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paokz
Member
Before mastering i cut down volumes from all tracks?..I mean busses reverbs..Everything?..So i can get a nice level
witzendoz
Senior Member
Don't know what you mean? Why? What is the point of the statement?
Or are you meaning something else and not explaining it properly.
Isn't the point to get the best mix possible before mastering?
Alan.
Or are you meaning something else and not explaining it properly.
Isn't the point to get the best mix possible before mastering?
Alan.
Waltz Mastering
New member
English is probably not your native language, but yes, if you want to create headroom, you'd want to put a trim plug on every channel and decrease the gain. You could also lower the master fader.
The main thing is to make sure there is nothing that is peaking in any channel or plugin as the distortion will accumulate down the line, through mastering and lossy conversion etc. Also whether you put the trim pre or post dynamic processing will have an effect on said processing.
The headroom needed for mastering also depends if you're sending the mix out to analog gear or staying in the box. You'd want to feed external gear a level that is a bit more conservative so that you're not over driving the analog input stage. Usually peaking in the neighborhood -6 to -12 dBfs is ok, but again, it depends on the gear used for mastering. GL
ashcat_lt
Well-known member
Seems like a good place to ask a question I've always had re: that thing with "leaving headroom for the ME to work with"...
Assuming that the final mix isn't actually distorted , is there some good reason I can't have files peaking right up near 0dbfs? I mean, can't you just turn the damn thing down before you do whatever you're going to do?
Assuming that the final mix isn't actually distorted , is there some good reason I can't have files peaking right up near 0dbfs? I mean, can't you just turn the damn thing down before you do whatever you're going to do?
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RAMI
Guest
Why would you give him that advice? What if his mix is peaking at -10db? A trim plug on every channel and decrease the gain or turn down the master fader? Why is any of that necessarry?
And as long as I'm asking a bunch of stupid questions....what's a trim plug?
I'm confused. Hold me.
DavidK
New member
A butt plug for skinny people??
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RAMI
Guest
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mixsit
Well-known member
This is the guy/gal that needs to be in on this.
Waltz Mastering
New member
I don't think there's any problem peaking right up until 0 dBfs although there's really no reason to, ... If it ends up getting mastered through an analog chain the signal has to be attenuated a bit anyway. It's also good to leave headroom room for any added eq etc , but I don't think that it's destructive to attenuate the signal, even though there's probably some people that would argue that it is.
With analog gear 0 dBvu (+4 dBu) will sit around -16dBfs depending how the converters are calibrated, but there's really no need to push the limits of their headroom, whether it's at the recording, mixing or mastering stage.
.
Waltz Mastering
New member
99 times out of 100, the person asking that question has their master meters led's lighting up like Christmas trees. Gain staging issue's etc.. I don't think he would be asking if he needed nice level if he already had nice level. I could be wrong.. but I'm trying to do the best translation that I can
A plug that comes with almost every daw that will let you attenuate or adjust the signals gain.
You can use it to adjust level pre-fader or insert it between plugs, inserts etc..
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RAMI
Guest
That's quite an assumption you're making. I don't even see a hint of any of that in his question. Why are you assuming he has o idea what levels to mix at just because ha sked about mastering levels?
I see absolutely no use for that.
Waltz Mastering
New member
If you say so... I almost feel ashamed now...but lets not talk about me.. ..What is your answer to his question?
He wasn't asking about mastering levels at all. He was asking about his mix levels before mastering. (see his quote below).
How many times do you see people with their mixes peaking at -10dbFS asking if they need more headroom? umm.. never
Anyway, thanks for critique of my answers and for keeping things tight around here Rami. Are you a mod in training?
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RAMI
Guest
Sorry man. Didn't mean to hurt your feelings, I found your answer too definite and based on assumptions.
You're telling someone to use 10, 15, 32, 58....however many tracks he has on his song.....instances of a plug in and turn down a mix that might be just fine as it is. And before you say "if his mix levels are ok, then why would he ask about them?", the answer is that there's a great chance he doesn't know what his levels are but was smart enough to not come close to clipping.
I would try to get more info out of him before telling him what to do, like Winntedoz did in his first response.
No big whoop. Try loosening up a bit. I'm not the one that's making you tight.
Waltz Mastering
New member
Again, thanks for your concern about how I phrase my response .. but for the record my answers weren't definite.
If you take the time to check it out further .. I gave 3 options in the first 3 sentences of my post based on what he was talking about concerning level before mastering.
1. Don't worry, as long as you're not clipping, it's ok
2. Peaking? Pull the master fader down
3. At the track level, there's an option to use trims on every channel
So that's 3 options and you choose to bust balls?
Sounds like you're assuming a lot.
How many mixes do you get delivered to you for mastering that are clipping per week?
I've never been on an audio forum before so thanks for the tip.
I don't think we'll see him again, cause he got his answer in post 3 (smiley here)
.. and again for the record.. I didn't tell anybody what to do. ...3 options broski
I can use smilies after every sentence if that will make you feel better, but I admit,
sometimes I have low blood sugar levels and that can be an issue.
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RAMI
Guest
Well, at least you admit you have a problem. That's cool, but you tried to blame me for it. Not cool. The only one "keeping things tight" is you. I think I crack jokes in 90% of my posts, so nice try, but...no.
You gave him 3 options assuming he needs any of them. The only good response he got was in the first response to his post. Yours was a horrible response. End of story.
Have a great day.
