Adjusting levels in mix

[KartoffelPuffer]

Hey everyone, long time!
I've chosen to go the "separate drum mix" path in Reason, and would like to find out the following: I did it initially to apply compression to selected redrum channels, but am confused as I now have several places to adjust volume: the drum channels, the drum mix and the main mix. Can anyone enlighten me as to which are best to tweak and which to leave alone for a better distribution?
Cheers guys!
D

[t00nz]

You have

Redrum -> Compression -> Channel Mixer - > Main mix?


One way to think would be set all the redrum channels at a standard level and leave them alone, to make setting the sensitivity on the compressor easy (else you'll change it all the time..)

Then adjust to get the track balances *within* the drum group on the channel mixer, and finally just send the whole thing to a single channel where you adjust the blend with the rest of the mix..

Don't ovecomplicate

[Delphine]

I like using reason for my drums and I go the same way too. I usually adjust the Redrums channels themselves and the mixer they all go to is called 'drum mixer1' or whatever. This then goes to the 'main mixer' or hardware interface if I am going through Live. Depending on what I am doing, I usually adjust the main volume knob on the redrum for overall gain as everything else is set at unity. If I have a compressor over the drums mixer output, I might fiddle with that.

Whatever you do, you'd be better off not fiddling with everything that has the ability to alter levels. Keep it all in one place for easy reference.

[KartoffelPuffer]

Thanks guys!
Delphine - it was atually you who first taught me the purpose of a separate drum mix, that was ages ago - at least in Noob years
One potentially important question I have after reading your reply is about the signal path: does it make a difference if I slap a compressor over the redrum itself or over "Drum Mix" (after I've done any other individual compression as seen fit)? It shouldn't really, I suppose, since I left all the redrum channels at equal volume to instead tweak them through Drum Mix..