A bit New to Mastering - Limiter?

[ovdojoey]

Okay. So I am new to the whole recording thing actually - I have taught myself everything I know and have purchased gear along the way (I currently have: Avantone CV12, API A2D pre/convertor, MOTU 828MK3...)

BUT I really am still lost with my mixing / mastering.

1) Should I run all my mixes with a limiter on my final output track while I am mixing (if so whats a great gain ... I normally use 4-6dB gain with the attack on the UAD Limiter on auto or .01... is the UA limiter good?

2) When I am mixing I feel like my output track will clip unless I run a limiter on the final track, is this normal - but if I turn everything else down I seem to lose the power of the mix completely and have to crank up the limiter (I must be mixing wrong)

3) Should I run a compressor on each channel of the audio (I know this is more of a mixing question) but does it help the final mix to keep it really up to par and make the mastering a bit easier?

4) What kind of EQ should I be running on the final track, I know this a taste issue but I like to add some 10 - 12 kHz air with the Precision Equalizer (a 1.5dB increase) and then boost some bass (around 70 Hz) (1 dB increase) and do a little bit of mid cut. Is this a good starting setup? Is the precision eq good for a final mastering setup?

5) Should I run a compressor on the final mix? Such as the Neve 33609? I think when I did this is really made it softer and took away ALL the dynamics even when only the limit mode was selected with fast attack...

Jesus I just realized I posted a lot of very detailed questions ... lol... Any and all help would be much appreciated.

You can check out my mixes at MySpace.com - Found Yesterday - Orlando, Florida - Acoustic / Alternative / Rock - www.myspace.com/foundyesterday and let me know if I'm doing something fundamentally wrong (but beware some of this was mastered with Ozone (gasp.. don't kill me...) lol)

[MASSIVE Master]

1a) IMO, absolutely not. 1b) Preferably, none. 1c) Very nice.

2) No, it's not normal. And if your mix is "losing power" at a lower volume, then turn up your monitoring system.

3) I would tend to hope not. And no, it will absolutely not "make mastering easier."

You need to stop equating "mastering" with "volume" -- Volume is an afterthought - and if you want to consider it a "reward" for a well-done mix, you can. But work on the mix when you're mixing.

4a) None...? Why would you add EQ to the 2-buss when you have the whole mix right there in front of you? MIX. If the mix sounds dull, find out why and fix it. 4b) Yes, the PEQ is very nice.

5) A dB or two of GR for a little "glue" can be fine - But you're too busy concentrating on getting the mix 'loud' instead of concentrating what serves and benefits the mix.

MIX.

Worry about goofy volume crap later. MIX. Keep some headroom. You're not doing the whole "track as hot as you can without clipping" thing too, are you?

[kjg]

Originally Posted by ovdojoey

1) Should I run all my mixes with a limiter on my final output track.

No. just try to get the mix as good as you can without anything on the mix bus.

2) When I am mixing I feel like my output track will clip unless I run a limiter on the final track

Don't mix into a limiter. If you run out of headroom on your mix bus reduce fader levels or gains further up the signal path. If it is too quiet, turn up the monitor gain. Bringing the track up to its "loudness potential" is what you do in mastering. First you are mixing.

3) Should I run a compressor on each channel of the audio

No. You should use a compressor on only the channels where you want to control/reduce the dynamics. The same goes for eq. You use what you need. Not more. By default you use nothing at all.

4) What kind of EQ should I be running on the final track

None. You should try to get the mix right on the track level. If you think the mix is too dynamic, use compressors on channels, not on the mix bus. If you think the mix is too dull, bring up the level on bright instruments/parts or eq certain instruments to sound brighter - don't eq your whole mix.

5) Should I run a compressor on the final mix? Such as the Neve 33609? I think when I did this is really made it softer and took away ALL the dynamics even when only the limit mode was selected with fast attack...

If you are still learning to use dynamics on the track level, you should probably not be using it on the mix bus. If you do put a compressor on the whole mix, add it when you are halfway there. Do not mix into it from the beginning. Make a rough level and stereo balance first - generally get your mix going. Then try a compressor with medium attack, medium release, low ratio, threshold to taste.

