Trim plugin

[domdompompom]

When mixing, why you use the trim plug in if i can manually adjust the faders on each track?

[Stig Eliassen]

Originally Posted by domdompompom

When mixing, why you use the trim plug in if i can manually adjust the faders on each track?

Gain staging. You can also use clip gain. I get sent tracks that often are clipped, or virtually normalized. It is immensely annoying.

Many plugins these days respond/sound differently based on input level, too.

A softer level gives you headroom downstream for plugins and mixdown. It all adds up.

[tekis]

Originally Posted by domdompompom

When mixing, why you use the trim plug in if i can manually adjust the faders on each track?

It's the plugin I use the most! Trim also has a polarity switch for checking phase.

[domdompompom]

I see the use of trim, however, why use it if i can lower my levels using individual faders in the mix window? Does the trim plug in lower the level of the master fader as well as each track you apply trim to?

[tekis]

I use Trim so I can get my fader to "live" around "0" (unity gain). Yes, you can use Trim on Master Faders too.

[chrisdee]

I use trim on tracks befor plugins that doesn't have any output gain control.
But also on aux tracks befor effects like reverb and delay to control the input level.

[Marsdy]

Originally Posted by domdompompom

I see the use of trim, however, why use it if i can lower my levels using individual faders in the mix window? Does the trim plug in lower the level of the master fader as well as each track you apply trim to?

You can use it on low gain track to raise the gain so the fader is in an area where it has much more resolution around 0dB. Therefore you can make more precise level changes with the fader.

[domdompompom]

So where does the trim plugin come into play? When I start my mix or before I start applying plugins? As well, should I have my channel faders at unity gain and then apply trim, or can the channel faders all be at different levels and then apply trim to get them to unity gain?

[deanrichard]

As someone mentioned, gain staging. Some plugins, especially console emulations and others that try to emulate analog behavior, are very dependent on gain. For example, too hot of a signal will overload some console emulations.

Originally Posted by domdompompom

When mixing, why you use the trim plug in if i can manually adjust the faders on each track?

[domdompompom]

I understand, however, my questions are if I trim should be the first plug in after I record an instrument and before I apply plugins. And if I should have my fader at unity gain. But, there is a general theme that my faders should be at -18, do I use trim to get my fader to -18? or play with the trim and track fader to get it to -18?