Is this mix too quiet or too loud???

[illacov]

I used something I read about in Bob Katz's book on Mastering, regarding Parallel compression.

On the first track was a mix I did OTB with various low end compressors on difference sources (ART Pro Vla on vox and drum buss, DOD R825 for bass and snare, dbx 163x for kick and a dbx 263x for de-essing) This was mixed on a Yamaha MG12/4 with an MOTU 2408 mk1 interface, expanded with a Behringer ADA8000. Sync was via Wordclock from the MOTU.

I used some URS eq plug ins (fulltec to drop some lo freq at 30 hz) to an ART ProVla with slow attack, fast release setting, ratio was 2:1 with about 1.5 to 2 db of gain reduction on peaks past -5db (threshold set at this).

I followed this up with an N mix eq from URS to add back some low end.
2 instances of Voxengo Elephant followed, both were doing no gain reduction just fattening up the signal so to speak by eating up some of the headroom and affecting the transients in a positive manner IMHO.

Then on another track I had an uncompressed version of my same mix, with just some eqing (URS N mix) to preserve and solidify the low end and some hi shelving to emphasize the warmer highs coming from the Pro Vla on the parallel track.

These two tracks were both summed together on a stereo output, which had 1 instance of Voxengo Curve Eq set to Lush Color, 1 instance of Sonalksis SV315mk1 using settings based on the Open Master preset, with less than a decibel of gain reduction, slow attack fastest release and the last sidechain setting on the right. No limiting.
Also 2 instances of Timeworks Mastering Compressor, both set with faster release times, but both doing no gain reduction. I simply adjusted the first one's threshold to bring the level up without any gain reduction, then the second one was the same idea, but to fatten up the signal a little more.
I used Inspector RMS was averaging around -14 to -13.
I mixed this down with an Export to audio file (I use Cubase SX3) realtime, then I took the resulting stereo file and ran it thru the same template again.

Suprisingly this actually helped to fatten the file up and Im almost certain that it wouldnt hurt to try doing this more than twice, to see how fat the mix could get.

So anyways here's the mp3 (please no flaming)

Uploading.com - The best file hosting service! - truth master b katz para X2.mp3 - Truth mix parallel b katz method

RMS is between -13 and -12.

My biggest issue is the mix seems "ok" at lower volumes but if I turn up the volume some more its sounds a hell of alot better, much in the ways that older music does as well.

To put it in perspective, if I have my stereo's volume knob at 25 out of 55. Most commercial music is like BOOM. You feel it, but its overbearing and annoying like people who speak loudly all the time (no indoors voice).

If I play my mixes/masters at this level I get the feeling that it needs more volume and it needs to be turned up, however once the volume is turned up the music sounds good and its in my opinion more dynamic, less squashed and the kick and snare are actually punching/snapping instead of pounding/smashing. But now my stereo is at 30 or 35 out of 55. Why the f*$K does this matter to me so much???

Moving on....

I experimented at one point and used L3 on this to see if it would get louder (better??) and it did but not without it being contrived in my opinion and losing some of that snap and punch that I really like from the mix in the first place.

BTW I mixed with no 2 buss compression, so my aim in the mastering phase was to create some level (volume) but not lose that same punch I just mentioned, that was there without the compression.

Ok enough talk, here it goes.

Peace
Illumination