boosting gain within a program above 127 volume level

redthread · Post by **redthread** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 10:41 pm

I'm using an organ program live the volume is much softer than all of the other programs I'm using, despite the fact that the organ program and all of the other programs are set to the same 127 level. I can figure out how to boost the gain on that one patch/program. I've pasted tons of programs into combinations and all but this organ patch/program plays at a similar volume.
?
Playing my second gig tonight with the Kronos and I'm afraid of driving my band mates crazy/deaf with fluctuating volumes. rrrrrrrrrrr
thanks!!

jeremykeys · Post by **jeremykeys** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 11:00 pm

you can insert a compressor in an IFX slot and turn up the gain there but I'd actually recommend just turning down the louder sounds.
Can you adjust the volumes in rehearsal? That's what I've had to do. It takes a lot of time but it's worth it even though you'll bore your bandmates to madness!

benny ray · Post by **benny ray** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 11:01 pm

Then set your volume of the other programs to the organ patch. Drawbars tend to fluctuate volume changes.

LZ · Post by LZ » Sat Dec 31, 2016 11:43 pm

In addition to the suggestions, if you have a volume pedal plugged in, but e organ part is in another channel other than e global channel, it will react as if the pedal value is at 64 (half volume). I've saved a few organ programs without pedal assigned so that I can use them in other parts without pedal when my pedal is plugged in for the global channel.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 9:25 am

Also, as a general tip since you mentioned fluctuating volumes, make a habit of putting all your sounds for a gig in setlist mode. Every setlist slot has a volume control if you take, say 90, as base level, you can boost and cut easily to level things out within your set.

Geoff Flynn · Post by **Geoff Flynn** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 10:16 am

For volume boost I always put sound through Stereo Mastering Limiter IFX effect. Enter a more negative value to increase volume. Can get quite a few extra decibels using this method.

BillW · Post by **BillW** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 1:17 pm

If you've got a combi with everything turned up so high that you need to resort to limiters, you might rethink your approach and try turning everything way down. As SanderXpander points out, something like 90 (or even less) should be your 0dB mark. In Mainstage, I set everything to -6 (or lower) and then adjust the mix from there.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 2:16 pm

I'd be really careful with that method, it'd be really easy to overdo it and squash all the dynamics out of your sound

Derek Cook · Post by **Derek Cook** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 4:11 pm

I agree with the "less is more" advice. I did a patch rebalancing exercise a few months back in all of my Kronos combis and also balancing my keyboard sounds against those of the backing tracks we were redoing in Welsh Floyd.

Quite often Hammonds or EPs sound really quiet compared to other sounds, so rather than trying to boost what was already at max I took down the other louder patches, which gives you much more headroom nd you can of course compensate for the overall reduction in the external mixing.

It's like the old gain wars in a band

; Everybody has a tendency to turn up if they can't hear themselves as opposing to getting the others (yes, even guitar players

) to turn down.

HTH

burningbusch · Post by **burningbusch** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 4:20 pm

If you're using the CX-3 engine for the organ, you have available (typically) additional gain. Goto EXi 1==>AMP/VC/ROTARY SP==>AMP/V/C. Near the bottom right is MAIN OUTPUT and there you find OUTPUT LEVEL. Increase value.

Busch.

jeremykeys · Post by **jeremykeys** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 6:55 pm

Derek Cook wrote:
It's like the old gain wars in a band ; Everybody has a tendency to turn up if they can't hear themselves as opposing to getting the others (yes, even guitar players ) to turn down.

HTH

And we all know how to get guitar players to turn down, don't we?

You just put a chart in front of them!

Derek Cook · Post by **Derek Cook** » Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:25 am

jeremykeys wrote:
Derek Cook wrote:
It's like the old gain wars in a band ; Everybody has a tendency to turn up if they can't hear themselves as opposing to getting the others (yes, even guitar players ) to turn down.

HTH
And we all know how to get guitar players to turn down, don't we?

You just put a chart in front of them!

I've been lucky in Welsh Floyd that we have a guitar player who does not playing loud, and he is usually the first to grumble that it is getting too liud on stage, but that is rare....

Geoff Flynn · Post by **Geoff Flynn** » Mon Jan 02, 2017 10:28 am

SanderXpander wrote:I'd be really careful with that method, it'd be really easy to overdo it and squash all the dynamics out of your sound

Have you actually tried using Stereo Mastering Limiter as a volume boost?

I've been using this method for years live on both Oasys and Kronos and it works a treat.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Mon Jan 02, 2017 11:01 am

Yes. Do you know what a limiter does?

Geoff Flynn · Post by **Geoff Flynn** » Mon Jan 02, 2017 11:05 am

SanderXpander wrote:Yes. Do you know what a limiter does?

Yes. As I said it works a treat with absolutely no loss of quality. The threshold meters show you how far you can push it. Been using this method successfully since I bought the Oasys in 2006. I have found it particularly useful for volume boosting my own samples. Easy peasy.

By the way I agree that patch rebalancing is overall the best way. BUT....I found I had to do this numerous times during/following rehearsals prior to a Tour recently and is time consuming and a right royal PITA.

So trying IFX Stereo Mastering Limiter is certainly worth a shot.