital zero" is -18. People always tell me I'm recording too low until I playback for them and they say "Wow, that's really clean!". You're the ONLY person I've found on YT who seems to know precisely what the true story is on audio recording. Thanks for your talent and information. By the way, when you played the song that "seemed too low", it played back perfectly on my equipment here. Levels were just perfect. I wish I could have lunch with you and "talk shop". I think I'd learn a lot! Thanks again!
I’m a beginner/novice music recorder. I’ve read some on this subject. After 4 minutes of this video you have pulled together so much of the overly technical articles I’ve wasted massive time reading. Thank you!
This dude can tell it in a good way!
Wow. What a fabulous teacher. A master of knowledge and the ability to teach it clearly, building step by step.
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
7 ай бұрын
Thanks! I appreciate it! More content coming up soon! Stay tuned and if you haven't yet, please subscribe!
Thank you for taking time and helping all of us out there. Really appreciate.
Excellent and very clear information regarding metering, thank you Matteo.
So I started noticing that in some KZread video the volume is low and when the commercials come on the volume is boosted. That has me here. I figured that if I could learn how to control the audio it’ll make my recordings better too
Bro, you killed that explanation!!! I almost gave up on trying to grasp this concept. Thanks so much!!!
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
Жыл бұрын
I appreciate your words man! 💪🏼 I am glad you found this content useful! Stay tuned for more
Thank you so much for all your effort in planning, preparing, recording, and publishing your material to fulfil the needs of people who are currently in a position you found yourself in once upon a time; and to fundamentally give value. In just over 10 minutes, you’ve collated more than all the KZread videos and reading I’ve done in the past 2 years put together. You have a succinct, concise, and eloquent way of explaining and teaching. Your skill in teaching is truly a gem, and your material is invaluable. Allah bless you. Subscribed, saved, and looking forward to more invaluable material. Hope you are safe and well. P.S. Thank you for not adding any background music to your videos. It really helps in focusing on the information you’re disseminating, rather than being distracted by some groovy chord progression.
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
Жыл бұрын
You are most welcome! I am glad you found this video helpful! I truly appreciate your feedback. Stay tuned for more! Ciao!
@giggidygoo76
11 ай бұрын
@@musictechnologytipsandtricksHello there. I'm a novice at recording. I'm having trouble with clipping! My question is even after setting the right db levels for recording and I even having a mvmeter plug in everything I record clips even talking quiet with normal voice. My first guess is possible feedback but was wondering if you could swing me in the right direction 😉
Thank you for demystifying these concepts by starting at the beginning and building up from there. You made no assumptions and kept re-affirming how each scale was related to one another. Hands down the most tutorial on metering and I’ve watched many! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
I never found that kind of precision, and clarity in any of the good videos I watched about gain staging. You even explained, things that I didn't know I needed. Many times I went " Woah that is how it works, ok now it makes sense ! ". I gladly would have put 3 more thumbs up, every time I was enlightened . It was like being at a professionnal school, and really learning how things work. You made complicated concepts, easy to understand. You are a great teacher. I have bookmarked this video, and will watch it many times again, like when you go back to your valuable lessons, as The reference. Congratulations, Bravo ! Braviiissimo !
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
7 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for yoru kind words. It makes me really happy to hear you enjoyed the content. As you can imagine it does take a lot of time to create this kind of content. But I do it with pleasure. As they say sharing is caring! ;-) More content coming up soon! Stay tuned and if you haven't yet, please subscribe!
this is the most important video i ever found on the basics of metering! thanks for sharing your knowledge hope you share more content on this channel!
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
2 жыл бұрын
I appreciate your words! Glad it was helpful to you. And yea, brand new content will drop real soon! 😎 ciao
Enjoyed the explanation. I would have really enjoyed some audio examples.
That was the absolute best explanation of the subject I have ever heard, fantastic!
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
Жыл бұрын
I appreciate your words! Glad you enjoyed the video! 🙏🏼 for more content please remember to like and subscribe 😉
I’m 5 minutes in and I can already tell this is the video I’ve been looking for since I started taking mixing more seriously. Just running through the fundamentals w no bullshit. Thank you so much :)
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much Adam, for your kind words! Stay tuned for more videos coming out real soon! Ciao!
Amazing, super clear! Thank you
Absolutely brilliant. Thank you.
