Hi Pete, nearly there. I have huge respect for you producing this epic series for us...I have found every video has something useful that i can use. Awesome job.
Thanks Gary. Really appreciate your ongoing support and so glad that the videos have useful information in them. I have tried hard to balance the information, entertainment and actually getting the song done!
Hello Pete, my question is how to tell what the output dB is on a track, as there are no meters showing this info. I noticed that when you used automation there was the dB level as you adjusted but where else can I see this info. Thank you for making this series as it has helped me a lot in the process of using GarageBand to produce music. Also I have read that EQ should be before compression in the effect chain but I noticed you have the EQ after. Can you address this also for me. Thank you again.
Hey there my friend. Yes, GarageBand is less than perfect in terms of metering and managing gain/volume. I think perhaps I need to do a video about this, but here’s the basics. The default volume in GarageBand on any track is 0db. Turning the volume up to full is +6db and it goes down to -79.9db before ticking over to -infinity gain (silent). Unfortunately there’s no way to clearly see these values unless you turn on automation to check, which isn’t super convenient.
Yes, I use this to tweak the volume of individual parts all the time. A lot easier for quick and simple changes than setting up a whole automation track. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Hey Pete. Maybe you can give me some pointers on mixing. I’m currently mixing a song I recorded and I use GarageBand as well. I’m still learning and am new to the whole mixing and mastering process. I need some help. How can you tell if there’s too much compression or if you need more or less, also I can’t seem to get the equalization on my vocals quite right. When I listen to it, everything sounds ok, but I feel like more can be done. Can you please give me some tips, that would be highly appreciated. I just want to get a good professional quality sound like you.
Hey there. Yes, I get a lot of queries about mixing which is one of the reasons I stated this series. It can be really challenging to identify what is standing out in a mix and what to do about it. A lot comes down to recording the best quality sound at the source, which is why I spent so much time on the recording process in this video. Compression is important but can be tricky to balance. When there’s too much and it is over-compressed, you’ll start to hear a pumping sound, like the volume is trying to be loud but being pulled down constantly, which means it’s time to dial it back. It can also make your sound have too much too end (treble frequencies) at times, which you would have heard in my lead vocal. EQ also needs a lot of trial and error to er right. Again, if you’re performance and recording are strong, you should only need some small adjustments. I’m mastering today so hopefully that gives you some more information too.
Hi there. The output volume of the iPhone/iPad doesn’t really impact the recording at all, except for ensuring that you can hear the playback when you’re recording multiple tracks. I set this as low as I can to avoid too much bleed from the headphones when recording, but it does need to be a balance so that I can hear, especially when singing.
That's a good tip to listen to the mix on different devices. I saw an article in Rolling Stone about how Bruno Mars writes and he said he always goes to his car to check his sound. All his songs have been produced that way.
Thanks as always for your support. Yes, listening on different devices and in different places is definitely a good idea and gives you good perspective on your mix.
Thanks this was really helpful
You’re very welcome my friend. I hope you get value from the other videos here on the channel and consider subscribing. 👍
Hi Pete, nearly there. I have huge respect for you producing this epic series for us...I have found every video has something useful that i can use. Awesome job.
Thanks Gary. Really appreciate your ongoing support and so glad that the videos have useful information in them. I have tried hard to balance the information, entertainment and actually getting the song done!
Thanks Pete this whole series has really has helped me .very much appreciated and hope in future when updates arrive you are here to help us through.
Thanks Iain. Really appreciate the kind words, glad I was able to help out and hope I can help more again in the future.
Hello Pete, my question is how to tell what the output dB is on a track, as there are no meters showing this info. I noticed that when you used automation there was the dB level as you adjusted but where else can I see this info. Thank you for making this series as it has helped me a lot in the process of using GarageBand to produce music. Also I have read that EQ should be before compression in the effect chain but I noticed you have the EQ after. Can you address this also for me. Thank you again.
Hey there my friend. Yes, GarageBand is less than perfect in terms of metering and managing gain/volume. I think perhaps I need to do a video about this, but here’s the basics.
The default volume in GarageBand on any track is 0db. Turning the volume up to full is +6db and it goes down to -79.9db before ticking over to -infinity gain (silent).
Unfortunately there’s no way to clearly see these values unless you turn on automation to check, which isn’t super convenient.
Pete Johns thank you so much for your speedy reply. I love your channel, keep up the good work my brother
Thanks my friend. You’ve inspired me to make this my next video so watch this space for a “volume tips” video soon.
😎 if you could explain the effect chain ordering also my brother, I’m confused bout that too.
Btw, I dig the song “4 the birds”. Nice work!
Thanks Pete, I'm always learning useful things from you; like how you can adjust the level of a clip within a track shown at 29min.18s in this video
Yes, I use this to tweak the volume of individual parts all the time. A lot easier for quick and simple changes than setting up a whole automation track. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Hey Pete. Maybe you can give me some pointers on mixing. I’m currently mixing a song I recorded and I use GarageBand as well. I’m still learning and am new to the whole mixing and mastering process. I need some help. How can you tell if there’s too much compression or if you need more or less, also I can’t seem to get the equalization on my vocals quite right. When I listen to it, everything sounds ok, but I feel like more can be done. Can you please give me some tips, that would be highly appreciated. I just want to get a good professional quality sound like you.
Hey there. Yes, I get a lot of queries about mixing which is one of the reasons I stated this series. It can be really challenging to identify what is standing out in a mix and what to do about it. A lot comes down to recording the best quality sound at the source, which is why I spent so much time on the recording process in this video.
Compression is important but can be tricky to balance. When there’s too much and it is over-compressed, you’ll start to hear a pumping sound, like the volume is trying to be loud but being pulled down constantly, which means it’s time to dial it back. It can also make your sound have too much too end (treble frequencies) at times, which you would have heard in my lead vocal.
EQ also needs a lot of trial and error to er right. Again, if you’re performance and recording are strong, you should only need some small adjustments.
I’m mastering today so hopefully that gives you some more information too.
Thanks Pete. I really appreciate it. I’ll keep at it and hopefully get somewhere.
Hi Pete! Whats your level in the main volume of the iphone/ Ipad when you are recording? It really does it matter? thanks
Hi there. The output volume of the iPhone/iPad doesn’t really impact the recording at all, except for ensuring that you can hear the playback when you’re recording multiple tracks. I set this as low as I can to avoid too much bleed from the headphones when recording, but it does need to be a balance so that I can hear, especially when singing.
That's a good tip to listen to the mix on different devices. I saw an article in Rolling Stone about how Bruno Mars writes and he said he always goes to his car to check his sound. All his songs have been produced that way.
Thanks as always for your support. Yes, listening on different devices and in different places is definitely a good idea and gives you good perspective on your mix.