DAW Gain Staging (Video Link) - 01/10/18 03:50 PM
+++ HERE +++ is a neat video about DAW gain staging. Though the presenter uses Cubase the presentation is true for all DAWs.
The gist is you want to set your track volume so the normal sound is around -18DbFS with peaks of no more than about -10DbFS.
One way to get use to hearing this is to use a tablet sound meter app and set your final output gain or volume control so the LOUDEST sound you hear in your headphones or out of your speakers when you're in your sitting and listening position is 80Db. Once you've got your output set to 80Db you're never going to change the headphone, speaker and DAW output controls again.
Then pull all track volume/gain controls all the way down so there is no sound. Then raise the volume of one track until you barely, but clearly hear the track. Then do the same for each track until the sound of all tracks is balanced the way you want.
The gist is you want to set your track volume so the normal sound is around -18DbFS with peaks of no more than about -10DbFS.
One way to get use to hearing this is to use a tablet sound meter app and set your final output gain or volume control so the LOUDEST sound you hear in your headphones or out of your speakers when you're in your sitting and listening position is 80Db. Once you've got your output set to 80Db you're never going to change the headphone, speaker and DAW output controls again.
Then pull all track volume/gain controls all the way down so there is no sound. Then raise the volume of one track until you barely, but clearly hear the track. Then do the same for each track until the sound of all tracks is balanced the way you want.