Gain

This entry is aimed somewhat at users of Logic Pro. Other DAWs, like Pro Tools, for instance, might not have a stock gain plug-in due to the fact that the objectives that can be accomplished with Logic’s gain plug-in can be accomplished in other DAWs through the use of track faders, pan controls, and other tools. Still, the information in this entry might be useful to any budding bedroom producer, not just users of Logic Pro.

Gain, as defined in a previous post, is the amount by which a signal’s amplitude is increased or decreased. Typically, gain is controlled with track faders, plug-in parameters, or the knobs on a recording interface or other piece of hardware.

Logic Pro, however, includes a unique volume-based plug-in specifically designed to give the user more control over the gain of a track, as well as other aspects of the audio. Its parameters are as follow: “gain,” “phase invert (left and right),” “balance,” “swap L/R,” and “mono.”

Gain simply increases or decreases the amplitude of the signal. This can be useful for comparing two different levels using the bypass button, for instance, without the need to adjust the track’s fader.

Phase invert inverts the phase in either the left channel, the right channel, or both. I’ll be sure to cover “phase” more thoroughly in another post, but this can be useful for fixing tonal issues that stem from microphone placement during the recording process.

Balance is used to adjust the relative levels between the left and right channels.

Swap L/R simply swaps the left and right channels.

Mono collapses a stereo track down to mono. This is especially useful on the “Stereo Out” track for mixing in mono, or at least checking a stereo mix in mono. I have covered the importance of mixing in mono in a previous post.

I sometimes also use the “mono” parameter of Logic Pro’s gain plug-in to quickly collapse certain stereo instruments like pianos or synthesizers, for instance, down to mono, especially if I want to be able to pan them later without running into any complicated stereo issues.

Although its functions might seem simple and easy to control through other means, Logic Pro’s stock gain plug-in is one of the most useful tools in my favorite DAW.