Hi - I'm pretty new to mastering... I usually use vocal compression and a mix down compression preset. Should I continue doing that as well as adding compression is the mastering stage? Thanks.
That sounds like a lot to me but if it sounds good to you, than it is good. Now if you're sending your stuff to a pro to be mastered, I wouldn't put anything accross the stereo buss. If this is for your enjoyment, go crazy.
Most of the time I just push the "real nice" button on my RNC--works fine.
If you're getting the sound you want, don't complicate your recordings but do experiment with mixes when you think something could be better with/without compression.
There are TONS of stuff here dealing with compression as well as on the net.
Seems to me like you are getting good stuff from your comments? As to adding compression, you can do that whenever you mix. For vocals, I like to compress during the recording--if I don't like the take, I just do it again.
I dont really use compression to change the sound when mastering, probably because i am using plug in compression like Waves R comp. I use it for taming peaks and kinds squashing it together a bit. I use compression to change the sound in mixing though. Especially on the vocals and drums. Maybe not on the guitar much just to tame the odd few peaks. Bass can sound much better if compressed properly.
Thanks for the input, guys. I should have said my main objective is to get a hotter recording - that's why I had compression in mind. When I convert to MP3's to post to the web, they sound anemic compared to other people's MP3's. I just dnloaded a softward to punch up the MP3's but thought I should start w the WAV file first.