hey guys i find my guitar DI at different levels when im tracking my electric guitar (I use VST amps).
is there a way to match all the gain of audio files?
im hoping there an in the box solution in cubase before I revert to 3rd party plugins
cheers
It is really unclear what, exactly, you are trying to accomplish. I tend to think of “gain” as referring to the actual level being fed to a Cubase input by your audio interface. This can vary greatly, obviously.
So what do you mean, more precisely, when you say “match all the gain of audio files”?
you´re feeding your interface input exactly the same way, the difference is that in your VST amps the presets vary and the reference levels change. You need to first set it correctly in order to avoid drastic volume changes between them.
Take some time to save your own presets with correct levels.
matching the guitar DI signal to all have the same dB (before it gets fed to the VST amp which in my case is ToneHub)
There is no way anything but you can match the input level going into the VST amp. This is all done through the actual human element. Depending on what type of guitar you are using and how you are playing it, any VST amp simulator is going to respond differently.
The first thing to do is find a happy input gain on your interface as to be “healthy” without overloading. This is the “constant” thing you need. Next, your best bet is to do as @Pedro_G suggests and save presets which can easily be recalled.
what im trying to say is how do I gain match the DI SIGNAL of the guitar so that its all the exact same lufs before it gets fed to the amp
You can use Normalize.
I think people are asking additional questions because you shouldn’t have to normalize your DI recordings. Lets say you have multiple takes recorded. 1 of the takes is played softly and another played very strongly. Normalizing both these takes to the same target level would either make the “soft take” play too loud or the “strong take” play to quiet.
So the real question is, why do your takes have such differences in volume?
Hey,
To gain match your DI’d guitar (before your amp sim)…
Disable all plugins (if any) on the guitar track - including amp sim.
Solo the guitar signal so your output meter in cubase displays the signal of the DI guitar only.
If the LUFS reading is too low then increase the gain on your audio interface input (that your guitar is connected too). You should then be able to find an approx gain level on your audio interface that results in the desired LUFS.
I just aim for approx -18 LUFS before plugins, as apparently analog modelling plugins respond well at this level. Not sure if thats the case for all amp sims etc but I find it a good starting point anyway…
Of course if you’ve already recorded some killer guitar takes that you want to keep but they are too low in volume then as mlindeb said ’ Normalizing’ is the way forward.
Hope this helps…
I guess I just don’t understand what you are trying to accomplish by doing this. By nature, a guitar signal hitting a “real” amp input has so many differences depending on how you actually play the guitar. That’s kind of the beauty of it to me, I guess. I know folks use compressors and things to even out their signal before it hits the amp, but that doesn’t seem to be what you are talking about.
You have yet to mention what type of guitar “tone” you are recording. That might, also, give people a clue for making suggestions.
I must say, I’m a bit confused on this one.