Mix level

[HangDawg]

I record on a HD24 and mix through a Sountracs console into my PC using a Delta1010/Wavelab. I have the master buss fader on the console at unity and the meters are just touching 0db occasionally. The peak of the mix is pretty low, around -18db. Is this too low? I can use L2 limiter and get the level up and everything sounds clean.


Just wondering?

[masteringhouse]

Originally Posted by HangDawg

I record on a HD24 and mix through a Sountracs console into my PC using a Delta1010/Wavelab. I have the master buss fader on the console at unity and the meters are just touching 0db occasionally. The peak of the mix is pretty low, around -18db. Is this too low? I can use L2 limiter and get the level up and everything sounds clean.


Just wondering?

From your description it sounds like your trying to set the peak levels on the VU meters of the analog console at 0. This usually corresponds to about -18dBFS on a digital peak meter. So to answer your question, yes it's low. What you want to do is use 0 on the VU as a guide for your average level not your peak. Then make sure that the peak level on the digital meter isn't going past -1dBFS to ensure that you are not clipping anything.

[HangDawg]

That's what I thought, but it's nice to have clarification sometimes. So, what does it do for me by getting levels up? Better signal/noise? Less L2 limiter for sure

[masteringhouse]

Originally Posted by HangDawg

That's what I thought, but it's nice to have clarification sometimes. So, what does it do for me by getting levels up? Better signal/noise? Less L2 limiter for sure

Yep, better signal to noise ratio, less quantization distortion, better digital resolution, and hopefully no L2 on your mix!