do u prefer to run your final mix trough a limiter or compressor?

[mykie_a]

Each track (18 total) has a direct out to a motu 2408 mk III. This is pre - everything on the mixer (except the gain).

so when we play live, I record everyone at the same time (our sources are isolated) and I can manipulate all mixer settings without having to worry about recording it.

there are two guitars, bass, and 6 pc drumset coming out of the master bus of the mixer.

 

[jaybriggs84]

When I mix in the box I just make sure my levels are low enough to avoid peaks, shooting for -3. If I'm mixing on an SSL then I'll use the stereo bus compressor

 

[Daisy]

I record everything perfectly even, and without any noticealbe peaks.

With precise and perfect dynamics, so that it will never need a compressor or limiter.



Just kidding. I generally like to pulverize everything with a peak limiter, beyond recognition.

 

[jmorris]

depends on what it needs.

 

[cello_pudding]

this is probably bad...but i put a limiter on right away.

moreso just so when i'm tracking and listening back, i don't run into clips. i just lower it a little so the sound isn't being limited all that much, and i don't get loud transients doin things to my speakers/ears

those little red lights drive me nuts

 

[Cosmonaut]

The proper way is to send it through a multi-band compressore AND an adaptive limiter. Not to compensate for por leveling and mixing, you are supposed to make sure all your levels are fine BEFORE sending them though, but sending them through both and setting your Adlimiter with an out cieling of -0.1db and turning the gain up will assure that you have the used the most headroom possible while allowing your mix to be louder in a sense. But dont kill it with too much compression.

 

[Massive Master]

The proper way is to send it through a multi-band compressore AND an adaptive limiter.

Okay, who's first on this one?

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Okay, who's first on this one?

You take it, John; I can see the saliva welling at the corners of your mouth .

G.

 

[cello_pudding]

i don't know cosmo...

first off, i'd say there is no 'proper' anything

second... ack!

i seriously don't even understand why there's more than 2 bands, i mean...using one band is a rare thing, putting two on is even more so...

maybe i'm talking out of ignorance because i do everything...so if i need to get a more even tone, i had better get the mics out and do it over. sometimes i feel like automating a band on my eq, which is essentially a band compressor, but there's something about the compressor that deadens the thing.

and i'm talking out of ignorance because i just have waves plugins...and not rackmount high end gear...this is just my limited opinion (pun slightly intended)

 

[Cosmonaut]

Ok fair enough

however, i go to school for Recording, my professors, whom are juno and grammy award winners have taught me several techniques.

Although i agree that there is no "proper" way, and im sorry if i did sound a bit pretentious, because i didnt want to make it sound so, however, you will get the optimal sound possible for most moder music by going through a multiband compressor and an ADlimiter AFTER your final mix is done, and this is how mastering is done for most professional recordings for modern music.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

however, you will get the optimal sound possible for most moder music by going through a multiband compressor and an ADlimiter AFTER your final mix is done, and this is how mastering is done for most professional recordings for modern music.

I'm sorry, cosmo, but you're over-learning a bit from your profs. Nothing is anywhere near that staid. Also, you need to have your profs actually explain to you what mastering *is* (hint: it has very little to do with maximizing volume of a track.) And finally, have them define "modern music". Are they talking about Yo Yo Ma or The Ya Ya Yas? Are they talking about mastering a 2" out of Abbey Road or a set of digital stems from Joe Garageband? Because I'd love to see them master all of those situations the same way.

What your professors should be teaching you is not to follow recipes, but rather they should be training your ears to know how to critically listen to music, and let your ears tell you what the mix needs and doesn't need.

Then they should be teaching you not how to normalize or maximize the levels of a mix to some ideal maximum reading, but rather how to normalize the apparent/perceived volume of each track on the album to each other.

Finally they should be teaching you that if you are mastering your own mix, the mastering stage is not supposed to be about fixing the mix. If the mix is broken to the point where you *know* you need an MBC before you even listen to it, then go back and fix the mix *in the mix*, not in the mastering.

G.

 

[Cosmonaut]

I'm sorry, cosmo, but you're over-learning a bit from your profs. Nothing is anywhere near that staid. Also, you need to have your profs actually explain to you what mastering *is* (hint: it has very little to do with maximizing volume of a track.) And finally, have them define "modern music". Are they talking about Yo Yo Ma or The Ya Ya Yas? Are they talking about mastering a 2" out of Abbey Road or a set of digital stems from Joe Garageband? Because I'd love to see them master all of those situations the same way.

What your professors should be teaching you is not to follow recipes, but rather they should be training your ears to know how to critically listen to music, and let your ears tell you what the mix needs and doesn't need.