Thanks for an amazing video. Very genuine Audio Engg. Description. This is the core of Audio. Thank you 🙏
Good stuff. Useful. Thanks for taking the time.
We need a part 2 to this and show us how to calibrate our home gear and set them up as well pls
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
3 жыл бұрын
Hey Nathan! Sure thing. Stay tuned for more coming up!
@NathanBrown-dk5wh
3 жыл бұрын
@@musictechnologytipsandtricks thank I will stay tuned
@topa1798
Жыл бұрын
We want part 2 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌😍 Home gear Calibration,thank you
@Daakshvats
5 ай бұрын
@@musictechnologytipsandtricksCan you please tell me the Calibration of Apollo Twin X Heritage?
excellent video - intelligent, organized, articulate, nice production values, presentation style.
Finally! Thank you so much! Keep it up please!:)
Thank you sir. This is invaluable information. Please keep posting educational videos like this one.
In 33 minutes you've eloquently provided more insight and value than my college did. I've figured this stuff out on my own but it took a lot of trial, error and self discovery through research. I'm glad you mentioned Bob Katz and the K system. That changed my whole approach. What should be mentioned here as well, even if only in passing, is how to set up your monitoring system. Without that, record and mix levels won't be properly perceived. Only until you properly calibrate both your monitoring system and your record/mix levels will you be able to achieve the results you're aspiring to. Once you calibrate you can actually just use your ears and the levels all fall into place naturally. Thank you for the great video.
@megyalilaballad
Жыл бұрын
Very interesting. How do you calibrate said monitor levels? More importantly, how would you measure said levels, especially headphone levels?
@sonicboompole2774
Жыл бұрын
@@megyalilaballad Look up Bob Katz. Visit his website. Read until your vision is blurred. Then read it all again. Use an SPL meter. Know the volume (size) of your room. He explains it all very clearly.
Great and through explanations of important information. Thanks.
Very educative..Thanks alot!
Matteo you're great man! I got everything in this lesson in! Thx!
The Best ever Video related to the topic, I have seen many Videos on the Topic but here I the Relations between the Scales and everything has been explained So Logical and Properly, THANK YOU VERY VERY VERY MUCH.
you are a gem of a teacher Sir.. God bless you.. Best wishes from India.🙏
wow! me encantó toda la explicación!!!!
Finally a great guide to metering. Thanks for the video.
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Gilberto! I am glad you found the video useful. Stay tuned for more content dropping real soon!
Great video! Thanks dude!
Thank u so much for this lessons, the game changing for me was the calibration of home studio devices
This was a fantastic presentation. If you want Pro Tools meters to act just like an analog VU meter, switch the meter settings to "Venue RMS". Then gain stage your recordings or input to around 0 on the meters just like a real VU.
great lesson, you helped me in my project on sound engineering Thanks!
Wow amazing. Thanks a lot. I think finally u start to understand the most important parts of it☺️
Thanks dude!
articulate and intelligent presentation - well done
Excellent !
Thank you!
Excellent and clear tutorial! Thank you!
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
7 ай бұрын
Thank you for your words. More content coming up soon! Stay tuned and if you haven't yet, please subscribe!
Loved this.
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
2 жыл бұрын
I appreciate it 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
This information is so helpful
This truly helped me thnx🙏
very well described 🙂
nice explained..thks
Thank you very much
Sei un grande, dopo mille video ho trovato uno che ha spiegato bene questa cosa...numero1
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
2 жыл бұрын
Haha troppo buono! Grazie per le belle parole. Mi fa piacere ti sia piaciuto il contenuto del video. A breve nuovo contenuti! 😎 stay tuned!
Wonderful. This is the answer to the question of dB and everything is explained. Hopefully i can now get my captured sound out to video mix with the legal values. Having just loop calibrated my field recorder and being used to tape i was lost with the digital stuff. Levels everywhere. Many thanks!
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
2 ай бұрын
Happy it was useful to you @alister! Please if you can kindly like and subscribe to support the work I do for the creation of this kind of content. ;-) ciao!
Exellent my friend.
Amazing, thank you
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your kind words!
Very good discussion and explanation of dB versions. I've always liked using Vu metering from the analog days. I still use plug-in Vu meters on my DAW, along with the K system.
