# Fader creep

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**Fader creep** is a [colloquial](/source/Colloquialism) term used in [audio recording](/source/Audio_recording) to describe a tendency for [sound engineers](/source/Sound_engineer) to raise the [gain](/source/Gain_(electronics)) of individual channels on a [mixing console](/source/Mixing_console), rather than lowering others, to achieve a desired change or fix perceived problems in the [mix](/source/Audio_mixing).[1] For example, an engineer might compensate for a particularly loud drum track by raising the volumes of the voice, the guitar, and the piano to the point where all of the individual signals are competing for [headroom](/source/Headroom_(audio_signal_processing)). Fader creep may also occur in audio mixing for [live concerts](/source/Live_concert).

Fader creep can be a particular problem in audio mixing sessions for [multi-track recordings](/source/Multi-track_recording), where individual sounds held on separate audio [tracks](/source/Song), or delivered by outboard [MIDI](/source/MIDI) or [computer audio](/source/Sound_card) equipment are combined into the final [stereo](/source/Stereo) presentation of the recording. The faders ([potentiometers](/source/Potentiometers) that operate by sliding up or down) or volume controls (rotary potentiometers) on the [mixing board](/source/Mixing_board) or [audio processor](/source/Audio_processor) gradually "creep" toward the maximum volume setting, which reduces the ability to manipulate the relative volumes between channels. This can also result in [clipping](/source/Clipping_(audio)) or [distortion](/source/Distortion) of the master mix, which is when the overall volume of sound is too great for the equipment or [recording medium](/source/Recording_medium) intended to hold it.[2]

Common causes of fader creep include ear fatigue, or the diminishing of the ability for the human ear to hear clearly after prolonged exposure to loud sounds, which can reduce the ability of the sound engineer to hear the individual components of the mix accurately. It may also occur if the master fader or monitor's levels are too low and an engineer attempts to address this by setting individual faders higher.[3]

## See also

- [Loudness war](/source/Loudness_war)

## References

1. [*Sound Recording Practice: A Handbook*](https://books.google.com/books?id=emM5AQAAIAAJ). Oxford University Press. 1980. p. 293. ISBN 978-0-19-311920-8. Retrieved 2 February 2024.

1. Ashcroft, Fran (21 February 2023). [*The Analogue Approach to Digital Recording and Mixing*](https://books.google.com/books?id=ogmmEAAAQBAJ). The Crowood Press. ISBN 978-0-7198-4177-4. Retrieved 2 February 2024.

1. Jones, Hollin. ["Mixing While Recording or Producing: When To Do It & When Not To"](https://ask.audio/articles/mixing-while-recording-or-producing-when-to-do-it-when-not-to). *Ask.audio*. Retrieved 2 February 2024.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fader creep](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fader_creep) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fader_creep?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.