Finishing off my mixdown

  • Thread starter Thread starter RideTheCrash
  • Start date Start date
RideTheCrash

RideTheCrash

Member
Okay, I've recorded a song for my friend's band and I'm fairly content with the mix. All the tracks were roughly -18dBFS and when I mixed it down, it looked fairly good, no peaks higher than -6. Now, this isn't going to get professionally mastered of course, but what do you guys suggest I try in terms of limiting and compression? I know they want a louder volume, but I don't want to squash the mix to hell and back.

As for putting it on a disc, what format should I use? I want to avoid MP3, and I'm not really sure what else I can save it as. A .wav file?
 
Save it as a .wav file. You can "self-master" by loading your newly created mix into a new project in your software. Some gentle compression/limiting will help bring up the volume. How it affects your mix, soundwise, will depend a lot on the limiter and the quality of your original mix. Some free limiters to try out include the Kjaerhus Classic Master Limiter, The W1 Limiter, and the Volcano. All are fairly easy to use.

If you don't like the sound you're getting while squashing, you may need to re-examine your mix to make sure there aren't any "problem" frequencies (like if the kick is 10db louder than everything else when it hits) which are making the limiter pump too hard.

BTW, this is not true "mastering" by any stretch, but just a way to get your songs a little louder. If you plan to sell these CD's consider getting them professionally mastered.
 
RideTheCrash said:
Okay, I've recorded a song for my friend's band and I'm fairly content with the mix. All the tracks were roughly -18dBFS and when I mixed it down, it looked fairly good, no peaks higher than -6. Now, this isn't going to get professionally mastered of course, but what do you guys suggest I try in terms of limiting and compression? I know they want a louder volume, but I don't want to squash the mix to hell and back.

As for putting it on a disc, what format should I use? I want to avoid MP3, and I'm not really sure what else I can save it as. A .wav file?
Click to expand...
Use what the song wants and needs as far a compression and limiting. No more, no less.

Remember that when you squash the dynamics acorss the mix like that that you'll also somewhat be emphasizing some of the lower-level sounds within the mix; therefore you might need to apply a little subtractive EQ before you finally crunch it to knock down any offending frequencies before they get squashed to the forefront.

You might want to *try* (to see if the song likes it) some "tightening up" compression on the mix first before you normalize or limit it. By that I mean a light compression ratio, something in the 1.2:1 - 1.5:1 range at a rather low threshold. The threshold level depends upon the mix, but can easily be in the -20 to -30dBFS range. This will serve to "tighten up the mix" without taking away much in the way of actual dynamics. The from there you can try limiting with minimal gain reduction to bring the whole mix up in volume. Use your ears to hear when the mix starts getting brittle and breaking apart because of over-limiting and then back off from that a dB or two.

Save it to WAV and then burn it either to standard audio CD (CDA) or as a WAV to a data CD. The data are the same either way, it's just the digital "wrapper" that IDs the file format to the playback machine is different. Ask your client which way they want it. Your burning software should be able to handle it either way.

G.
 
Okay, I'll do some experimentation tomorrow. I have the Classic Master Limiter already, which I'll give a go. I know this isn't real mastering at all, but these guys are itching so badly to have - something - they don't care. I could save it as an MP3 and burn it to a CD and they'd be happy for all they care. I just want to do it a bit better than that.

I was thinking of .cda, but I couldn't save in that format - but I guess I burn to that format - which makes sense. Thanks for the suggestions guys, gives me a better idea of what to try.
 
SouthSIDE Glen said:
Use what the song wants and needs as far a compression and limiting. No more, no less.

Remember that when you squash the dynamics acorss the mix like that that you'll also somewhat be emphasizing some of the lower-level sounds within the mix; therefore you might need to apply a little subtractive EQ before you finally crunch it to knock down any offending frequencies before they get squashed to the forefront.

You might want to *try* (to see if the song likes it) some "tightening up" compression on the mix first before you normalize or limit it. By that I mean a light compression ratio, something in the 1.2:1 - 1.5:1 range at a rather low threshold. The threshold level depends upon the mix, but can easily be in the -20 to -30dBFS range. This will serve to "tighten up the mix" without taking away much in the way of actual dynamics. The from there you can try limiting with minimal gain reduction to bring the whole mix up in volume. Use your ears to hear when the mix starts getting brittle and breaking apart because of over-limiting and then back off from that a dB or two.

Save it to WAV and then burn it either to standard audio CD (CDA) or as a WAV to a data CD. The data are the same either way, it's just the digital "wrapper" that IDs the file format to the playback machine is different. Ask your client which way they want it. Your burning software should be able to handle it either way.

G.
Click to expand...

Glen,

This is one of the best examples of a constructive mentoring reply I've seen on the board.

Specific, concise, well written, professional and polite.

Props to ya' man. Not that they have any meaning but if I knew how to give the green chicklets I'd throw a bunch your way.

Bart
 
My sentiments exactly Bartman! I just tried to give some to you as well, Glen but I gotta spread some love around first. :(

(ps Bartman...just click on the "scales" in the upper right corner of Glen's post)

:D
 
Thanks, guys, your appreciation is much appreciated in return. :)

Now all we need is to get a money logo next to that scales logo...

;) :D

G.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top