Excellent, useful video, clear presentation, thank you! A little correction at 29:17 ; -10 dBv = 0,316 V
@SergeSeeTube
Жыл бұрын
... a smallest) correction - dBV and dBv not same thing, because of some different convenience factors in the past, dBv describes voltage values just like the dBu. * I thing it is just misstyping 0.316 -> 0.136 , also dBV - dBv
Thank you
Ottimo Video , spiegato molto bene. Bravo! Great!
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
3 жыл бұрын
Grazie mille! Mi fa piacere ti sia piaciuto. Stay tuned for more 😎
Thank you ever so much for the extensive and very elaborate tutorial on loudness in metering. I am most impressed with this video. I appreciate the effort, the amount of time consumed and resources to put all of this together. This is a very high value material.
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
6 ай бұрын
Thank you very much for your kind words. I really appreciate it. It does indeed takes a huge amount to time to make these resources available for the audio community nevertheless as they say “sharing is caring” ;-) glad you found this video helpful to you. More content coming really soon! Stay tuned and if you haven’t yet please subscribe. Ciao!
Underrated proffesional keep doing bro good work
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
2 жыл бұрын
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 appreciate your kind words and support @Sagar
Thanks a lot for this! Greetings from puerto rico
Great work Sir..............
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Mayank!
This is the video I have been searching for. It answered all my questions on metering. Thank you very much sir.
Thank you for in-depth explanation 🙏 The only question I have is about conversion from +4dbu to -18dbfs. I heard before that this values can’t be directly compared. The headroom is good for sure, it will save you from the mistake for the most of the time. But it’s not technically correct way to reconcile the levels. I would find the level of analog clipping and fit it to 0dbfs. In the scenarios where you don’t want any distortion in your sound it may give better representation and more dynamic range.
Great content!
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
2 жыл бұрын
Much appreciated! Stay tune and subscribe for more content dropping soon!
Very good presentation which help for recordist and audio technicians.
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! I appreciate your comment. Stay tuned for more content.
very very good production values ----
Thank U
Gran video hermano, gracias por compartir tus conocimientos🐓⚡
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
3 жыл бұрын
Gracias Javier!!! I appreciated. Stay tuned for more 💪🏼🔥
awesome
Subbed. Great video!
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
4 ай бұрын
Thanks Mann I appreciate your words. Please if you enjoy this kind of content remember to like and subscribe. Ciao!
Well said, I learned alot from this 33mins. Now I have the ability to go back and make those sudden changes..thank you..
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you. I am glad it was helpful to you. If you haven’t yet please subscribe. More content dropping real soon!
@TheShpmusic
2 жыл бұрын
@@musictechnologytipsandtricks i already did, this was one of the best tutorials on Vu meters..thank you pal..🙂🙃😉
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
2 жыл бұрын
@@TheShpmusic thanks man! I appreciate your words! 🔥🙏🏼 comments like this give me the inspiration for creating more content!
@TheShpmusic
2 жыл бұрын
@@musictechnologytipsandtricks awesome. Keep blessed.. 🙏🏿
Merci Again !
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
6 ай бұрын
You are most welcome ;-) please if you enjoy the content of the channel like and subscribe. 🙏🏼
@alban6101
6 ай бұрын
Yes I did...@@musictechnologytipsandtricks
Wish all artists could see this 🙏🏽🔥
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
2 жыл бұрын
Eheheh 😂
I subscribed when you reminded +4dbu is an average level, not a peak level! So yo need to record in your DAW with an average meter like an LUFS one!
Amazing video!!
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
3 жыл бұрын
Many thanks Mario! Glad you have enjoyed the video. Stay tuned for some brand new mixing and audio post videos coming up real soon!
@Hellridermario
3 жыл бұрын
@@musictechnologytipsandtricks Your teaching skills ara formidable.
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
3 жыл бұрын
@@Hellridermario far too kind Mario🙏🏼 I appreciate it.
Grazie, questa é una lezione utilissima!! Stasera, nonostante iil mio inglese povero, me la riguardo tutta!
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
2 жыл бұрын
Grazie per le bellissime parole Mauro! Apprezzo molto. E mi fa piacere che la lezione ti sia stata utile. Magari in futuro creo qualche contenuto in italiano 😎
Good looking
Great video. I learned a lot by watching this. I was wondering if there is a way to calibrate the home-interfaces that some of use? Is it relatively easy to do, or does it require some expense? I'm referring to bringing up the decibel level of -16 to -18. Thanks.
