Topmusicanswers
Gain staging is the process of managing the relative levels in each step of an audio signal flow to prevent introduction of noise and distortion, feeding the inserts, such as equalizers and compressors with the right amount of signal, particularly in the analogue realm.
Is gain staging necessary?
Gain staging is one of the most fundamentally important elements in creating a professional-sounding mix. Without proper gain staging, your mix may suffer from unwanted distortion or excessive noise.
Why is gain staging so important?
Headroom. Headroom is the difference between the nominal operating level and clipping. While less headroom means greater overall signal loudness, more headroom means sudden peaks are less likely to cause distortion. Proper gain staging provides the perfect balance between loudness and headroom.
What is gain staging in a DAW?
In the analog world especially, gain staging refers to adjusting the level at each point of amplification to ensure an optimal signal-to-noise ratio, without (unusable) distortion. You had to think globally, across the whole chain of gear. Overdrive one piece and sure, it might sound good in a vacuum.
