I’ve attached an example of what it could look like (photoshop), basically just an insert that allows you to add/remove gain between plugins without opening a separate interface, i think this would be a nice workflow improvement, and more useful than the current volume plugin
I’m trying hard to think of a plugin I own that does not have an output gain parameter. Pro-Q 4 certainly does.
Having the gain control directly on the slot is a neat idea though!
Any reason you don’t want to use the Volume plug-in?
“useful for adjusting the gain/volume between different plug-ins within a plug-in chain” (from the manual)
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They are becoming rarer, as most developers seem to have understood that especially with processes that can change the output level rather dramatically, like distortion etc, a clean output gain is a must have in 2026, but a lot of older plugins still don’t have, like some of Soundtoys or PSP.
The suggested solution looks pretty, but I think an overall even better solution would be two small input and output gain knobs in each plugin toolbar, so if you are using a plugin that raises the gain too much (or is too sensitive or not not sensitive enough on the input), you can directly fix that while you have that plugin open. No need to waste an insert slot.
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the gain does not go high enough, i prefer to use the khs gain plugin currently, its nice and simple, small interface, goes 30db either direction.
i just feel like such a simple operation should be more streamlined, instead of having to open a new window, adjust and close it again
it sorta depends what kind of plugins you use, pro-q was a bad example here, but a lot of weird/bespoke reverbs don’t have this feature, i use hikari by lese audio a fair bit and the output from it is very quiet, so i always have to boost it by like 16db. khs shaper table is another example, can get very loud and has no output gain control
FYI the Volume plug-in gives you 24dB max gain and -inf attenuation. That’s sufficient for most users.
You need to activate the faders on the left and right channels (using the fader icon) which gives another 12dB of gain. This gives a total of 24dB gain. Just pointing this out and not saying there could not have been a better way of addressing volume changes between plug-ins and so on…
However, the application of gain can be more complicated than at first meets the eye (ear). One of the reasons the amount of gain may be not so direct and easy to apply in Cubase is probably for safety reasons. ‘Accidents’ with large amounts of gain can damage ears and speakers.
If 24dB is not enough gain, there are a number of gain plug-ins available from other developers such as Blue Cat’s Gain, the aforementioned Kilohearts Gain, and others (assuming the user is confident and competent with regards to using large amounts of gain).