mix buss levels, plug ins, pre mastering etc. (question)

turk sanchez · 11th February 2006

I have a few questions. I see a lot of you guys posting and saying that you print your pre masters with lots of headroom...this is interesting because I tend to try and "get it up there"...especially with the kick and snare. I get my kick and snare poppin' and then build around that...on the mix buss I am using Mc DSP compressorbank and maxim (i mix in the box...not by choice). The compressor barley moves if at all...then I crank the make up gain as hot as it will go before clipping output...then just maxim for the ceiling (-.03) and maybe -2 db of compressions in maxim.

This gets pretty loud mixes with very little compression...

I wish I had some other plugs for the mixbuss...McDSP rocks but is too colored for this...

I am sending out some mixes today to the local mastering house and was thinking of trying something different...

What do you all think of the way I am doing it (in theory of course)? why do you guys like to print mixes so low? And also...what compressor plugs are you guys who mix in the box digging lately?

Thanks...

Waffle Waitress

turk sanchez · 11th February 2006

I should also mention that I am talking about rock mixes...

Thanks

pingu · 11th February 2006

Hi man i used to do similar, but i started paying too much attention to the meters.

From now on i mix with the meters off.

I feel the level meters in digital are not really helpful at all except for maybe the K-system and rms in mastering.

But generally this leaving headroom came out i beleive for 2 reasons.

1 To leave the ME room

2 DAW master buss should not be pushed as it sounds harsh.

Its good to know this but not be scared to go beyond.

What i normally do with master fader at the end of a mix is, and this is near the end of the mix is push it up and down just like it was an instrument until i hear the sound i want.

I know i am losing bits if the MF is under 0db but i move it until it sounds good.

Sometimes its -8 sometimes its -3

turk sanchez · 11th February 2006

cool ideas...that seems to make sense to me. interesting...thanks

11th February 2006	#1
turk sanchez Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Austin Posts: 960 Thread Starter	mix buss levels, plug ins, pre mastering etc. (question) I have a few questions. I see a lot of you guys posting and saying that you print your pre masters with lots of headroom...this is interesting because I tend to try and "get it up there"...especially with the kick and snare. I get my kick and snare poppin' and then build around that...on the mix buss I am using Mc DSP compressorbank and maxim (i mix in the box...not by choice). The compressor barley moves if at all...then I crank the make up gain as hot as it will go before clipping output...then just maxim for the ceiling (-.03) and maybe -2 db of compressions in maxim. This gets pretty loud mixes with very little compression... I wish I had some other plugs for the mixbuss...McDSP rocks but is too colored for this... I am sending out some mixes today to the local mastering house and was thinking of trying something different... What do you all think of the way I am doing it (in theory of course)? why do you guys like to print mixes so low? And also...what compressor plugs are you guys who mix in the box digging lately? Thanks... Waffle Waitress

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11th February 2006	#3
pingu Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Perth Australia Posts: 665	Hi man i used to do similar, but i started paying too much attention to the meters. From now on i mix with the meters off. I feel the level meters in digital are not really helpful at all except for maybe the K-system and rms in mastering. But generally this leaving headroom came out i beleive for 2 reasons. 1 To leave the ME room 2 DAW master buss should not be pushed as it sounds harsh. Its good to know this but not be scared to go beyond. What i normally do with master fader at the end of a mix is, and this is near the end of the mix is push it up and down just like it was an instrument until i hear the sound i want. I know i am losing bits if the MF is under 0db but i move it until it sounds good. Sometimes its -8 sometimes its -3