Avid Pro Audio Community

Avid Pro Audio Community

How to Join & Post  •  Community Terms of Use  •  Help Us Help You

Knowledge Base Search  •  Community Search  •  Learn & Support


Avid Home Page

Go Back   Avid Pro Audio Community > Pro Mixing > Avid Pro Mixing General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-10-2019, 11:09 PM
jphaudio jphaudio is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Florida, Ventura CA
Posts: 119
Default PT Software Meters: Pre-fader vs Post-fader

I use artist mix and control and have been switching between the Pre-fader vs Post-fader settings in PT. I also set gain stage and use 3rd party software meters.

With said, I like the post fader setting to see if I get too close to the red while mixing.

What is the general use for the pre fader setting vs post fader setting in PT? I see advantages for both but not sure if I should use one over the other.

Thank you

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-11-2019, 09:16 AM
J_Harry J_Harry is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 32
Default Re: PT Software Meters: Pre-fader vs Post-fader

There are multiple uses for either, and if your work flow changes from recording, mixing, post production etc, then you may have more use for one over the other in those similar workflows (also remember to change to which you deem more relevant when changing workflow).

Pre Fader levels are a helpful visual tool in gain staging, so if you are sending level to a lot of auxes and sub groups, you can see how much 'level' is sitting on those tracks that are feeding your subgroup. Helpful if you are juicing level with plugins and compressors and such, and you can keep an eye on how much gain you have gained, or lost through certain processing.

If for example you are in post fader, feeding a sub group, and the track faders feeing that subgroup are all sitting at -40 dBFS, and your level is crazy hot on the subgroup channel, then switching to pre-fader can help you see which of the track(s) feeding the sub group has a lot of level that is getting you that huge level makeup. (of course then there is a question of if you want that or not etc etc).

I try not to over think it,(and someone may correct me which I am all for), but I try to picture it as the visualization of:

Pre Fader ( how much energy is 'in' this track, with my processing accounted for)
Post Fader ( how much energy am I letting out of this track, on to the next stage)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-11-2019, 09:31 AM
jphaudio jphaudio is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Florida, Ventura CA
Posts: 119
Default Re: PT Software Meters: Pre-fader vs Post-fader

Thank you very much. That nailed it. I will run through some mixes with that information and I already know that will help a lot. Thank you,
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-11-2019, 03:55 PM
albee1952's Avatar
albee1952 albee1952 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Norwich, CT
Posts: 39,310
Default Re: PT Software Meters: Pre-fader vs Post-fader

AFAIK, metering on the master is post-fader(which is fine in that point in the chain). Having said that, I leave everything in pre-fade so I know real levels(so I don't have clipping that is not shown due to post-fade metering and gain staging). The only time I use post-fade metering is when balancing several tracks of similar sounds, such as BGV's or strings. As soon as I have the balance I want, metering goes back to pre-fade
__________________
HP Z4 workstation, Mbox Studio
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/...0sound%20works


The better I drink, the more I mix

BTW, my name is Dave, but most people call me.........................Dave
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-11-2019, 07:53 PM
jphaudio jphaudio is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Florida, Ventura CA
Posts: 119
Default Re: PT Software Meters: Pre-fader vs Post-fader

Thank you for time on this. I will be going through this process and trying to better my mixes. Thank you!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
*BUG* Pre-fader sends revert to post-fader upon session restart Nico Breeze Pro Tools 11 7 07-11-2014 10:47 PM
Pre-fader/Post fader question RichrdC Pro Tools M-Powered (Win) 2 07-07-2010 10:15 AM
pre-fader/post fader help HB1978 003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Win) 8 05-19-2009 07:53 PM
Post Fader Meters WaDa TanK 003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Win) 4 07-29-2006 07:20 PM
Pre Fader/Post fader advantages sricabla 003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Mac) 2 11-26-2005 01:53 PM


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:57 PM.


Powered by: vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited. Forum Hosted By: URLJet.com