Blow-Up Doll - A Greg_L original stupid love song

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Do you need a spectrum analyzer to determine those RMS levels? I've never measured that, but obviously both of you have a target you typically hit (11 - 12.4). I just read the peaks on the master VU meters, which doesn't seem very precise.
 
That makes so much sense, it's almost genius...yet almost obvious at the same time. I'm definitely going to try that and compare it with a one limiter mix getting me up to the same RMS level. I always shoot for -12.4 (don't ask me how I got to that number, it just happened) and my peaks are at -.2. I think your levels are accurate, because I noticed your last tune (this one) is quite a bit louder than any of my tunes, so I wouldn't be surprised if you're somewhere around -11.

Funny thing is, I actually like a noticeably "smashtered" sound. Like you both said, sometimes it changes the sound for the better. I don't like stupidly crushed, but I often like the sound of my songs after mastering. Certain things, like a snare, often get more body to them. Slightly, but just enough to fatten a few things up a bit.

Agreed. I like what the additional compression of "mastering" does to my snare. That's the one thing that usually changes for me and it's usually for the better.

I've compared my multi-limiter method to using just one of the same limiter, and to me, the multi method is WAY better and more transparent sounding. I don't know why. Maybe it's the step by step squashing as opposed to one big heavy squash, but for me, the results are clear. Multi-limiters in baby steps be better.
 
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Do you need a spectrum analyzer to determine those RMS levels? I've never measured that, but obviously both of you have a target you typically hit (11 - 12.4). I just read the peaks on the master VU meters, which doesn't seem very precise.

I don't really know what plugs do or don't give that information. I just use the Voxengo SPAN spectrum analyzer. It's free and simple.
 
Do you need a spectrum analyzer to determine those RMS levels? I've never measured that, but obviously both of you have a target you typically hit (11 - 12.4). I just read the peaks on the master VU meters, which doesn't seem very precise.
In REAPER, it's right on the master fader. I think you can change what's displayed where, but on mine I have the peak level above the fader, and the RMS level below.
 
Heat, give your "mastering" a try in a few small passes if you have to. It might take a little longer, but give it a few tries on a few mixes and see how you like it.
 
In REAPER, it's right on the master fader. I think you can change what's displayed where, but on mine I have the peak level above the fader, and the RMS level below.

I'm not in the PC/Reaper mode yet. Welcome to 1999 heatmiser. I don't know if your 2488 had that feature, but I haven't found it on my Roland. I'll poke around some more though. I assume that is a reading of some kind of average or mean level, which is probably much different than just visually observing the peaks. Maybe that's why my masters are so wildly different from one another in volume despite peaking at the same points :facepalm:?

Heat, give your "mastering" a try in a few small passes if you have to. It might take a little longer, but give it a few tries on a few mixes and see how you like it.

Yes, I think I will try that, thanks!

Sorry, I know this is supposed to be about one particularly good mix, but you opened the door by being so receptive and helpful. I hope you learned your lesson! :p.
 
I'm not in the PC/Reaper mode yet. Welcome to 1999 heatmiser. I don't know if your 2488 had that feature,
Oh, I forgot. Yeah, no the 2488 didn't do that. I had to bring my mixes into REAPER to "Shmaster" them back in the day.
 
I'm not in the PC/Reaper mode yet. Welcome to 1999 heatmiser. I don't know if your 2488 had that feature, but I haven't found it on my Roland. I'll poke around some more though. I assume that is a reading of some kind of average or mean level, which is probably much different than just visually observing the peaks. Maybe that's why my masters are so wildly different from one another in volume despite peaking at the same points :facepalm:?
Shooting for a number is really only helpful when putting a bunch of tracks together in an album format. Use your ears since you have to anyway. We used to do this when building hot rod engines.....we'd run a set of cold spark plugs on the dyno, do a pull, then check the plugs. If they weren't melted, we'd put in a hotter set and do it again. We'd keep going hotter and hotter until they would literally start to flake apart and discolor after a power run. That's how we knew we went too far. We'd then go back one step colder and call it good. You can do your mix like that. Keep beating on it until it falls apart, then back it off some. :D



Yes, I think I will try that, thanks!

Sorry, I know this is supposed to be about one particularly good mix, but you opened the door by being so receptive and helpful. I hope you learned your lesson! :p.
Nah, it's all good to me. I like it. It beats trying to tell some idiot that he doesn't need to run a real life tube screamer before amplitube.
 
