FL studio question for FL studio professionals

[ShadyBrady6]

I'm helping/collaborating with somebody using FL studio and I don't know what's going on.

If I load a sample into the step sequencer the channel volume is default at 78%. This is what happened......


I load a hi hat into the step sequencer , in the mixer it says its at -16db. If i turn the step sequencer volume up to 100% it gains about 5db making it sit at about -11db in the mixer.

Now if i throw that very same sample into the playlist it's sitting at -8db in the mixer. It automatically assigns itself a step sequencer channel and is still displaying as 78% channel volume. If I turn the step sequencer volume up to 100% it yet again gains another 5db from the -8db.

My question is, what is the true value of the sample? Do FL studio users turn their step sequencer volumes up to 100% and then mix downwards in the mixer?

[fragments]

I usually end up turning everything down to about 50% in the step sequencer then mix from there. Word around the campfire is you get better resolution/accuracy from the faders in the mixer the less you turn them down.

The default on all the knobs that look like the ones on the step sequencer is "80%" since I have been using FL Studio. Those little knobs on the mixer that you use for the send amount are defaulted to "80%" as well.


But it's all relative. Just use your ears. You are way over thinking this man.

[JBE]

I do believe sampler channels load at 50 or 55% normal volume to allow for velocity modulation. There's also the circular panning law. All sampler channels are subject to it by default. This reduces the sample gain by -3 db at center pan.

I do believe there is a section about all of this in the manual though. If you ever have questions don't forget that the manual probably covers it.

http://www.image-line.com/support/FLHelp

[ShadyBrady6]

I usually end up turning everything down to about 50% in the step sequencer then mix from there. Word around the campfire is you get better resolution/accuracy from the faders in the mixer the less you turn them down.

The default on all the knobs that look like the ones on the step sequencer is "80%" since I have been using FL Studio. Those little knobs on the mixer that you use for the send amount are defaulted to "80%" as well.


But it's all relative. Just use your ears. You are way over thinking this man.

It's actually extremely important. What you're doing is similar to turning your ipod volume down to 50% and then blasting the car stereo. You want your inputs at 100% to avoid distortion. Also, I don't want to be sending the sample into the mixer hot. I guess this is a question that needs to be addressed on the Image-Line forum. I never get any real answers to any serious questions on production forums. It's always about how I shouldn't worry about it and should just move on. Well, if I'm going to help somebody using FL studio , I'm going to do it in a professional manner. I apologize for asking what seemed to be a relevant question.

[ShadyBrady6]

I do believe sampler channels load at 50 or 55% normal volume to allow for velocity modulation. There's also the circular panning law. All sampler channels are subject to it by default. This reduces the sample gain by -3 db at center pan.

I do believe there is a section about all of this in the manual though. If you ever have questions don't forget that the manual probably covers it.

http://www.image-line.com/support/FLHelp

I got it, thanks

[nowaysj]

Loving your attitude dude.

When you add a sound to the playlist it becomes an audio clip, and while it appears on the step sequencer, it is not in a sampler channel, which has its volume lowered for something approaching legacy reasons.

[mthrfnk]

On the topic of how to set input level, I always go by the effects chain on the channel I'm sending the audio to, regardless of whether the sample is on the playlist or step sequencer and regardless of the true level of the sample.

Your effects and style of mixing should dictate how loud to set the input, and many plugins have inbuilt level monitors and I/O gain controls to help you gain stage properly. I mix with relative levels opposed to adhering to specified numbers, often dicated by the peak level on my drum buss (normally triggered by my kick).

As an example if I'm using a set of effects that are analogue modelled or based on tape emulation I send the input in fairly hot as these types of plugins can tend to have a sweet spot where you get optimum performance (e.g. ideal saturation) without pushing into the red. Alternatively if I'm using a standard EQ and compressor, I'll send the signal in as loud as it needs to be without going into the red and then adjust the overall channel as necessary using the channel fader opposed to controlling the level via the sampler volume knob.

I very, very rarely turn up a samples volume as there is simply no need to on most occasions. If a sample happens to be unsually quiet I normally just normalize it to bring up the level and then manipulate it from there, which isn't a bad method unless you're dealing with loads of analogue samples and the S/N ratio comes into play since you're going to be bringing up the overall level of noise in all your stuff.

It seems you're getting hung up on something that is relatively neglible, set the levels as needed to achieve the mix you want, it's surely obvious if you're sending stuff in too quiet/too loud within a mix.

[fragments]

To be fair my answer was pretty useless lol.

[bennyfroobs]

i tend to mix basic levels in the squencer, and then after adding effects n stuff i do more mixdowning in the mixer, mainly cos if samples have to be a certain volume to trigger whatnots in vsts then if u go turning then down in the sequencer it can fux with ur compressions etc, so i turn down to overrall output in the mixer instead

¯\_(ツ)_/¯