Gain staging for Amp Sims in a DAW (updated title)- Apparently Everyone has been wrong.

[burntfrijoles]

This was my previous title and post.
Need suggestions: anyone using UAFX Dream/Ruby plugins in Logic?
[I just bought the bundle of Dream, Ruby, Woodrow and Lion but having a little difficulty setting levels in Logic.
Can someone explain how you set your interface, the Input and Output setting in the plugin itself, etc? I’m either getting too much fizz, gain or very low recording results.]

Since no one responded, I did a google/YouTube search and found this little gem. I tried it out. It answered my question and it worked. (I might need to find a Trim plugin since Logic doesn't have one).
There is also a link to a nifty spreadsheet for various audio interfaces and Amp plugins.

 

[woodman]

The Logic Gain plugin can reduce as well as increase input gain on your sim channel.

 

[burntfrijoles]

The Logic Gain plugin can reduce as well as increase input gain on your sim channel.

I read various opinions regarding whether Logic’s channel gain or gain plugin were the same as ProTools Trim control but no one explained why it’s different (or better). After further review, I don’t think it is different and serves the same purpose.
I finally got the results I wanted with the UAFX amp plugins in terms of level, now I’m trying to find presets for each model that I like.

 

[AliceAngelTele]

Yep I found that video, it's a good one.

Part II

 

[toanhunter]

I aim for the loudest peaks to be around -6dBFS or even as low as -10dBFS, that has always worked for me, if something is too dynamic I'm not afraid to use hardware compression on the way into my DAW usually an elysia xpressor 500, it just controls the peaks and brings up the quiet bits.

 

[Papanate]

This was my previous title and post.
Need suggestions: anyone using UAFX Dream/Ruby plugins in Logic?
[I just bought the bundle of Dream, Ruby, Woodrow and Lion but having a little difficulty setting levels in Logic.
Can someone explain how you set your interface, the Input and Output setting in the plugin itself, etc? I’m either getting too much fizz, gain or very low recording results.]

Since no one responded, I did a google/YouTube search and found this little gem. I tried it out. It answered my question and it worked. (I might need to find a Trim plugin since Logic doesn't have one).
There is also a link to a nifty spreadsheet for various audio interfaces and Amp plugins.

Logic has a Gain plugin and a Trim Control on each channel.

 

[burntfrijoles]

Logic has a Gain plugin and a Trim Control on each channel.

I didn't think the Trim control in Logic was gain related. I thought it was just used to trim a region.

 

[Geoff738]

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[burntfrijoles]

Cheers,
Geoff

Thanks but I saw that video before my initial interaction with the UAFX plugins and it didn't work. In fact, I watched many tutorials that advise to keep the interface input gain at 0 and it has never worked for me. It was way too gainy, fizzy and crappy. I tried the method in the "they're wrong" YouTube video I posted up above and got perfect results.
Again, whatever method works for the user.
I guess there's more than one way to skin a cat.

 

[Geoff738]

Thanks but I saw that video before my initial interaction with the UAFX plugins and it didn't work. In fact, I watched many tutorials that advise to keep the interface input gain at 0 and it has never worked for me. It was way too gainy, fizzy and crappy. I tried the method in the "they're wrong" YouTube video I posted up above and got perfect results.
Again, whatever method works for the user.
I guess there's more than one way to skin a cat.

I tried the UA Marshall sim and had my DI gain up to a healthy level and everything was way too gainy for me. So I tried the turn the gain way down approach and that worked better. Whether that works better on other sims, I have yet to try. Will try and keep the approach in your OP in mind. Thanks for posting!

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[Papanate]

I didn't think the Trim control in Logic was gain related. I thought it was just used to trim a region.

It has nothing to do with the regions.

 

[andy__d]

It has nothing to do with the regions.

You are both correct. The “ <[> “ cursor trim control trims off the start / end of a region so you can edit the duration of the playback (like you might trim a segment of tape with a razor blade to get it to just the right length to splice it to another piece of tape. The “trim” control on an older analog mixer “trimmed” a little off of the signal amplitude so that it didn’t overload the input stage of the mixer.

Modern mixers have made these an active cut / boost - so gain is a more appropriate name. But some old f*rts like me (who were mentored by folks for whom this really was a passive control that would only cut signal) still call that very first little knob at the top of the input stage on a mixer the trim control.

 

[burntfrijoles]

It has nothing to do with the regions.

Maybe this is what confused me:


As for your screen shot, I have never seen that control in the inspector or mixer so excuse my ignorance. Can you tell me how you include that in the track components.

 

[Papanate]

Maybe this is what confused me:

View attachment 1391873
As for your screen shot, I have never seen that control in the inspector or mixer so excuse my ignorance. Can you tell me how you include that in the track components.

It’s on the left side - it’s Called the Inspector - I have the Inspector - Time Line - and Mixer on in this view.

 

[Papanate]

You are both correct. The “ <[> “ cursor trim control trims off the start / end of a region so you can edit the duration of the playback (like you might trim a segment of tape with a razor blade to get it to just the right length to splice it to another piece of tape. The “trim” control on an older analog mixer “trimmed” a little off of the signal amplitude so that it didn’t overload the input stage of the mixer.

Modern mixers have made these an active cut / boost - so gain is a more appropriate name. But some old f*rts like me (who were mentored by folks for whom this really was a passive control that would only cut signal) still call that very first little knob at the top of the input stage on a mixer the trim control.

Actually they don’t label the Trim control as such - I just input that info on my own!