As a live sound engineer, one of the small but critical decisions I make during every Front of House (FOH) mix is where I place my Main L/R fader.

And for me, that sweet spot is almost always right at unity gain.

This might sound like a minor detail, but believe me — your entire gain structure and sound quality can be affected by how you treat your main fader.

So, in this post, I’ll walk you through:

Why I prefer to keep the Main L/R fader at unity The advantages it brings to my mixing workflow When it might make sense to go below unity And a few thoughts for you to reflect on as an engineer

What Does “Unity Gain” Mean in Mixing?

In simple terms, unity gain is when a signal passes through a device — like a fader — without being amplified or attenuated. It’s usually marked by a “0” on your fader strip.

In practice, setting your Main L/R fader to unity means:

You’re not boosting or cutting the overall output You allow your mix to pass through transparently Your other level settings (channel faders, subgroups, DCAs) remain more predictable

Why I Stick to Unity on the Main L/R Fader

1. It Keeps My Mix Transparent and Accurate

I want what I’m hearing in the mix to be exactly what’s hitting the speakers — without coloration or unexpected drop in level. Mixing at unity ensures that my output reflects my mix without artificial changes in gain.

2. It Supports Proper Gain Staging

Good gain staging is the foundation of every clean, punchy mix. Keeping the Main L/R at unity lets me focus on balancing individual inputs, groups, and DCAs without having to constantly correct for a dropped master fader.

3. System Tuning Becomes Reliable

If the FOH system has been properly tuned to unity reference, I want to keep it that way. Adjusting the master fader below unity could throw off EQ settings, compressor thresholds, or processor behavior — especially when using external DSP or analog gear.

4. It Gives Me Headroom and Prevents Surprises

With unity set as a fixed reference, I can build my mix confidently around it. If I ever need to adjust the overall level, I prefer doing it from the system processor or using DCA masters — not by dragging the L/R fader down and risking a messy gain structure.

But Some Engineers Do Mix Below Unity — And That’s Fine Too

Let’s be real — context matters.

Some engineers intentionally pull the Main L/R fader slightly below unity as a safety buffer to avoid unexpected peaks or overloads. Others use it as a final “trim” to control the loudness of their system in venues where system tuning isn’t reliable.

And honestly, in situations where your amp gain is too hot, or your mix starts off too loud — that approach makes sense. But for me, I’d rather fix that at the amplifier or processor level, not at the console’s output stage.

What About You?

Every engineer develops their workflow over time — and that’s part of what makes live sound such a creative and technical art.

So I’ll throw this question back at you:

Do you mix with your Main L/R fader at Unity or Below?

Let me know your take in the comments or tag me on Instagram @mixedbydrcrack — I’d love to hear how you approach it.

Final Thoughts

Mixing live sound is more than just pushing faders — it’s about building consistent, repeatable systems that deliver the best sound possible to your audience.

Keeping the Main L/R fader at unity is one of those small habits that help me stay disciplined, intentional, and in control.

You don’t have to do it the same way I do — but you should understand the “why” behind whatever method you use.

Until next time,

– Olayinka Adebayo (Mixedbydrcrack)

Sound Engineer | Educator | Consultant