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| quote: | Originally posted by DigiNut
I'm just wondering where the exact number -8.5 (or -8.2) dB comes from? |
The -8.2 dB comes from the fact that FL Studio's internal mixer halves the volume, or reduces it by 6.02 dB (log(50/100)*20). The sample volume then defaults to 78%, which takes off a further 2.16 dB (log(78/100)*20) to give a peak amplitude of -8.18 dB on a 0.0 dB sample. I guess the developers thought -8.0 dB (80%) was a little too high, so they made the sample volume default to 78%. They also could have gone lower, as Reason has done with -8.9 dB, which led me to suggest my own setting of -8.52 dB (which also happens to be an exact 37.5%).
| quote: | | Seems perfectly reasonable as a rule of thumb, of course, but the frequency spectrum of the bassline is going to have a major impact on how loud the kick can be (unless you use the sickeningly overused bass-ducking strategy). |
Yes, but you still want to start with a reference level on which to build on, and -8.5 dB just so happens to work most of the time when it comes to dance music.
| quote: | | Not to mention the spectrum of the kick itself. A different kick can completely change the whole mix balance. |
Yes, but most kick samples will have an attack that peaks at or close to 0.0 dB, with the tail not too far off, and this level of bass just so happens to sit well when the entire kick peaks at -8.5 dB. If the bass portion of the kick hits maximum amplitude, it should still work most of the time, but if not just have the kick peak a little lower.
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