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 DJing Discussion
Leveling question
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Leveling question

Voltmod 5:38 AM - 9 February, 2012
Hello serato gurus, I have a simple question about leveling and clipping.

The rule of thumb is stay out of the red, but i'm wondering what I should typically keep my Channel level/gain level to? I have a DNX 600, and the denon manual calls it a Channel level, so i'm assuming that's not the same thing as gain on some mixers.

Right now I have both channel levels set so i can crank the master volume knob all the way to 0DB and it stays out the red zone; this is with both ch levels at about 40% out of a -infinity to +20 range. From there it's up to the speakers to increase the volume.

Also, do I want to keep my master volume level as low as possible while keeping the channel levels both at 50% or 12 o'clock?

I would imagine the channel level causes more distortion than the master volume level.
Is this all correct?

thanks.
Voltmod 5:45 AM - 9 February, 2012
in addition to this, when one track is quiter than the other, do I want to raise the channel volume or master volume for the duration of that track?
Dj Wunder 7:59 AM - 9 February, 2012
I like to bring my channel gains up to the first or second orange/yellow light, then back them up a hair. Then set the master to whatever volume rocks the house. Keeping the channel gains high, in general, ensures that my monitor/headphone signal will be nice and hot, backing them off a hair ensures that when I have those quiet tracks I can boost a little on the channel gain. Master volume to me is kind of a set-it-and-forget it dial, although throughout the night I might nudge it up a bit as the club heats up.
DJPremium 8:54 AM - 9 February, 2012
Coming from a mix engineering background, I stick mostly to the 'rule' of setting your levels with the channel faders set to 0db, using the gain to get the correct level input and only using the channel faders to lower the volume when neccessary. using the channel gain for less loud tracks.