[bgrotto]

Originally Posted by smoke

There should never be anything wrong with asking a question. You have to start somewhere. Others want the same info, but were probably afraid to ask, so he stepped up.

This is true, but on the other hand, there's a LOT of information available on the basics of mastering. A cursory glance at a Google search or even Wikipedia will turn up piles of info, not to mention the fact that it's been covered a dozen times here on GS. Furthermore, there's an entire forum dedicated to the art, with a lot of real pros willing to share their insight.

I understand it can be intimidating, but I also feel it's crass and ignorant to come around looking for such easy answers. People looking for professional results - in any art, trade, or occupation - simply need to hire a professional.

I ... apply Waves L2 CD Rendering pre setting to get the track as loud as possible.

I know some people run them through maximizers

I am missing something here and I just don't know what to do to get it louder and have more impact.

These three statements are clues to the fact that this guy has a LOT to learn, and there's not a single piece of advice that any person on GS that can offer him better than the first six answers. Those answers were, to paraphrase: practice makes perfect; watching a pro will be very enlightening; a good master starts with a good mix; it's a bad idea to master your own material; you need to hire a professional if you want professional results.

Maybe you find that discouraging. If that's the case, I'm gonna let you in on a secret: the world is a discouraging place. There are no easy answers, and that's especially true if you wanna deal with trying to make a career in music. When someone fails to give you the answer you want, you can't go crying about how everyone is mean, elitist, whatever (even though it may be all true). These people are still giving you good, valid advice, even if the answer's not the one you wanted to hear. It doesn't mean they're out to get you.