prepping mixes for mastering

[hw2nw]

Hi guys, I need some advice beyond what engineers have told me in passing. I finished tracking an album a few weeks ago and am working on the final mix for it.

My question is, what advice can you give me about providing the best possible final mix for the mastering house? I know I can get it to where I think it sounds perfect, but I mean as far as levels/comps/reverbs/etc so that the mastering house will be able to do their job to make a great mastered product. I've been told not to put comp/major effects on the master track, also keep my tracks 3-5dB from peaking, among lots of other things.

If it makes any difference, the style is indie rock- big drums, delayed guitars, reverb/delay on vox, and sometimes mixes thick with keys and whatnot.

Any advice from you mastering masters would be great


thanks!

[Lagerfeldt]

Originally Posted by hw2nw

know I can get it to where I think it sounds perfect

.. and that's really all we can ask.

Apart from that, you could:

...send the mix in advance for comments.
...do a vocal up mix just in case
...check for sibilance in vocals
...provide a 24 bit file at 44.1 kHz or higher peaking at somewhere between -6 dBFS and -3 dBFS
...don't fade the file
...don't put on master effects
...but do leave on gentle master compression used during mixing e.g. SSL comp - if you mixed through this only
...provide notes if needed about special wishes, fades, etc.

That's a quick check list.

[hw2nw]

thanks! anything else?

[dsteve]

Get your mix sounding like you want it to sound - except for the level. It's good to leave at least 3dbfs of headroom for the ME. If you're A/B'ing against commercial CDs, reduce the volume on the CD track to match your level. Personally, I would go easy on 2-buss compression and rely more on individual track compression or multi-buss comps. Good luck with the mixes!

[lucey]

Originally Posted by hw2nw

thanks! anything else?

A few ideas here