Tool #5: Gain Staging
UPDATE (read this after watching the video):
Since recording this video, I've actually started using a LUFS meter (AKA a "loudness meter") instead of a VU meter when I'm gain staging my plugins. Let me explain what a LUFS meter is, and why I prefer it for this task...
A LUFS meter is basically a new take on the old VU meter design. It still measures sound in averages, making it 'less accurate' to the actual soundwaves, but 'more accurate' to how humans perceive those soundwaves. But there's an important difference: a LUFS meter measures each frequency area at a different scale, whereas a VU meter measures 'all' frequency areas the same.
The reason this is important is because of the phenomenon known as the Fletcher-Munson Curve. To keep it simple, this was a discovery from back in the day that the human ear actually hears different frequency areas at different volumes.
For example, we hear the upper mids 'very' well. That means if a tone at 500Hz and a tone at 2kHz are played back-to-back, we'd perceive the 2kHz tone to be much louder.
On the flip side, we hear bass and sub-bass frequencies pretty poorly. So if we played a tone at 500Hz and a tone at 100Hz back-to-back, we'd perceive the 100Hz tone to be much quieter.
Why is this important? Because in order to mix the low end to be loud enough for a listener to hear it, we really have to crank up the volume. And if our volume meter wasn't very smart, it would think we were making the low end SUPER LOUD, even though our ears are perceiving it to be the same loudness as the rest of the mix.
So, enter the LUFS meter. Basically, it's a VU meter, but it measures loudness based on the Fletcher-Munson Curve. So it's hearing loudness just like how 'you're' hearing it.
To put it simply, a LUFS meter is a more accurate VU meter.
If your DAW doesn't come stock w/ a loudness meter (and many do!), [url=https://www.meldaproduction.com/MLoudnessAnalyzer]here's a solid free option[/url] from Melda Productions.
Happy mixing!
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P.S. - LUFS meters have multiple ways of measuring loudness. When you're using a LUFS meter for gain staging, just focus in on the Short-Term LUFS meter. It might be labeled "S" on your plugin. That's the one that's closest to a VU meter. Just a helpful tip!
Since recording this video, I've actually started using a LUFS meter (AKA a "loudness meter") instead of a VU meter when I'm gain staging my plugins. Let me explain what a LUFS meter is, and why I prefer it for this task...
A LUFS meter is basically a new take on the old VU meter design. It still measures sound in averages, making it 'less accurate' to the actual soundwaves, but 'more accurate' to how humans perceive those soundwaves. But there's an important difference: a LUFS meter measures each frequency area at a different scale, whereas a VU meter measures 'all' frequency areas the same.
The reason this is important is because of the phenomenon known as the Fletcher-Munson Curve. To keep it simple, this was a discovery from back in the day that the human ear actually hears different frequency areas at different volumes.
For example, we hear the upper mids 'very' well. That means if a tone at 500Hz and a tone at 2kHz are played back-to-back, we'd perceive the 2kHz tone to be much louder.
On the flip side, we hear bass and sub-bass frequencies pretty poorly. So if we played a tone at 500Hz and a tone at 100Hz back-to-back, we'd perceive the 100Hz tone to be much quieter.
Why is this important? Because in order to mix the low end to be loud enough for a listener to hear it, we really have to crank up the volume. And if our volume meter wasn't very smart, it would think we were making the low end SUPER LOUD, even though our ears are perceiving it to be the same loudness as the rest of the mix.
So, enter the LUFS meter. Basically, it's a VU meter, but it measures loudness based on the Fletcher-Munson Curve. So it's hearing loudness just like how 'you're' hearing it.
To put it simply, a LUFS meter is a more accurate VU meter.
If your DAW doesn't come stock w/ a loudness meter (and many do!), [url=https://www.meldaproduction.com/MLoudnessAnalyzer]here's a solid free option[/url] from Melda Productions.
Happy mixing!
[h4]
[/h4]
P.S. - LUFS meters have multiple ways of measuring loudness. When you're using a LUFS meter for gain staging, just focus in on the Short-Term LUFS meter. It might be labeled "S" on your plugin. That's the one that's closest to a VU meter. Just a helpful tip!