Gain Staging: The Boring Step That Fixes Your Mix
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Gain Staging · Meshplugins.com
Most muddy, clipped mixes come down to one ignored step: gain staging. Here's how to get it right.
Related: how to mix vocals like a pro and how to master for streaming.
1. What it is — clean levels everywhere
Setting sane volume at every stage so nothing clips and plugins behave as designed.
2. Aim for -18 to -12 dBFS average — the target
Leave headroom - analog-style plugins are calibrated for this range, not the red.
3. Set levels before plugins — the right order
Get raw track levels right first, then process. Don't fix volume with a limiter.
4. Level-match your plugins — judge tone, not loudness
Louder always sounds 'better' - match in and out so you judge the actual change.
5. Leave master headroom — for mastering
Keep the mix bus peaking around -6 dBFS so mastering has room to work.
FAQ
Why does my mix distort?
Almost always clipping from no gain staging - pull levels down and leave headroom.
What level should tracks be?
Around -18 to -12 dBFS average, peaks well below 0.
Want the pro sound instantly?
These guides get you most of the way. My presets, templates and vocal chains get you the exact pro tone in one drag — the settings I pulled from 100+ Grammy sessions.
Get My Presets and Templates → Meshplugins.comMore real talk → Meshplugins.com · how to mix vocals like a pro
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