Thank you for this eye opener.? Should the final Master also be at - 18 also.
great video, but there are some parts honestly I don't understand, you said home equipment is calibrated at -16 dBFS to -10 dBv equal to 0.136v How can it be that being -16dBFS wich is louder than -18dBFS (as you later explained in the example of opening sesions in HD rig or home studio) results in a lower voltage. I found in converter pages than -10dBv is -7,78 dBu that is 0,316 volts but is far lower than 1,228v. I know there isn't a direct conversion for dBu to dBFS but I guess some relationship is there. That's my only doubt, for the rest excellent video, very clear and well explained, thanks for sharing with us.
To save some time if you don't want to dive into the why's : - 18 dbfs
Very interesting points about calibration. How then, would I measure the calibration of my digital interface and preamp, AD/DA converter, and analogue preamps? Further, how would I calibrate each one to +4 dBu?
People worry too much abut this, it was only a real issue with tape recording. Nowadays, just dont clip n the way in, and keep it as far possible from the noise floor. Simple
LOL You appropriated the Silicon Graphics Logo lol
@30:50 - What if both the systems use a common VU ProTools metering to gain chain and record the same performance ? Would we still end up with the level differences ?
Those 2 dBs of difference between pro and consumer converters would be at the DAC stage right? also... I read that "alignment signal" acording to ITU is a 1kHz sine tone at 0dBu (0.773 volts rms... which peaks at around 1.1 volts). When and why +4dBu was implemented as the "standard" 0 VU?
Great information cleared my dought.. Plz let us know from your side which is the best Analouge mixing or digital mixing qualitywise...?
@musictechnologytipsandtricks
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your kind words Green Sangeet! I am glad the video was helpful. Going back to your question it is impossible to answer that. Mixing is an art form, it doesn’t matter whether digital or analog. What matters is the thought process behind how you have envisioned a sound to be. I do use a combination of both. Whenever I can I try to implement my ITB mixing with some analog compressor or FX. But as I said it is more a matter of feeling and vision rather than digital VS analog. I hope this helped.
EXCELLENT EXPLANATION!! many thanks from Italy 🙂
Great video, thanks. A few quick questions: 1) 20:20 Can I ask when you mentioned this song was mixed properly at -18 dBFS, do you mean the average dBFS level or the peak level? 2) 22:22 How come a song with a level of -18 dBFS is way lower than the 0 dBVU level of the VU meter here? 3) 22:24 I can see the signal is around -7 dBVU, so is it not an optimal level to be fed into an analog modelled plugin like an SSL compressor? Thanks.
@directed6924
2 жыл бұрын
RMS level of -18 dBFS equals to 0 VU. VU meters show only RMS level. In analog equipment there is 18 dB headroom, which in the DAW equals to -18 dBFS. So basically we emulate the analog gain structure inside the DAW simply by having RMS level at around -18 dBFS.
Great explanation! just one little thing, 29:18 nominal value for consumer /semi-professional/ devices is -10dBV=0.316vRMS (at 0dBV=1vRMS). I thing it is just misstyping 0.316 -> 0.136 , also dbV - dBv. dBv is obsolete measurement metod describes voltage values just like the dBu, but maybe i didn't see somethng.
damn its work
Thanks for the video ... would be great if you actually showed step by step how calibrate the system. A practical guide how to actually do what you are talking about!
Excellent. Well presented, clear, concise, and thoughtfully broken down into digestible sections. Do you want a job? 🙂
can i run my mic in a mono auv input and add a compressor would it work
When I'm calibrating the HDIO by Avid singnal generator plugin, There is a PEAK button and RMS button. Do I need to set the signal generator to Sine PEAK or RMS ? (there's no precision in the manual)
So my Fx Loop Send from my amplifier should be recorded at -18.0RMS? Cos I use MVMeter2, and it peaks above 0 but below +3 in standard mode, but with other 'meters' it doesn't peak. I'm so lost, please help!!!
when he pulled out the scarlett it felt like home
❤❤❤❤❤🥰😅i hav studiolive 32 s and studio one
👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
this tony stark variant is a sound engineer