What A Bout No Comp At Mastering Stage?

[jaynm26]

Ok, some exp guys pro & non please weigh in here. OK im working on some projects here in the studio and (really goofing around) the compressor (dramwer) that will (the head eng here) setup was inactive just passing audio with a little gain and it sounded great! Most mastering comp really aren't doing "that much" when set right? (besides of harmonic content and what not) I mean the actual overall level? My question, would it hurt just not to have a compressor in the mastering chain at all? to help conserve dynamic range and just limit the audio. Am I crazy? wrong? a bloke? please tell me? I mean im trying my best to converse dynamic range and actually have a crest-factor while still being loud and commercially competitive.

Im just thinking out loud here if the goal is to persevere dynamic range and not to "crush' the audio the limiter is going to crush the audio some what anyway right? So a compressor in the mixing stage nor the mastering can compress that much right? or there will be no room at the mastering stage for dynamic range at limiting time. So once in the mastering stage the master comp setting are gentle in most cases and are set to be transparent (and Im not talking dubstep music that wants to pump your brains out) I mean most transparent settings are, fast to medium release, slow to medium attack, low ratios with low gain reduction. Even at these low & gentle settings you are loosing a hint of dynamic range correct? So would it hurt to just take it out?

What do most of yall try to accomplish with your compressor at the mastering stage? (I know thats a broad question just think of scenarios where you use small amounts of compression) If its an idiotic thing to think of, of no comp at the mastering stage just tell me just experimenting over here thas all. Anyway After that I tested both on Analog and digital and...(do I really have to give the spec's lol better now than later lol)

Analog Setup & Routing @ Wilson Art Mastering Studio

Monitoring - Dunlavy sv-c
Amp - Classe
Room - standard mastering room, great
Converters - Benchmark DAC1

Outboard gear (i was using at the time)
EQ - A Designs EM-EQ2
EQ - Bax EQ
Comp - Dramer S2, settings lets just say fast release, slow-medium attack, ratio 1:5 and about -3dB of gain reduction.
Out thru converts to DAW (here they use Wave Lab)

Digital, I tried same master (I know the plugins are different just bar with me the focus is dynamic range and overall level)

EQ - Pro Q
EQ - UAD Massive Passive
Comp - UAD fairchilld, time constant 1, gain reduction same -3
Limiter - Massey L2007

Again the settings of the fairchild were mild. I know its standard to use comp during mastering but what if you don't? ANy you guys exp or try this? Thoughts, comments please?

[AscendRecording]

If you don't use a compressor, your really not making your mix any louder. If your not using a compressor, that means your also not using a limiter since it's basically a compressor.

[Massive Master]

If you don't use a compressor, your really not making your mix any louder.

You don't need a compressor to make a mix louder. A compressor makes loud things quieter. Keeping in mind that "loud" does not equal "mastering" -- It's only a small part of the process as a whole.

If your not using a compressor, that means your also not using a limiter since it's basically a compressor.

Meh, compressor, limiter, brick-wall 'clipper', straight clip & reduction - Again, there are an awful lot of ways to skin that particular cat...

[AscendRecording]

A Compressor is used to increase the apparent volume of the lower signals. It does that by compressing the signal above the threshold, which creates more headroom. So by pushing the "makeup gain" up a bit, your bringing the higher level peaks back to their original apparent volume, the result of that is an increase in the volume of the lower level signals. I do understand what you are saying but in the end, compressors and limiters really are important for mastering. IMO I try to do very little in the mastering stage in terms of EQ. If there's anything I need to fix or clean up, I do it in the mixing stage. Now in terms of volume, I leave that to the mastering stage which is where compressors and limiters come into play.

[jaynm26]

^ Got us a war goin on coast to coa...I mean post to post lol. "WAR! HUGH! YEA! What is it good for!"

[CrowsofFritz]

I don't like it when Newbies to the site attempt to inform the people who have been here a while.

Everybody in this thread knows what a compressor does, though some more than others I suppose.

I was interested in Massive answering the original question, though. I don't know too much about the process of mastering.

[jaynm26]

I don't like it when Newbies to the site attempt to inform the people who have been here a while.

Everybody in this thread knows what a compressor does, though some more than others I suppose.

I was interested in Massive answering the original question, though. I don't know too much about the process of mastering.

I agree but the bad thing is when newbs come in we "really" dont know how knowledgable they are. I mean im sure when you guys came in and had that tag "newb" people prolly look at yall as real newbs when you weren't you had tons of knowledge and experience . That tag can really make you look bad when you first come in. Not taking anything away from what your saying Crow when your new you should walk little more carefully in respect to the vets....But on the other hand its hard to respect a vet and their post if you can clearly see they guy is a bloke and just been their along time chiming in with terrible advice and wrong answers (not in anyway with the case of Massive that guy has some great knowledge) but kinda get what im saying just weird how forums work.
My advice just not speaking is a win, win for both lol.

[jaynm26]

CrowsofFritz;4003873 I was interested in Massive answering the original question, though. I don't know too much about the process of mastering.

As do I the question was more target towards massive, waltz, gonzo the guys who do master...(Gotta be careful who direct questions to round here start filtering the more "knowledgeable" guys here and you quick to get crucified ...I would know.)

Anyway..yeah whats yall guys answer never did get an answer from you Massive or the other guys im quite curios...Promise it will be the last post bout compression. I really do appreciate you guys tho for your answer Im putting them to work.

[CrowsofFritz]

I agree but the bad thing is when newbs come in we "really" dont know how knowledgable they are. I mean im sure when you guys came in and had that tag "newb" people prolly look at yall as real newbs when you weren't you had tons of knowledge and experience . That tag can really make you look bad when you first come in. Not taking anything away from what your saying Crow when your new you should walk little more carefully in respect to the vets....But on the other hand its hard to respect a vet and their post if you can clearly see they guy is a bloke and just been their along time chiming in with terrible advice and wrong answers (not in anyway with the case of Massive that guy has some great knowledge) but kinda get what im saying just weird how forums work.
My advice just not speaking is a win, win for both lol.

I mean, I never really look at them as newbies to knowledge, just newbies to the site. When a guy asks me what compression is, then I will know that he is a newbie to both the site and knowledge about audio. From what I can see, AscendRecording knows what compression is, so I would imagine he has some knowledge of audio. He has no idea about who the forum members are and he was explaining what compression is to Massive!

[jaynm26]