ew1 Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Hi everyone. I'm having a gain staging issue maybe someone can help me fix. I've got a reference mix on a stereo channel in logic. The channel peaks at 0dB but the output channel is peaking at 4.6dB. Only the reference mix is playing and I have no plugins active on either the reference mix channel or the output channel. What could be causing the added gain? By the way, the same thing is happening on every track in the mix. The same amount of extra gain is just appearing out of nowhere at the output fader. I have plugins on the output channel but they are all bypassed so they couldn't be adding any gain, right? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Cardenas Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Is your Master channel set to +4.6 dB? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ew1 Posted December 6, 2017 Author Share Posted December 6, 2017 Is your Master channel set to +4.6 dB? Well I feel stupid now! Just goes to show you how oblivious I've been to the master fader! I literally never look at it because I don't know how or why to use it. I forgot it existed! So, what's the actual function of the master channel? If the stereo out controls the output level, what do we use the master fader for? Also, where does the master fader come in the chain? Now that I know the master channel affects the gain of all the individual channels going into the stereo output, I assume it goes like this - individual channels ---> master channel ---> stereo out Thanks Eric!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Nahmani Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Well I feel stupid now! Don't. It's a classic mistake. Everyone's made it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Cardenas Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 So, what's the actual function of the master channel? If the stereo out controls the output level, what do we use the master fader for? The purpose of the Master channel is to control all output objects simultaneously. This is a great tool when mixing surround but is pretty much obsolete when mixing to stereo. Also, where does the master fader come in the chain? Now that I know the master channel affects the gain of all the individual channels going into the stereo output, I assume it goes like this - individual channels ---> master channel ---> stereo out They behaves as virtual VCA fader. Think of it as a remote control of an additional gain stage inside the Output. It controls the output externally but doesn't carry any audio signal itself at all. Thanks Eric!!!!' You're most welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas192 Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 You are not stupid. You were smart enough to ask the right question in the right place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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