[24-96 Mastering]

Originally Posted by ovdojoey

Okay. So I am new to the whole recording thing actually - I have taught myself everything I know and have purchased gear along the way (I currently have: Avantone CV12, API A2D pre/convertor, MOTU 828MK3...)

BUT I really am still lost with my mixing / mastering.

1) Should I run all my mixes with a limiter on my final output track while I am mixing (if so whats a great gain ... I normally use 4-6dB gain with the attack on the UAD Limiter on auto or .01... is the UA limiter good?

2) When I am mixing I feel like my output track will clip unless I run a limiter on the final track, is this normal - but if I turn everything else down I seem to lose the power of the mix completely and have to crank up the limiter (I must be mixing wrong)

3) Should I run a compressor on each channel of the audio (I know this is more of a mixing question) but does it help the final mix to keep it really up to par and make the mastering a bit easier?

4) What kind of EQ should I be running on the final track, I know this a taste issue but I like to add some 10 - 12 kHz air with the Precision Equalizer (a 1.5dB increase) and then boost some bass (around 70 Hz) (1 dB increase) and do a little bit of mid cut. Is this a good starting setup? Is the precision eq good for a final mastering setup?

5) Should I run a compressor on the final mix? Such as the Neve 33609? I think when I did this is really made it softer and took away ALL the dynamics even when only the limit mode was selected with fast attack...

Jesus I just realized I posted a lot of very detailed questions ... lol... Any and all help would be much appreciated.

You can check out my mixes at MySpace.com - Found Yesterday - Orlando, Florida - Acoustic / Alternative / Rock - www.myspace.com/foundyesterday and let me know if I'm doing something fundamentally wrong (but beware some of this was mastered with Ozone (gasp.. don't kill me...) lol)

1. NO. Please don't have a limiter in your signal path while you mix.

2. No need for a limiter at all. If your audio application is using Floating Point calculation (which it probably will) internally, than turning down your master fader is all you need to.

3. No. Not generally anyway. You're right, this is ONLY a mixing question. Don't concern yourself too much with what would be "proper" for mastering later. At the stage you are, the goal should be more to get the mix to sound the way you want it to sound. Shape the dynamics of your individual tracks so they work in your mix. And preserve all the dynamics in the sum (the stereo mix bus). In mixing, never limit or compress just because you think that you have to, only if you want to.

4. The definition of mastering - to some extent - is that it is all relative. What you do depends on what needs to be done. There's no starting setup. There's never a preset. Ideally, have someone else master your tracks. If that's not an option, make sure you understand the nature of the task. First you listen, then you find in which way the song/mix is not what it should or could be, then you find a way of getting it there. Since you're only starting with this, be aware that it will be a pretty steep learning curve and will require some time. Bob Katz's book "Mastering Audio" will help. But the most important thing to begin with is to understand that "it all depends". What you do only depends on what needs doing. Don't fix something that isn't broken. There's a difference between mere change and improvement. Change is easy, but meaningless. Improvement is hard, but rewarding.

5. Again, it all depends. Run a mix bus compressor if you like the sound. If you don't then don't. It sounds though like you need to play with compression and learn a lot about its effects though. Learn to hear compression. Play with attack and release times. Set yourself goals before starting to turn controls. What is it you want to do with it? Do you want to control levels over different song sections? Do you want to bring the groove out, maybe even make the drums pump a bit and give them a punchier sound? If used right on the mix bus, it can work wonders on some songs, emphasising rhythm or feel, make it breathe, etc. If used badly, it can do the opposite and kill the music. I would suggest however, that you don't use a compressor on the mix bus while mixing. Some people do that and produce great results, but it is potentially "dangerous", especially if you're not experienced with it.

Regarding Compression in Mastering: If you're not sure what you want to achieve with mix bus compression - or if you can't get it to do what you want from it, don't use it yet when you print your mixes. Getting your head round compression will take some time. The best way forward is a bit of reading and a lot of practise.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Split your mixing and mastering duties and don't try and master while you are mixing.

IT DOES NOT WORK! trust me.