Thank you very much! This was extremely helpful

One useful Pro Channel trick is if you need to adjust gain and the plugin won't do it load an empty fx rack. Even without anything in the rack you still have access to the input and output volume controls. The Channel Tools plugin can also change volume levels.
 
I've never found the need for a third-party plugin that just changes the volume, all DAWs come with plenty of tools that can do that job, and have for as long as producing digital audio in computers has existed.

tlw
One useful Pro Channel trick is if you need to adjust gain and the plugin won't do it load an empty fx rack. Even without anything in the rack you still have access to the input and output volume controls. The Channel Tools plugin can also change volume levels.
 
I've never found the need for a third-party plugin that just changes the volume, all DAWs come with plenty of tools that can do that job, and have for as long as producing digital audio in computers has existed.

Yes, scook pointed this out to me a while back (and I should have known it anyway but he has a way of cutting through my cluttered, chaotic bullsh*t reasoning).
 
It's actually a great way to automate volume without having envelopes overtake more important controls like the Gain knobs and track Faders.
 
There are other ways too but that's probably the easiest that guarantees no unwanted effects... and it can be put anywhere in the PC or FX Rack chain.

Another useful resource on Marc Mozart's web site, http://www.mixedbymarcmozart.com/
under the heading Gain Staging: the bank account of your mix.
 
And if do you want a third party gain/trim plug-in try this from a respected plug-in maker
https://www.sonalksis.com/freeg.htm
 
 
 

 
Blue Cat Audio's absolutely free Gain Suite is not to be missed:
 
http://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Product_GainSuite/

Thank you all so much for the help!