diff --git a/content/mixing-sessions/mixing-levels/index.en.md b/content/mixing-sessions/mixing-levels/index.en.md index f420caf..4ba0639 100644 --- a/content/mixing-sessions/mixing-levels/index.en.md +++ b/content/mixing-sessions/mixing-levels/index.en.md @@ -2,68 +2,67 @@ title = "Mixing levels" chapter = false weight = 2 -#pre = "1. " +++ -**Levels** are the volumes of each Track relative to the others. +_Levels_ are the volumes of each track relative to the others. -If you can't hear a bass line above the other instruments, the obvious choice -would be to raise the bass line volume. Levels can be adjusted using the -Fader in the Mixer Strip or in each Track, just below the Track name. -The first step in Mixing is to listen to everything that has been -recorded and adjust the levels of all Tracks so you can hear everything -clearly, but in a manner that is appropriate for the song. For example, -the vocal track is normally louder than the rhythm guitar because the -voice is the focal point of the song. +If you can't hear a bass line above the other instruments, one obvious option +would be to raise the bass line volume. Levels can be adjusted using the fader +in the mixer strip or in each track, just below the track name. The first step +in mixing is to listen to everything that has been recorded and adjust the +levels of all tracks so you can hear everything clearly, but in a manner that is +appropriate for the song. For example, the vocal track is normally louder than +the rhythm guitar because the voice is the focal point of the song. ## Using the Fader -The Fader is the primary control of Levels for each Track. The exact -value of the Track's Levels are displayed in the small rectangular field -above the Fader. You can change the Levels by either dragging the slider -or typing in a new number directly into the rectangle with the number. -By default the Fader is set to −0.0 dB, meaning that the Levels of the -Track are not changed. In the screenshot below, the -Fader for the track named "*kick*" is set to -0.0, and the Peak Meter -indicates that the highest peak so far was -5.1. +The fader is the primary control of levels for each track. The exact value of +the track's levels are displayed in the small rectangular field above the fader. +You can change the levels by either dragging the slider or typing in a new +number directly into the rectangle with the number. + +By default the fader is set to −0.0 dB, meaning that the levels of the track are +not changed. In the screenshot below, the fader for the track named "kick" is +set to -0.0, and the peak meter indicates that the highest peak so far was +-5.1dB. ![levels1](en/Ardour4_Mixing_Levels_1.png) ## Avoiding Clipping -One other important task in Mixing is to avoid **Clipping**. The Peak -Value on the Mixer Strip turns red when the signal has peaked above -0.0dB. You can use this tool to monitor the highest Levels of your Track -while Mixing. +One other important task in mixing is to avoid _clipping_. The peak value on +the mixer strip turns red when the signal has peaked above 0.0dB. You can use +this tool to monitor the highest levels of your track while mixing. -In the screenshot below, the synth track has just clipped to +5.9. You -can also see little red edges on the waveform itself, indicating the -exact locations where the recorded sound clipped. +In the screenshot below, the synth track has just clipped to +5.9. You can also +see little red edges on the waveform itself, indicating the exact locations +where the recorded sound clipped. ![levels2](en/Ardour4_Mixing_Levels_2.png) -Click on the red number in the Peak Meter to reset it. +Click on the red number in the peak meter to reset it. {{% notice tip %}} -For the sake of the exercise, try to record your voice so that it clips. Hear how the playback is distorted. +For the sake of the exercise, try to record your voice so that it clips. Hear +how the playback is distorted. {{% /notice %}} -You should make sure that anything that you send to your sound card or -that you will eventually Export as a sound file (such as for CD -mastering) **never** goes above 0.0dB to avoid actual Clipping. +You should make sure that anything that you send to your sound card or that you +will eventually export as a sound file (such as for CD mastering) **never** goes +above 0.0dB to avoid actual clipping. -If the clipping occurs in a very percussive sound and it is almost unnoticeable, you may be able to hide it by -decreasing the gain (for example, Normalize the region to 0.0, or a -lower number like -1.0). However, often the clipping results in audible -distortion of the recorded sound. The best solution in this case is to -just record again with lower levels. +If the clipping occurs in a very percussive sound and it is almost unnoticeable, +you may be able to hide it by decreasing the gain (for example, normalize the +region to 0.0dB, or a lower number like -1.0dB). However, often the clipping +results in audible distortion of the recorded sound. The best solution in this +case is to just record again with lower levels. ## Continuing -When you are finished with this chapter of the tutorial, you should have -a collection of Tracks whose Levels are well adjusted to each other and -do not Clip when added together in the Master Bus. Once this is -accomplished, we can proceed to learn about **Panning** in the next -chapter, so that our Mix takes on a strong feeling of Stereo space. +When you are finished with this chapter of the tutorial, you should have a +collection of tracks whose levels are well adjusted to each other and do not +clip when added together in the _Master_ bus. Once this is accomplished, we can +proceed to learn about panning in the next chapter, so that our mix takes on a +strong feeling of stereo space. Next: [PANNING](../panning)