Old 04-25-2019, 12:48 PM   #1
Reno.thestraws
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Default Gain Staging made easy

Hi everyone

here's a combinaison of two scripts to make the gain stagin before mixing dead easy

WARNING!

ONLY WORK WITH OPTIONS THESE OPTIONS TOGGLE ON

Preferences -> automation : hidden envelopes: Display read automation feedback
Preferences -> automation : hidden envelopes: allow writing automation


Here's a visual demo


https://youtu.be/wiYBbMZxub8

You need two script

1) make all track latach preview with pre fx volume envelope armed
Code:
reaper.Main_OnCommand(40296, 0)
reaper.Main_OnCommand(40408, 0)
reaper.Main_OnCommand(40408, 0)
reaper.Main_OnCommand(40297, 0)
function main()

 for tr = 0, reaper.CountTracks(0) -1 do
     local track = reaper.GetTrack(0,tr)
     reaper.Main_OnCommand(40408, 0)
      
          local env = reaper.GetTrackEnvelopeByName(track ,"Volume (Pre-FX)")
           br_env = reaper.BR_EnvAlloc(env, false)
           active, visible, armed, inLane, laneHeight, defaultShape, _, _, _, _, faderScaling = reaper.BR_EnvGetProperties( br_env )
            --if visible == true  then
           reaper.BR_EnvSetProperties( br_env, true, 
                                              false, 
                                             true, 
                                            inLane, 
                                            laneHeight, 
                                            defaultShape, 
                                            faderScaling )
            
           reaper.BR_EnvFree(br_env, true)
          reaper.SetTrackAutomationMode(track, 5)
      end    

end
    

main()--Volume (Pre-FX) --40408
reaper.UpdateArrange()

2) write value on pre fx volume lane and bring back track to trim/read

Code:
initpos = reaper.GetCursorPosition()
projend = reaper.GetProjectLength(0)
reaper.GetSet_LoopTimeRange2(0, true, false, 0, projend, false)
reaper.SetEditCurPos2(0, 0, false, false)
reaper.Main_OnCommand(42013, 0)
function main()
  for tr = 0, reaper.CountTracks(0) -1 do
         track = reaper.GetTrack(0,tr) 
         env = reaper.GetTrackEnvelopeByName(track, "Volume (Pre-FX)")
            br_env =  reaper.BR_EnvAlloc( env , false)
            active, visible, armed, inLane, laneHeight, defaultShape, _, _, _, _, faderScaling = reaper.BR_EnvGetProperties( br_env )
            --if visible == true  then
            reaper.BR_EnvSetProperties( br_env, true, 
                                               false, 
                                             false, 
                                             inLane, 
                                            laneHeight, 
                                             defaultShape, 
                                             faderScaling )
            
           reaper.BR_EnvFree(br_env, true)
          reaper.SetTrackAutomationMode(track, 0)
  end    
end
    

main()--Volume (Pre-FX)
reaper.SetEditCurPos2(0, initpos, false, false)
reaper.UpdateArrange()
You can use a cycle action to make ONE toggle action with two scripts
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Last edited by Reno.thestraws; 04-25-2019 at 03:15 PM.
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Old 04-25-2019, 01:51 PM   #2
EpicSounds
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that gif is crashing everything I try to play it on, except reaper but nearly.

I do not understand what's happening from the point the faders turn red to the end.
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Old 04-25-2019, 02:11 PM   #3
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The GIF works fine here but being 58MB I could see it causing issues for some apps.
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Old 04-25-2019, 03:25 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EpicSounds View Post
that gif is crashing everything I try to play it on, except reaper but nearly.

I do not understand what's happening from the point the faders turn red to the end.
SOrry for that, I replaced the gif with a youtube video


In short, the script allow to use the fader as PRE FX VOLUME when it's on

SO you can quickly do a gain structure BEFORE hitting plugs or hardware with MCP and switch back to traditionnal post FX volume after

How it works?

when you launch the first part of the script, all track are in latch preview mode with volume PRE FX envelope armed


when you launch the second part of the script, all tracks come back in trim mode and the PRE FX VOLUME is printed on the envelope


You can do it without scipt by set global automation overwrite to latch preview, open every pre fx vol envelope, do you balance, then use action "42017" "Automation: Write current values for actively-writing envelopes to entire envelope" and switch back to no global automation overide

but it's a lot of step AND you see all the ECP lane in your timeline
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Old 04-25-2019, 03:56 PM   #5
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Or just set the meters prefader in options
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Old 04-25-2019, 10:38 PM   #6
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it has nothing To do with metering Track metering is peak in RPR, pre or post, it doesn't help for a proper gain stage.


it's a quick way To use faders to control INPUT of tracks instead of item gain or any trim plug in.
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Old 04-25-2019, 11:59 PM   #7
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I totally can see myself using this. Thanks – will try in the next days!
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Old 04-26-2019, 12:19 AM   #8
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I always fail to see the sense of "proper" gain staging in computer audio.

