How do i make the mix calculation

for example

1) how many -3dbs tracks can i have before hitting 0

2) how many -6dbs tracks can i have before hitting 0

3) how many -9dbs tracks can i have before hitting 0

is there any formula for this? it would also be great to also be able to calculate combination of the above for example to be able to guess "ok i can have 3 tracks -6db, and 2 tracks -9db and 1 track -3db and 4 tracks -5db before hitting 0 for example.

thanks


btw i guess i'm talking about RMS values? Or Peak? any i guess, just to get an idea

 

Last edited by a moderator: Apr 9, 2021

Interesting question!
And I have no idea! lol.
But it will be relative to certain frequency ranges too.
Like, when the bass and the kick happen at the same time, there will be a peak in the amplitude of certain frequencies.
Hence why looking into frequency masking is useful.
Obviously, if you had two bass line tracks the same on two different channels, then there is an exact mathematical formula for what happens.
But with tracks of different frequencies, it will all be transient throughout the track.
Probably.
Uh, where's mod Noa when you need him! lol.

 

Depends on many factors. Even phases.... Phases may cancel, sum or both (on different frequencies etc). Phases maybe offset from the center because of many factors, dc offset, its nature, bad equipment etc..... Many many factor.... You may add 2 tracks with -1dB and you may get -3dB....you may get phaser effect and so on....

 

you DOUBLE gain , you get 3 dB more

So why "most" ppl aim a -18dB average per track ?
Like Nebula input level ?

2 track 3dB
4 tracks 6dB
8 tracks 9dB
16 tracks 12dB
32 tracks 15dB
64 tracks 18dB

So aiming at -18dB average mean you "aim" between 16 and 64 tracks average mix
Witch is an "average" project size.
Of course, it is not generic.

But it helps understanding why aiming -18dB average per track is more optimized than -6dB.
With -6dB average per track, you will need to lower a bunch of tracks/buses to avoid master bus clipping.

 

For a mix of different signals the simple answer is, you can't, it's unpredictable.

 

Mh,


Before anyone's going to ask, this goes for mono and stereo files.

 

-6dB + -6dB = 0 but only if same frequency, 6 dB is double amplitude, 3 dB is double power but thats rather irrelevant for producing

 

Maybe I misunderstand your usage of "producing", but isn't it relevant when using two tracks of the same bassline and amping one of them?

 

power in terms of watts e.g. for speakers amp/signal turned up +3 is double power