GAIN AUTOMATION (the secret sauce of compression)

About this video

• Video Title: GAIN AUTOMATION (the secret sauce of compression)
• Channel: Mastering․com
• Speakers: Dylan Pines
• Duration: 00:16:41

Overview

This video explains the concept and importance of gain automation in audio mixing, particularly for achieving professional-level compression. Dylan Pines demonstrates how inconsistent audio levels can negatively impact compression effectiveness and provides practical steps on how to perform gain automation on instruments like organs and vocals using Logic Pro, emphasizing the distinction between gain and volume automation.

Key takeaways

• Gain Automation Explained: It involves automating the gain level of an audio file to ensure a consistent average level throughout a song, which is crucial for effective compression.
• Importance for Compression: Inconsistent audio levels lead to inconsistent compression. If a track is too dynamic, a compressor will react differently to loud and quiet parts, affecting both dynamics and tone.
• Distinction from Volume Automation: Gain automation affects the audio file itself before it hits plugins, influencing how they process the sound. Volume automation, on the other hand, adjusts the output level of a channel after plugins, not affecting their behavior.
• Practical Application (Organ Example): The video shows how to identify sections of an audio region with varying levels, split them, and adjust their individual gain to create a more uniform level before compression. Crossfades are used to ensure smooth transitions between edited regions.
• Practical Application (Vocal Example): For vocals, it's recommended to automate gain on individual phrases to ensure each phrase is at a consistent loudness, as vocals are heavily scrutinized and need to remain forward in the mix. This requires more detailed editing, including adjusting around breaths and word endings.