Then they should be teaching you not how to normalize or maximize the levels of a mix to some ideal maximum reading, but rather how to normalize the apparent/perceived volume of each track on the album to each other.

Finally they should be teaching you that if you are mastering your own mix, the mastering stage is not supposed to be about fixing the mix. If the mix is broken to the point where you *know* you need an MBC before you even listen to it, then go back and fix the mix *in the mix*, not in the mastering.

G.

Whooooow

now you are jumping to conclusions

First of all, dont assume that they are teaching us formulas for making music

Second of all, NO, nowhere did they teach us that mastering was to maximise your music, in fact everything you were saying were things that they emphasized from day 1

third of all, Dont assume that i am a shallow minded faceless college student that knows nothing about music. Ive been listening to Coltrane, Max roach and Chopin and Liszt before i even entered my program. And by modern music i mean by Top 40 and most popular stuff that are overkilled on compression.

In conclusion, im not just some "NOOB" that entered this message board, i have a long history and passion with music and recording. Not to say that you dont, but i feel kind of inslulted to say the least that im being question for a few minor misinterpretations of what i intended to say

 

[pipelineaudio]

Whooooow

now you are jumping to conclusions

First of all, dont assume that they are teaching us formulas for making music

Second of all, NO, nowhere did they teach us that mastering was to maximise your music, in fact everything you were saying were things that they emphasized from day 1

third of all, Dont assume that i am a shallow minded faceless college student that knows nothing about music. Ive been listening to Coltrane, Max roach and Chopin and Liszt before i even entered my program. And by modern music i mean by Top 40 and most popular stuff that are overkilled on compression.

In conclusion, im not just some "NOOB" that entered this message board, i have a long history and passion with music and recording. Not to say that you dont, but i feel kind of inslulted to say the least that im being question for a few minor misinterpretations of what i intended to say

Moderators: is there a way to redflag this guys stuff so the noobs don't get too confused and know to read with caution?

 

[Fishmed]

Moderators: is there a way to redflag this guys stuff so the noobs don't get too confused and know to read with caution?

Isn't that what Rep Power is for?

 

[mixsit]

...Although i agree that there is no "proper" way, and im sorry if i did sound a bit pretentious, because i didnt want to make it sound so, however, you will get the optimal sound possible for most moder music by going through a multiband compressor and an ADlimiter AFTER your final mix is done, and this is how mastering is done for most professional recordings for modern music.

Still it reads as playing directly to a few ideas of dubious nature- Defaulting to any method, the 'ALWAYS IN YOUR FACE' sound dejure, and multiband as routine as opposed to a tool for special problems.

(A few threads over is someone hearing about multiband in place of track eq..

Remember the topic; 'your mix'. I agree with Glen- "If the mix is broken to the point where you *know* you need an MBC before you even listen to it, then go back and fix the mix *in the mix*.

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

For me the conversation usually goes like this:

Them: "Um. Why is the mix so quiet? Shouldn't it be loud? I had to turn up the car stereo listening to it on the way in today. It needs to be louder."

Me: "We talked about this already. Remember when I told you the working mixes weren't going to sound finished? Because they aren't finished. They're WORKING mixes."

T: "Yeah, but shouldn't it be loud? I mean this is loud music! Why isn't it loud? Are you sure you know what you're doing? I want it loud!"

M: (sigh) "You mean like this?" (puts in a 3-4:1 compressor on the master channel, somewhere around -20 with makeup gain to match maximum reduction)

T: "Dude! You're a genius! Why didn't you do that before?! THAT's what its supposed to sound like! NOW it sounds like real music! Cool!"

M: To self "I give up."

 

[Trumpspade]

The proper way is to send it through a multi-band compressore AND an adaptive limiter. Not to compensate for por leveling and mixing, you are supposed to make sure all your levels are fine BEFORE sending them though, but sending them through both and setting your Adlimiter with an out cieling of -0.1db and turning the gain up will assure that you have the used the most headroom possible while allowing your mix to be louder in a sense. But dont kill it with too much compression.

I let my Nephew read this post, he has been working the board for some prominent industry folks for some time, he has used a MBC and limiter in his final mix. (He actually somewhat agrees with the post. He says Professors at Berkley College of Music have taught this method for some time. I dont think it is applicable all the time, but more situational.) Like Cosmo said, it is not a tool to compensate for poor leveling and mixing, but I guess it stretches your headroom, when needed.......
I am the most non-techincal person in here, but I am just sharing this view.
Don't mind me!


Now back to your scheduled program................