Thanks for the listens and positive feedback. So many questions and suggestions! LOL!
Let's see... first off, this is my basic set up:
Guitars: (main electric guitar) ESP AX-350; I also use a Jackson PS-4 from time to time for the tremolo; my acoustic guitars are terrible for recording (sold my Taylor (110?) to my brother-in-law cheap as an Xmas present for his daughter) -- Ovation Elite TX (fantastic guitar, but terrible mic'd) and a cheap Fender FA-something
Effects: I use a POD XT for all my bass and guitar effects
Bass: ESP F-104
Keys: All VSTs triggered by an old Alesis QS6
Drums: Superior Drummer 2.0 (I've never quite mastered that software -- way too many options); triggered with a Korg PADKONTROL
Mics: Behringer B2 Pro for vox and a cheap MXL mic for acoustic guitars
DAW: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 rack interface; Behringer Autocom rack compressor for vox and acoustic guitar inputs; Cubase 9.5 (just upgraded from 4); JBL 3 series monitors; KRK Rockit 10" powered sub.
As far as my effects chain and all that, the compressor on the vocal/acoustic inputs is the only consistent one. I vary like crazy on what software effects are used from song to song.
I do not mic amps. Fuck that. ;-) I'm way too lazy and do NOT have room for that. Not to mention that with my spare-bedroom acoustics, it would sound way worse if I mic'd an amp. I'm fine with POD XT, thank you.
I know the tunes are over-limited. I'm doing all I can to make my songs sound like... whoever... Foo Fighters, because people complain that when one of my songs comes up in shuffle, they can't hear it. I know how that sounds. It sucks. I should be able to get closer to that ideal without ruining my mixes. I don't want quiet mixes that sound good. That's not why I'm here. I want LOUD mixes that STILL sound good.
I posted my master out EQ and Maximizer settings in the other song thread. I used those on most of the new tunes because some guy on YouTube said to.