How do I set gain staging levels for a clean mix?

Pick your meter type and output target. The tool maps working ranges for individual tracks, buses, and the pre-limiter master, keeping signal where your plugins and converters expect it.

Should I use peak or RMS metering for gain staging?

Peak is more conservative and keeps you clear of digital overs. RMS tracks average energy closer to how we hear loudness. If your session goes to streaming, use the LUFS option for consistency with modern normalization.

What changes with analog-modelled plugins?

Many analog emulations calibrate around -18 dBFS. When you check that box the tool tightens the ranges to keep your signal in the sweet spot those plugins were modeled for.

Studio utility

Gain Staging Planner

Map sensible working ranges for tracks, buses, and the pre-limiter master based on how you meter and where the record is headed.

Meter type

Output target

Custom target

I am using analog-modelled plugins

Track range

Bus range

Pre-limiter master range

How the math works

There is no magic gain staging number that fits every mix, so this tool uses working ranges instead. Those ranges shift depending on whether you think in peak, RMS, or LUFS and how hard the final master is supposed to hit.

When you would use it

Keep tracks from slamming analog-modelled plugins too hard.
Leave enough headroom on buses before mix-bus compression.
Check whether your pre-limiter master is already too hot for streaming.

FAQ

Why show ranges instead of one number?

Because healthy gain staging is a window, not a single magic target.

Why mention -18 dBFS RMS?

Many analog-modelled processors are calibrated around that input level.

Do I need to mix exactly at these values?

No. Use them as guardrails so the session stays manageable and your plugins stay in a sensible range.