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nowaysj wrote:
No hard and fast numbers or roolz, just don't go above digital 0 db (and even then there are people that will tell you that its okay).

While I agree that there are no hard and fast numbers, having the snare kick and sub all within 4db of each other does sound a little close! Of course your ears would tell you though - sometimes what you're hearing and what the meter says are two totally different things.

At the OP you should read the gain structure thread ( think it's in the bible?). This was probably the most useful ever on this forum (imo). Since I have been focusing on the gain structure I've always been amazed at what small differences in the volumes of different elements can do, and how they can completely throw out a mix. And such small things two like what often happens is that my kicks are too loud, because when I start making the track I'm enthusiastic and just vibing on what I'm making - the thing is it isn't noticabley too loud (this is particularly before I started paying attention the gain structure). Then I turned it down a bit and there was all this space in the mix and the whole track felt much better.
Basically I think what makes a polished sounding track is often something as simple as the elements sitting nicely. /rant I don't think that was what you asking about lol

As grooki said read up on gain structure. It's really useful.

In Fl there are different ways to control the volume. If your using a sample for say a kick drum then you want to adjust the Volume on the Channel window. It's also the same knob that is beside the channel button on the Step sequencer. The knob between the pan and pitch knobs. There is also a knob under the MISC tab that is the Volume multiplier which is not the same thing.

If your using a synth then you should control the volume from the synth itself. If your using say Sytrus then you want to adjust the Volume output on the Sytrus gui. Not the volume on the channel settings. Doing this is controlling the volume at the source which will lead to better mixes.

This way when you add effects on the mixer channel you can use the mixer fader for fine control of the total output being sent to the master channel or a bus channel.

grooki wrote:I don't think that was what you asking about lol

I think it was!