@Gus Dikteruk ok, yeah! This makes lots of sense with what I'm seeing Gus. Thank you so very much! When I have ADAPT set when I import the WAV file (or import the file tempo settings, I get lots of the "in between" tempos in the Global Tracks Area that you've mentioned. This usually allows the metronome to better follow the imported track, but it's still out of sync with the grid and seemed wrong because the imported MIDI files from the Yamaha show one, very solid tempo. When I next get a chance I'll experiment with slaving the Yamaha to the Mac and vice versa for the MIDI clock and see where it gets me. The Yamaha or really any arranger keyboard is an important part of our workflow. I've learned quite a lot from this conversation, thank you, it's been helpful so far.

@Anthony Ciarochi ah ok! Thanks for sharing your process. That's really helpful. To note, I don't think the fractions of difference are intentional, at least in my case anyway. It's just how Logic is analyzing the music made in the Yamaha keyboard. I don't know anyone who would intentionally create differences that small, but I suppose anything is possible

Hello Phillip! I remember Caleb saying in something to the effect that successfully finding this balance takes some skill, and to keep working at it (don't not try because you can't do it) because it's worth it. Congrats to you for continuing to try to figure this out. You could give up, but you haven't, and that's good. I think it's important to confirm we have a common understanding with all these numbers and meters. From what I understand, there are 3 different measurements to be metered. I can't say my understanding is complete, but here's what I understand where I'm at now. 1. RMS which is measured by the VU meter and incorporates more low end or low frequency energy than other measurements and meters. Having a low end focused measurement and meter helps us more accurately shape and define the low end. 2. Decibels, or DBs which is measured in the channel strip and the stereo out. This is more objective than other measurements and helps us to know digital 0, or the point at which the signal becomes distorted. 3. LUFS, which is measured in short term and integrated numbers on a loudness meter, I.e. not the channel strip in the DAW's mixer or by a VU meter. This is more accurate to what our ears hear than other measurements and incorporates more of the high end or upper frequencies than RMS in the VU meter or DBs on the channel strip. In what I remember from the "foundations first" method, we are aiming for 0 on the VU meter (for RMS) and -5DBs on the channel strip in the mixer. In this stage we are not looking at LUFS. Once we get the balance where we want it to be with the kick, snare, and bass, we continue to mix, etc... using short term LUFS metering. Just to note for anyone else who might read this post, I value developing and using my ears for this kind of work, but I find that measurements and metering helps me create a good baseline that I can then tweak without having exhausted my ears.

Hey Phillip, thanks for this thread! I've had similar issues figuring out the kick-bass relationship in the "foundations first" method, but haven't been able to post. I remember hearing in the mix events that VU meters measure primarily low end frequencies. I personally have experienced higher levels there when adding subbass (via the Logic stock plugin) and so am learning to live with a 3 on a VU meter with both kick and bass and somewhere between -6 to -4db, especially when I've got the tone I'm looking for. Also, are we looking at 0 on the VU meter and -5db? Or should it be 0 VU and -5 LUFS (short term, presumably)? I haven't tried to get a kick and bass to -5 LUFS. Maybe I'll give it a try in my next session. I don't have much experience with EDM or hip-hop directly, but the people we produce, mix, and master for appreciate feeling the music in their bodies, which to me, translates to subbass. And I appreciate a clean, well defined kick, bass and a balanced mix, so getting this right has been important for me. Has anyone here who values a heavy low end tried to work through this "foundations first" method? I'd love to learn from your experience, if you're willing to share. Thank you!

Hello, I'm Stephanie. How's it going? Nice to be here. I'm looking forward to learning from all of you. I've been involved with music since I was small, but audio/production for about a year and a half. We record choirs, mostly. It feels like lots of work, but it's magic when it all comes together. I'm not a bot or AI (did you see that thread?), I'm just a pretty busy person and not very social. What can I help people with? Hmmm, that's a good question. 🤔😊

@Jasper Labuschagne 🙂 I always think of the oxygen mask bit of the airline pre-flight safety presentation when someone talks about tending to oneself before helping others. 🤔😁