I'm very new to trance production and I would like to here what db levels you guys use. I expect variations but I generally try to keep it like this:

Synth's/Leads - -12 to -15
Kick - -8 or -9
Clap/snare - -15ish
Hats - -21 (seems a bit low but it was suggested to me)
Bass - -12

What db levels do you guys keep these elements at? what works for you guys?

After a while you just know how loud sounds need to be, just keep at it

A snare might be -15 or -5, just depends on the track

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for sure. thanks for the input

Pick a reference element like the kick or bass, and then bring everything up to fit in well with that.

I'll usually place the kick between -6 and -8, then work from there. Slowly bringing other elements in. That way you've got plenty of head room when everything is in full swing.

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Last edited by Fledz on Jan-09-2011 at 11:48

Make every channel peak between -22 to -18 dBFS before going into the mixer. Then leave your kick wherever it peaks after processing and adjust every other mixer volume in relation to that. You should end up with a pretty quiet sounding mixdown that will sound amazing once mastered.

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I put my kick at -12dB peak to give me loads of headroom, then arrange everything else around it by ear - no idea what they all end up at! And I'm sure it varies between tracks.

Of course different snare sounds (for example) will have different frequency content etc anyway, so even if you want your snare to be the same volume in 2 tracks, if you use different snare sounds you might find they end up with quite different peak levels.

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Just lower your master =]

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it depends if you refer to the mixing process or when the track it's finished, i usually mix around a -6db kick being the loudest element, but at the final master kick is at -3db and overall master at -0.2db or so. The rest of elements i don't have a fixed value, hats are often quite low , same as bass but some synths play around -6db at the end. Just bring up all the elements slowly up and check for red lights on the meters, if red lights appear decrease a bit what you think is clipping and try again until all is perfectly aligned

quote:

Originally posted by sako487 Just lower your master =]

Say I have 40 odd tracks and when fixing all the levels, towards the end my master starts to clip, so instead of adjusting all the levels again I just drop the master if that happens. I think it's just laziness, alot of the tracks are grouped anyway so it's not like I'd have to fix them all but it don't seem to make a difference anyway by doing this.

It's been talked about in here before, a don't think it really matter's if the tracks are slightly in the red, just aslong as the master isn't.

getting some good feedback, thanks guys keep it coming im actually learning something

maximize!!!!!! You think Worf cared about medbay when the Romulians where on his ass. Headroom is the language of pussy engineers. Red line that shit and fuck, just go for it. Slam it till you jam it. Limit till you win it. Clip it like you rip it. Rip it like you own it. You need to treat a beat like a pimp dealin wit his ho. You think giving even your bottom bitch headroom will keep you on your game. And that is where we are. The game. play it to win. Peace.

yo this is Richie's bodyguard Jocee the 3rd. He sends his love from Paris.

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quote:

Originally posted by sicc I'm very new to trance production and I would like to here what db levels you guys use. I expect variations but I generally try to keep it like this: Synth's/Leads - -12 to -15 Kick - -8 or -9 Clap/snare - -15ish Hats - -21 (seems a bit low but it was suggested to me) Bass - -12 What db levels do you guys keep these elements at? what works for you guys?

depends on the samples/synths etc

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