1

[Dan Wilson]

Hi Spirit,

 

Thank you for the kind words and the suggestion re the ride cymbal.

 

Dan

Logic X, SD3, SD2, iMac

[Dan Wilson]

Hi,

Nice song. Looking forward to hear more from you.

Dan

Logic X, SD3, SD2, iMac

1

Thanked by: Spirit

[Dan Wilson]

Nice track. I like your orchestration with the strings, very tasteful. Looking forward to hearing more.

Dan

Logic X, SD3, SD2, iMac

[Dan Wilson]

Nice track, enjoyed listening to it. Really dug your solo and the ending was perfect. Looking forward to more.

Dan

Logic X, SD3, SD2, iMac

1

Thanked by: Markus Johansson

[Dan Wilson]

Hi Spirit,

Solid groove, I liked the balance you got in the mix. Looking forward to more of this.

 

Dan

Logic X, SD3, SD2, iMac

1

Thanked by: Spirit

[Dan Wilson]

Hi Chris,

 

I liked the song “All The Time”, it reminded me of early David Bowie. I agree with Torbjorn that the vocals could come down a bit, it may help the guitars to stand out. I really liked the wah sound on the guitar. Over all I thought the groove was spot on.

Dan

Logic X, SD3, SD2, iMac

[Dan Wilson]

Torbjorn,

Like the song and your singing. Looking forward to hearing more of your music.

 

Dan

Logic X, SD3, SD2, iMac

[Dan Wilson]

Hi Bear-Faced Cow,

I know what you mean. This is the first time I really used C&V for a song. I drawn to this particular SDX cymbal selection with the Gretsch round badge kit. I have to admit compared to the newer SDX’s the kit load size is really small and that always kinda of put me off but it worked out okay.

Dan

Logic X, SD3, SD2, iMac

[Dan Wilson]

Hi Jord,

I think you miss understand what I am saying and in no way am I trying to be argumentative.

 

First for gain staging (original post question) set the channels up as I have described so that you have the individual channels peaking around -18 to -12 dB. This gives between 12-18 dbB of head room depending how much gain reduction you use per track. In the case of drums, these channels become your sub mix that then go to a bus where you can control the volume of the drums in your mix.

Second we are saying the same thing when you write … “…if you want to use a control surface, you’ll want to maintain better control and have a more accurate picture of your volume… using the faders.” To me, I interpret your statement as, you want the maximum fader resolution when you mix, which I agree with and this is when the fader is at 0 dB. You still can raise the fader +6 dB if needed or reduce it to -infinity (sorry could find the symbol) if you want to.

I am not saying mix with the gain plugin and all of the faders at 0. If that is the way it came across, that was not my meaning. I meant it only as a way of gain staging each track so you have the necessary head room before you start to mix. In Logic and other DAW (32 bit floating point calculations) this really only matters when you are using plugins that are emulations of hardware like say an 1176 or LA2A compressors etc, as the companies emulate the max signal before distortion. When you write “…route them to a bus/aux channel… That’s the one you will want to use to adjust your overall drum mix…”, again I totally agree with you. All I am saying is, if you gain stage your tracks going into the bus you will have more headroom and less chance of distorting your plugins.

Again, Jord I am not trying to be argumentative, I was only trying to give an answer to the original question about gain staging SD3 tracks in logic and the method I use to solve it.

 

Dan

Reply To: Gain staging version: 3.1.5
Operating system: macOS High Sierra (10.13)

Logic X, SD3, SD2, iMac

[Dan Wilson]

Hi Judahkim,

 

If you are going to using the multi-instrument option in Logic, which is a very valid option as pointed out by Jord, then put a gain plugin on each aux. Pick one voice of the drum kit that you want to stand out and lower the gain on the other aux sends until you have the balance you want for the drums. It doesn’t mess with anything and your faders stay at 0.

 

Dan

Reply To: Gain staging version: 3.1.5
Operating system: macOS High Sierra (10.13)

Logic X, SD3, SD2, iMac

[Dan Wilson]

Hi Judahkim,

 

You may want to try…

After setting up the multiple output aux tracks for SD3 in logic, keep the faders at 0dB. Insert a Gain plugin on each track then lower the gain of the track to balance you drums. The advantage of this is with automation, around 0dB the fader has the greatest resolution. If you have to move a fader down, to say -24dB to balance your drum volumes than small movements of the fader in this region can result in large gain changes, whereas around 0dB the same small movements of the fader result in smaller gain changes.

hope this helps.

Dan

Logic X, SD3, SD2, iMac

[Dan Wilson]

Hi Jord,

 

Thanks for the advice/ suggestions. This is exactly the kind of feedback I am looking for. I look forward to trying each of your suggestions.

 

Dan

Logic X, SD3, SD2, iMac

[Dan Wilson]

Hi Joni,

I enjoyed the track. I really liked the clarity of the lead guitar. If I was going to give any criticism, I would say lower the ride cymbal a bit. Keep them coming.

 

Dan

Logic X, SD3, SD2, iMac

[Dan Wilson]

Hi Rallyboy101,

Thanks for all of your advice. Maybe in the future I will get the song mastered by a professional. It getting to the point of wanting to replace things in the song to make if “better” like the rhythm guitar I played on the left side. I am a drummer not a guitar player, it is really just me having a little fun in my studio.

For now I am going to step away from this song and take the stuff I learned and apply it to another song.

Really enjoyed listening to Shane MacGowan’s Lonesome Highway.

Dan

Logic X, SD3, SD2, iMac

[Dan Wilson]

Hi Rallyboy,

Thanks again for your comments I really appreciate it. I remixed the song again and tried bringing in the guitars in a bit and moved the organ part off centre to open room up for the vocals. Funny thing is my brother did do the backup vocals. I guess being brothers we sound a little too much alike.

I have heard your songs and I really enjoyed the tunes. Can’t wait to hear the finished version of “Somewhere Far Away”

Dan

Logic X, SD3, SD2, iMac

[Author]

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