-Michael
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Old 04-26-2019, 12:59 AM   #9
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Quote:
I always fail to see the sense of "proper" gain staging in computer audio.
Plug-ins that emulates hardware emulate also the sweet spot


Generally, it's -18dbfs RMS = 0VU (=1.23V = +4dbu)

So if you're using real hardware or hardware emulation, it's a good thing to hit the plug at this level so the plug or hardware react as expect and don't introduce unintentionaly saturation/SNR reduction/noise


Ok, no one will die if you get a little too loud in a plug (sometimes, the sound is even pleasant), but sue big sessions with chains of plug-ins 2-3 plug style "hardware", the Involuntary addition of saturation can quickly make the sound sour, flat and harsh
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Old 04-26-2019, 03:33 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mschnell View Post
I always fail to see the sense of "proper" gain staging in computer audio.

-Michael
Yup, I just use my ears.
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Old 04-26-2019, 03:53 AM   #11
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Quote:
Yup, I just use my ears
And that's why this script can help

Once your mix set up is made with all your plug and/or hardware placed on your mixer, just a quick balance with fader by ears to hit the sweet spot and tada, it's done, then you can still use faders for post fx balance
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Old 04-26-2019, 04:16 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mschnell View Post
I always fail to see the sense of "proper" gain staging in computer audio.
Nebula/Acqua and Airwindows!
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Old 04-26-2019, 05:39 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Reno.thestraws View Post
Plug-ins that emulates hardware emulate also the sweet spot ...
... without an input gain control ???
That would seem like a decent shortcoming.

But of course you are right if they do some nonlinear stuff the gain that reaches that point in the algorithm does matter a lot.

Anyway this should be used "on demand" at exactly this point in the signal flow and not force a global, presumably "precise" gain staging by default.

-Michael

Last edited by mschnell; 04-26-2019 at 05:44 AM.
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Old 04-26-2019, 10:56 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mschnell View Post
... without an input gain control ???
That would seem like a decent shortcoming.

But of course you are right if they do some nonlinear stuff the gain that reaches that point in the algorithm does matter a lot.

Anyway this should be used "on demand" at exactly this point in the signal flow and not force a global, presumably "precise" gain staging by default.

-Michael
I'm very interested in this! What would you say are reasons not to gainstage? I definitely do not want to do any unnecessary work if I do not need too....
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Old 04-26-2019, 11:25 AM   #15
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Here's a basic example

tone @ 220hz

fx chain
1- stereo channel with transparent gain
2- hardware emulation compression (ratio set to 1 to "not compress")
3- stereo channel with transparent gain that compensate the gain of plug 1
4- reaq to notch out 220hz
5- analyser to see harmonics/noise generate by the plug

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1A_...4eGauSCbr1eOfY


as you can see, the more gain hitting the plug, the more harmonics you get


Good thing/Bad thing?

I do not even want to debate it. Everyone does what he wants but I think to be aware of it and manage it according to what you want to do to the sound signal is a safer way to work
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Old 04-26-2019, 01:49 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Reno.thestraws View Post
Good thing/Bad thing? ... I do not even want to debate it.
Yep !
Hence there is no "proper" workflow, but the personal taste (aka "ear") can be used to define the gain at any stage to get the most personally pleasant result .

-Michael
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Old 04-26-2019, 02:00 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by onewayout View Post
I'm very interested in this! What would you say are reasons not to gainstage? I definitely do not want to do any unnecessary work if I do not need too....
Since I've used some form of Gain-Staging for near 40 years ...

I can first point out that Gain-Staging [or better put UNITY Gain Staging], allows one to BYPASS any process in the FX Chain, and make proper A/B comparisons, WITHOUT level changes influencing judgement.

About the only situation UNITY is not employed ... the Final OUTPUT of the LIMITER [or final GAIN control], into DITHERING.
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Old 04-27-2019, 04:55 AM   #18
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Empty project (for testing purposes): works.
Existing project: does not work.
Quote:
First script:12: 'reaper.BR_EnvAlloc' argument 1: expected TrackEnvelope*
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