Master Chain, too much?

[Bob Olhsson]

i keep wondering where people get this notion that mixes or masters must always be compressed.

Prior to the SSL desks most of the leading studios in world had maybe four compressors at the most in their control rooms. Abbey Road was very much the exception to how most of us worked.

[Thor]

Just mastered 1 track of a 3 song EP using 1 band of analogue EQ and a very gentle limiter.

Thanks, Dave!

[wado1942]

Mr. Olhsson, if it makes you feel any better, I have five compressors (mostly stereo or dual mono, though) in my mixing rack. I quite frequently only compress vocals and bass on typical rock songs. My mastering rack only has three compressors, one being a 3-band unit that hasn't been used in probably two years. What's really freaky is the over emphasis multi-band compression has gotten. I actually had a guy ask me if I ever use wide-band compression or only multi-band. Then, there's a few people who have seen my "how to" compression video on You Tube and told me I have no idea what I'm doing, only to find out that they think multi-band is the only way to go.

I also refuse to record bands to computers, instead using only a 16-track or even 4-track. So none of that "200 tracks for one song" stuff here either. In the rare occasion somebody insists they need insane numbers of tracks or have their performances made for them by an engineer, I have no problem with them going to any of a dozen other places here in town.