Mixdown Channel/Instrument/Group V.S. SOLO>Master Output (Without Inserts)

Cubase
1

My case with Cubase 11 Pro is that my stem exports sound different in terms of peak volume when done by exporting a specific Channel/Instrument/Group V.S. SOLO’ing in the project window then selecting the Master Output to be mixed down.

My Master Output has no inserts, EQs, or any processing other than fade-out and/or fade-in automation which I expected to be printed onto my stems when selecting a specific Channel/Instrument/Group.

Questions:

  • Is there a general attenuation rule as a workaround?
  • Is this now fixed in Cubase 13?

Shouldn’t the levels be the same since everything would be going through the gain set at the Master Output fader anyway?

My Fade-ins & outs are a question of taste, and I’m thankful to my Mastering Engineer for keeping backups, since we’ve come a long way, but I decided to re-export my stems with the fades that I had originally intended to hear creatively.

Knowing that there are similar cases here (Mostly Cubase 9) that talk about the exports sounding different with a compressor at the end of the chain (which would make sense) since the processing would combine sources respective to their sum.

All input will be very much appreciated! :white_heart:

2

Hi,

Could you attach a screenshot of the Export Audio Mixdown window in both cases, please?

Are all your faders set to 0dB? Isn’t there any Pre-Gain involved?

3

And in addition to what Martin said please show the actual tracks you use as sources; output buses, groups, audio tracks, whatever.

4

And in addition please check if these files are really different from one another by reimporting them and

  1. run statistics (Audio/Statistics)
  2. flip the phrase and see if the null test checks out.

Or to put it more elegantly: Please drop in to see what condition their condition is in (K. Rodgers).

2 Likes
5

Actually, probably start with this. If it nulls then all else can be disregarded.