Buss Compression -> Mastering louder!

[craze3]

I'm working on a rap remix in Reaper, but everytime I export the track, it's not nearly as loud as the original song.
While I'm used to this happening, I'm wondering what is the most effective way to counter this?

I slapped a L1 on the master, set the threshold to about -3.0db, and now my perceived loudness is finally competing with commercial tracks.
However, this sounds like too-noob of a solution

1. What are other (& hopefully better) methods of increasing the mastered level of the song?

2. Why is the volume dropping in the first place? The volume sounds perfect when I'm playing it in Reaper, but as soon as I've exported to a wav/mp3 in iTunes, it sounds quieter. Is this a side-effect of mastering ITB? Is it due to the mastering algorithms of various DAWs?

Appreciate any tips & help, thanks!

[BobbyTheProducer]

I don't think theres anything wrong with mixing into a limiter if you aren't sending your tracks out for mastering. I think it makes more sense to self master in the mix session so you can hear what it is doing to your mix and tone down any frequencies it may be distorting. The L1 is ok, a little harsh for me but it will get the job done.

[JoRillo]

This is the three mastering options for a home studio perfectionist (how I look at it anyway):

A) Mix the shit out of your song until it sounds as perfect as it is guna get, then send it of to a mastering engineer (new set of ears) and receive back an awesome sounding final product (hopefully).

B) Mix it to the best of your ability's then give it a couple days (fresh set of ears) then master it until it is amazing and be really happy with how the finish product sounds since you did it all yourself.

C) Mix it until there is nothing else you can think of, slap L1, L2 or whatever other limiter you feel like on there, and call it a day. You will think that there will have been more you could do, but it still sounds good at the end of the day so who really cares.

[craze3]

Originally Posted by JoRillo

This is the three mastering options for a home studio perfectionist (how I look at it anyway).

A is not an option for me since I want to learn how to master myself.
I'm definitely at C and I wanna move up to B.

How do actual mastering engineers do it? By running the track through certain pieces of hardware? What exactly am I missing?
I feel like all the techniques I've been learning are for mixing, and the only actual mastering technique I know is to slap a limiter on the master buss

[boosh]

Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science: Amazon.ca: Bob Katz: Books

Read and learn ;-)

[BobbyTheProducer]

Originally Posted by craze3

A is not an option for me since I want to learn how to master myself.
I'm definitely at C and I wanna move up to B.

How do actual mastering engineers do it? By running the track through certain pieces of hardware? What exactly am I missing?
I feel like all the techniques I've been learning are for mixing, and the only actual mastering technique I know is to slap a limiter on the master buss

Best thing to do is book a session with a good ME to work on your material. You'll get to see how they process your tracks firsthand, you'll have before and after versions for your reference, and you'll get some feedback/possibly a reality check on your music from a pro. Ive done this twice and it was valuable to say the least.

[Donkeylips]

for mastering my friend you need to spend time gaining knowledge on Eq, compression and spend 80% of that time listening and comparing. understand frequencies and how they can be manipulated.

[Piedpiper]

Originally Posted by Donkeylips

for mastering my friend you need to spend time gaining knowledge on Eq, compression and spend 80% of that time listening and comparing. understand frequencies and how they can be manipulated.

...and have an immaculately accurate monitoring chain...

[craze3]

Originally Posted by Donkeylips

for mastering my friend you need to spend time gaining knowledge on Eq, compression and spend 80% of that time listening and comparing. understand frequencies and how they can be manipulated.

Originally Posted by Piedpiper

...and have an immaculately accurate monitoring chain...

Ah okay I completely agree. I have been learning general mastering strategies, like eq and compression, and they are properly applied in my mix, but I'm wondering which specific mastering techniques are most effective for tackling the "perceive loudness" issue.

[Piedpiper]

Originally Posted by craze3

Ah okay I completely agree. I have been learning general mastering strategies, like eq and compression, and they are properly applied in my mix, but I'm wondering which specific mastering techniques are most effective for tackling the "perceive loudness" issue.

usually both compression and limiting, and to some degree EQ...

[bgrotto]

Originally Posted by craze3

I slapped a L1 on the master, set the threshold to about -3.0db, and now my perceived loudness is finally competing with commercial tracks.
However, this sounds like too-noob of a solution

Quite the contrary. The very best mixes need little in the way of mastering. If all it takes is a few dB of limiting to get your mix to where you ultimately want it in terms of tonality, dynamics, and loudness, that just means you've nailed it.

[beat you down]

i'm far from nailing it then

[KT1]

I'm not even a competent Mix engineer yet alone a mastering engineer. That being said in terms of just getting volume without destroying the mix i made some observations. This is just in my case and im sure is not to be taken to literally.

I simply add a glue comp just to get things working nicely together. This should be minimal compression and is not adding much in terms of volume. What it does is brings everything together.

Once i am happy with that i slap on a multiband compress. I'm really liking these and I usually (not sure if it is my environment) end up compressing the lows and highs a little more than the mids to get a nice sounding balance.

Once i am happy with that ill put a limiter on and add some DB usually around 3 is required till i get a decent volume. Finally I slap an EQ and usually not always add a little on the top and roll off aroun 30htz.

This usually gives me a decent level without smushing my mix. If required i may also use a gain utility at the start of the chain.

Please note this is not what i would call mastering. It is adding volume without any impact on the mix. I'm not adding anything really in terms of dynamics or sonics aside from a higher perceived volume.

[EDF]

If it sounds good then you might have a good mix that doesn't need too much mastering.

Is this a single song or whole project?

[Storyville]

Originally Posted by craze3

A is not an option for me since I want to learn how to master myself.
I'm definitely at C and I wanna move up to B.

How do actual mastering engineers do it? By running the track through certain pieces of hardware? What exactly am I missing?
I feel like all the techniques I've been learning are for mixing, and the only actual mastering technique I know is to slap a limiter on the master buss

If you want to actually learn how to master, attend mastering sessions, ask questions, and hear the results. Worked for me and pretty much everyone else I know.

[Storyville]

Originally Posted by bgrotto

Quite the contrary. The very best mixes need little in the way of mastering. If all it takes is a few dB of limiting to get your mix to where you ultimately want it in terms of tonality, dynamics, and loudness, that just means you've nailed it.