Question

Feature request: Default track volume.

It would be nice to have an option that sets default track volume for all tracks - sort of an internal gain staging. This is really useful when working with VSTi's - practically all of them are set do 0dBFS so you run out of headroom right from the start. With "Default track volume" set to i.e. -10dB you don't have to worry about headroom and remember to always turn down every VSTi you insert before hitting a key so it won't blast from the speakers at full volume.

This feature is available in Bitwig and it's one of those little things that just make life easier :)

http://postimg.org/image/sjf5nusiz/

Answer 1

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Answer 2

Yes please!

As I recommend to everyone producing or mixing, I set my amplifier volume very high and then dial in how much dynamic range I'm shooting for with a (hardware) calibrated volume control. This way, I produce and mix with the song naturally sounding good and loud while preserving headroom in my mix for better mastering, all without having to look at the meters.

But for this to work, every track needs to be turned down, particularly virtual instrument tracks. -12dBFS or -14dBFS as a default would be great. Though a user-adjustable default would be best of all.

This is less of an issue in other DAWs like Pro Tools where a template session can have instrument tracks turned down in advance, but since instrument tracks in S1 don't get faders until they have an instrument, this isn't possible.

Please, please, please implement this feature! It will make S1 more attractive as a platform to engineers using this ideal approach. And if you implement it by default with a little note saying, "For best results, set amplifier gain high and mix with lowered faders", amateurs' mixes will sound better too.

Further reading on this approach:
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/mastering-forum/1024714-depth-bob-katz-k-system-tutorial.html
http://www.digido.com/how-to-make-better-recordings-part-2.html

Answer 3

Bingo. Both options, track vol at 0 and all the way down are useless - except the latter when tracking live. -10 or -15 are the useful options. Would be a considerable improvement, even more so for all new producers.

Answer 4

Yes Please. That's a great option I miss from Live.

Answer 5

It's really annoying. I was trying to incorporate K-System during the production stage, but each time I make a new track with a VST on it and forget to lower the volume I kill my ears and speakers.

Without this feature K-System metering makes sense only on mixing and mastering stages, when I already have tracks and can lower all of them.

Answer 6

It would be very helpful if you could set a Default track volume. When I'm in composing mode, I can't turn down the volume every time I start up an instrument. Because Bullet Train is running in my head and a hurricane is coming.

Default Input Gain Amount may also be fine.

It's best to use the track fader at around 0dB. The scale is detailed and easy to adjust. Try rotating the mouse wheel one notch. The value changes by 0.4dB around -0dB, but changes by 0.8dB around -15dB. For me, when mixing, I like the value to change in 0.4dB increments.
( https://forums.presonus.com/viewtopic.php?p=218924&sid=bff848a5100ca71c171173f7003d6025 )

It may be a good idea to set the Default Input Gain Amount for each instrument. All instruments have different default gain staging. Presence XT, Serum, Massive X, Modo drum...all different. Impact XT is very loud, as Samples are created around 0dB. My ears explode.