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Sorry if its a stupid question, i did search for the answer but so many topics on mixing...

Basically im using Fl studio, i set my kick for about -8db on the mixer but then on the sampler it also has a volume control, the little round dial and that might be on -6db. You can adjust the volume on the sampler via the dial so wouldnt that affect the volume on the mixer channel?

can someone explain how it works to me?

thanks.

justanotherdj wrote:Sorry if its a stupid question, i did search for the answer but so many topics on mixing...

Basically im using Fl studio, i set my kick for about -8db on the mixer but then on the sampler it also has a volume control, the little round dial and that might be on -6db. You can adjust the volume on the sampler via the dial so wouldnt that affect the volume on the mixer channel?

can someone explain how it works to me?

thanks.

Not sure I follow you. Are you asking why the volume is different on the mixer and on the sampler?

yea sorry i explained it a bit crap...

FL Tends to have a million and one ways of changing volume of the same signal, I tend to just change the volume on the channel window rather than the mixer, it really makes no difference at the end of the day.

Astral wrote:FL Tends to have a million and one ways of changing volume of the same signal, I tend to just change the volume on the channel window rather than the mixer, it really makes no difference at the end of the day.

This.
I leave the mixer channels alone and get the volume correct on the synth/sampler.

i usually prefer mixer for volume adjustment..

however, if you want to route several sounds into one mixer track (for example a fat layered snare), you may want to balance their volume using the channel window volume knobs, so you get a good sounding snare in just one mixer track

cool, but if you have it at -8db on the mixer channel and -5 on the sampler what would the true volume be?

justanotherdj wrote:cool, but if you have it at -8db on the mixer channel and -5 on the sampler what would the true volume be?

I guess whatever is last in the order of things, ie the mixer.

ok thanks

The true volume is where ever the bars on the mixer channel are peaking, as that shows you the volume that is being outputted.

It is worth considering, and i do believe im correct about this :S, that if you use the volume knob on the sampler then it will decrease the volume before going through the effects, where as if you decrease it on the mixer it will do so after. For the most part this won't have much effect, but maybe for something like a compressor it would.

antics wrote:The true volume is where ever the bars on the mixer channel are peaking, as that shows you the volume that is being outputted.

It is worth considering, and i do believe im correct about this :S, that if you use the volume knob on the sampler then it will decrease the volume before going through the effects, where as if you decrease it on the mixer it will do so after. For the most part this won't have much effect, but maybe for something like a compressor it would.

Where did you find this info? it does not make sense to me.

How would you know if it is decreasing the volume and why would it? all you have to go on is what the meters say.

this whole topic could have been avoided by 2 seconds of experimenting by the o.p.

Pre-post effect volumes...

Same as adjusting a send knob instead of send channel volume.

Basicaly, the mixer slider, controls the final output volume of whateva is routed to that mixer track

The channel volume knob controls the Post sampler/generator, but before reaching the mixer track.

Think of it as your PFL (Pre Fade Level)

Note if you kill a channel on the step seuencer the effects will ring out whereas the volume slidr on the mixer termintaes them completely unless they are on a send...

I usually map the step seuence knobs to midi for cuts during mix, ect, so delays and the like arent distrubed, then set peak levels on the mixer...

You should be careful with the pre mixer knobs though - for instance in the sampler under "MISC" there is another volume knob, which by default is set to 0 (it can got to + or - 100 i think). Turning this volume up may get you distrotion of your sound, even though when it gets to the mixer channel it is not in the red. E.g. you turn the MISC volume all the way up (and so distortion), then say you have a Fruity Balance in the mixer channel with the volume turned down - this is now just turning down the distorted signal, which will remain distorted, just quieter.
So you have to be careful at each stage of the signal chain.

Astral wrote:it really makes no difference at the end of the day.

Actually, it does. As some pointed out already, the knob in the step-sequencer affects the volume before reaching the mixer track. Meaning the effects may affect the signal differently.

Abstrym wrote:

Astral wrote:it really makes no difference at the end of the day.

Actually, it does. As some pointed out already, the knob in the step-sequencer affects the volume before reaching the mixer track. Meaning the effects may affect the signal differently.

Exactly.

Say you put a delay on mixer slot one, route a kick sample from the step sequencer to mixer slot one.

If you turn the fader down on the mixer slot, the dealy will be removed from the master signal as the volume dreceases, as will the kick... Now, if you turn the volume down on the step seuencer instead, the kick will mute however the delay will continue ringing out.

Like grooki said, its the same idea as the mixer though, and the volumes knobs come at 75% default for a reaosn!

1 other quick question while im here...

if my kicks and snare are -8db, sub about -11, where should the lead synth roughly be -15ish?

If I was in a better mood, I'd slather you with insidious little barbs, but I'm too tiered for that, so I'll just tell you straight, only your ears can judge that. Maybe you want your final mix to be sub at -3db, and everything else together at -12db. It's a matter of taste.

What is important is to get the heart of your mix at a low enough db to leave room for other stuff. I think a lot of people do that with kick snare and sub, and then mix other elements into that. But to each his own. I like to mix my subs way up in the mix. Just my taste.

Maybe your lead riff that you're bringing in wants to take the stage, so give it a db boost, and a db cut to some other stuff?

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).