Question for the PROS!!

[MREVOL]

I would like to try a new way of mastering for me. So i would like to run out of my pro tools- da-16x then to my ssl g compressor then to manley vari mu for a touch of limiting and back in to print.

Do i use a master fader out of pro tools, and if so why dont i hear anything if i route it to other outs. Or do i use an aux track and out then back in to a stereo track to print.

Also please tell me what i would use to beef up the level after that. It seems i can only get so much level out of the manley.

Sorry for my lack of experiance in mastering but i hope thats what this forum is for!!! To better everyone's knowledge

[MASSIVE Master]

Go out of a group (or the track itself) through whatever outputs you want and back to another channel through whatever inputs you want. It's no different than inserting on track.

The "level beefing" is sort of program dependent... There are 100 ways to skin that cat and the mix is going to dictate which one is "proper" (to you) in each case.

You might try a limiter... You might try another compressor... You might try a limiter ITB before the output - or a compressor - or a sheer volume boost - or a large coffee with cream & sugar -

Sorry - I need some more coffee... Long day, gonna be a long night...

[Kyle Ashley]

I'm the farthest thing from a ME, but I do have to pseudo master my demos for clients. I prefer to think of it more as "finalizing" than "mastering".

I'm also trying a new approach that seems to yield at least a wider mix. I take 3 stereo final mixes.....One goes into a track and mono-ized. The other 2 go into tracks and I kill the center info and only keep the sides, L & R. I can then blend these and process independently if necessary.

So far the results have been nicer than my old method of just working with a single stereo track, but I've only done it on a simple Piano/Vocal track. Looking forward to trying on more detailed mixes in the future.

Any of the pro MEs doing this sort of thing? Any refinements I can make to the technique?

[MASSIVE Master]

M/S is pretty popular when it's needed.

I don't *like* to have to break into M/S, but it can certainly be a saving grace... If you're finding yourself using it as a default - Especially on your own mixes - you might want to look at *why* it's needed...

(IMO, YMMV, yada, yada, etc., etc.)

[MREVOL]

Thanks--

So i don't use a MASTER TRACK i should just use a AUX TRACK.

Put a plug like L2 to beef the signal go out to the ssl and manley then just come back in and record on a new track.

Is this correct. Im really trying not to use "Bounce to disk" as i have heard people say it sounds better printing the mix.

ANy input is greatly appreciated!!!

[MREVOL]

Hey Massive---i just researched your place. LOOKS GREAT. any pointers you can give me, any manley vari mu settings you like better? Should i use the ssl into the manley or just use the manley for compression??

[MASSIVE Master]

(A) Thanks!

(B) I really don't know what to tell you on that one - I use compressor combinations here and there, but I don't think I've ever chained the SSL (clone) and the VariMu - if that means anything.

I can tell you one thing - If you haven't had the HPF sidechain mod done on your VariMu, don't wait. It'll be the best $200 you've ever spent. I don't think I've bypassed it (the HPF) since I had it put in.