So a question, if 100 PSI is good for normal guys, would 120 PSI make small guys think they are more manly? Just saying, one size might fit all, but if it is adjustable :eek:

I also just a thought, the lead vocal, and don't exactly know how you would do it, but push the lead vocal up front, not loud but more detached from the rest to give it an air of even more attitude.

Anyway, probably full of crap anyway, but as always cool tune and full of great humor.
 
So a question, if 100 PSI is good for normal guys, would 120 PSI make small guys think they are more manly? Just saying, one size might fit all, but if it is adjustable :eek:

I also just a thought, the lead vocal, and don't exactly know how you would do it, but push the lead vocal up front, not loud but more detached from the rest to give it an air of even more attitude.

Anyway, probably full of crap anyway, but as always cool tune and full of great humor.
Thanks a lot. This will get a retrack of some vocals and a remix before it sees the light of day again.

Oh shit! That was my next question...:eek:
Ok then, don't do it. It's a silly thing to do.
 
Nah, it's all good to me. I like it. It beats trying to tell some idiot that he doesn't need to run a real life tube screamer before amplitube.

Ha! But how else do you get a strong signal into modelling software? There is no other way!

As for the master bus compression, I do something similar but to a much lesser extent. I like your idea, and I'm gonna try a series of compressors or limiters on my next project, just to see what happens (RAMI was right...now everybody's gonna be trying it).

Currently I tend to use a compressor to skim off a few of the bigger peaks. Then a limiter to even out the mix as a whole, then a brick-wall limiter just to make sure nothing exceeds my target peak. Maybe a little shelving EQ in there somewhere to liven up my missing high end.
 
I can't really take one good pic of everything. Here's a shot from my couch, as the stuff is sitting right now...it's a mess...
https://s29.photobucket.com/user/whodat6464/media/Music gear/20140429_151708_zps7avk8rup.jpg.html


What kind of panels are that surrounding your drum kit? And what else do you use for [URL=https://en.audiofanzine.com/dimarzio/acoustic/user_reviews/]acoustic
treatment? I see a cloud up there too. Any treatment making a difference for your amp sound even if they are close miced? I just started treating my (very small) room with some 2" panels for early reflections. Will pick up some of those tri-traps from GIK when my next paycheck comes up.
 
Hey Greg - what limiter plugins do you use for your mastering process?
 
What kind of panels are that surrounding your drum kit? And what else do you use for acoustic treatment? I see a cloud up there too. Any treatment making a difference for your amp sound even if they are close miced? I just started treating my (very small) room with some 2" panels for early reflections. Will pick up some of those tri-traps from GIK when my next paycheck comes up.
I made all this stuff myself. Each corner has a 4" thick OC703 bass trap in it. The big panels surrounding the kit and clouds are 4'x4' 2" thick OC703 mainly to tame comb filtering and crappy ceiling reflections around the kit. I then move them around for mixing to hit first reflection points. It all works out pretty well. I don't think any of it has much, if any, effect on my guitar recordings. I've had these cabs all over the place. They sound the same everywhere when there's 2 million decibels coming out of them and a mic jammed right up on it.

Hey Greg - what limiter plugins do you use for your mastering process?

Voxengo Elephant!
 
Thanks. What made you go for that one? It ain't cheap at $120. Did you get it in a bundle? I guess you can try it out first.

It didn't cost that much when I bought it about 4-5 years ago. I think it was $79? That's dirt cheap for a decent mastering limiter and for me it's way better than the free stuff out there.
 
OK, I know what you're trying to do there, Columbo. :D

Lol, no ulterior motive here. Just wondering how one decides on something like that. The only plugins I've bought are Waves signature ones where they combine multiple effects in a chain reminiscent of famous engineers - taking the mixing out of my hands, somewhat. Otherwise, I use free ones and the compressors that were part of the NI Komplete I bought (which I really like).
 
Lol, no ulterior motive here. Just wondering how one decides on something like that. The only plugins I've bought are Waves signature ones where they combine multiple effects in a chain reminiscent of famous engineers - taking the mixing out of my hands, somewhat. Otherwise, I use free ones and the compressors that were part of the NI Komplete I bought (which I really like).

I don't buy many plugins either. I live and die mostly with free and open source stuff. Some are worth it though. I bought EZ Drummer for like 30 bucks a few years back. It sucks ass, but it's good for when I want to demo songs before tracking things for real.

My biggest worry is this computer everything is sitting on. I need to back this shit up because it's about to die. I don't know how to redo activation codes and all that shit.
 
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