Essentially, I've been doing my mixes in FL studio 20 by creating the track first, arranging accordingly (intro,hook,verses,etc) then applying some subtle EQ and gain staging after by making sure all patterns don't go over 12 dB. I then mix the track, apply effects reverb, reverb, and reverb (kidding). But after applying what I deem proper effects or sidechaining, I turn up the master fader and set my levels before resetting the master fader. I was told to place all basses in mono, but am not sure if this is viable info.

I'm curious is there a certain order to gain stage before or after the mix... as effects will affect the instrument by either raising or lowering the volume, so wouldn't it be easier to set all to under 12dB to not clip the mix and then freely mix before finishing gain staging?

Another unrelated question but I figured I'd ask here, is my cpu is pretty weak, and most tracks have tons of CPU hungry plugins, is it better to convert some of those midi patterns to audio clips before or after mixing? Mixing is still part of the creative process and if I covert most notes to audio clips I won't be able to manipulate them further...

Any feedback would be appreciated, and since there are varying opinions, feel free to pummel me with advice (but be gentle).

 

OP I dont want to derail this thread. Therefore, I edited my previous answer.

 

Last edited: May 15, 2020

Np, but you basically answered it. And I had PM'd you with a separate question on hangouts but you never answered, can you fix my omni... jk. It was just regarding mixing/mastering plugins...

 

Sorry vro! I will check hangouts in a bit.

 

But Mixing is after one has recorded the tracks. And if you are still editing MIDI, you aren't at mixdown stage.
So to get to a stage where your MIDI tracks are more uniform so you can bounce them down earlier would seem to be your goal at the moment.
Also, I was taught to gainstage at every step of the chain in regards an fx buss chain and subgroups.
Seems better too, because you are staying with your mix as you go...

 

Sometimes it's important to set up the gain staging before hitting the effects - if the effects you're using are emulating old hardware and reacting to gain like old hardware did. But still, you don't want to be like "everything will be feeding into fx at -18db, and then I'll mix it later". What if you actually want to feed that "analog" plugin slightly more or less gain, because you like how it's sounding when you do that? THat's the whole point with those devices, getting colors out of them by changing the input level. They respond different at different levels, that's what makes them tasty. In case it sounds confusing, we're actually talking about a very simple thing - for example imagine going into the plug at really high volume on purpose, making it distort in a pleasant way, then using a utility to turn it back down to roughly the volume you want in your mix, right after the plug, to keep mixing normally.

On the other hand, most modern FX really do not care what the incoming level is, they'll handle it all just fine. The more basic the effect the less it probably cares.

About mono basses, here's an even better way to think of them. Think of your basses as solid mono "cores" that are hitting nice and strong from both speakers, so will be hard to miss no matter where you are standing in the club. Meanwhile, you can optionally also create wide stereo bass "auras" fittng around those cores, using effects and creative EQ as you like. So it becomes a layered mono bass core and stereo bass aura for cool effects. Maybe you don't even use the aura all the way through the track, but in that one breakdown it really explodes peoples brain - that type of thing can be great.

 

Last edited: May 15, 2020

traditionally you should gain stage at every stage where the gain is significantly changed. analogue gear requires a certain level, but 32bit float does not. however, things get a little more complicated in the 32bit float world. some plugins require certain input levels but most do not. there will be no clipping inside the DAW at all, the clipping happens outside of the DAW at the D/A converters when monitoring and at the export stage if using non-32bit float files.

to keep things simple and to keep workflow smooth it is still best to stick to traditional methods when using both analogue and digital of all bit depths, sample rates, etc. just remember that you dont have to worry too much when using 32bit float so you can save time and stress there.

as far as your question about setting everything to -12dBFS:
if you are working in a DAW, all the plugins you are using are 32bit float (with no limiters of any kind) and there are no plugins that require certain levels (usually VA plugins) then this is fine, but you might find it makes your life easier in the long run to just keep on top of it as you go.

i feel like i should also point out that with some effects (eg compressors or saturation), if you set them up and you are happy with the results you should not change the gain staging or effects anywhere before it in the chain. if you do you will change the result of that effect.