How to get it loud and powerfull w/out much clipping??!!

[BrettB]

Maybe a stupid remark with this thread, but sometimes I do not want to achieve the 'as loud as possible' filosofy.

With many pop, dance and rock songs, getting your master as loud as possible is extremely handy: the song grabs you by the troath and otherwise it would pale against other recordings.

But sometimes, thinking albumwise, some fragile tunes often attract the attention when it is a bit more quiet. An intimite atmosphere can be created that way, and the details of such a tune can get more clearly that way.

But after all that's a part of mastering an album: getting the songs volumes in balance.

 

[Pinky]

But sometimes, thinking albumwise, some fragile tunes offer attract the attention when it is a bit more quiet. An intimite atmosphere can be created that way, and the details of such a tune can get more clearly that way.

But after all that's a part of mastering an album: getting the songs volumes in balance.

That's right, not everything needs to be shouted

 

[Roker1]

ok..so..how would you compress the mix..or pump it up a bit, so you get that bit of extra balls. What I mean is..where would you compress (at how many db), what make up gain, ratio...and all the rest that comes into play (attack,release..)... Would you use any limiting and how??? I know it's different for different type of songs, but give us some ideas on a couple of scenarios, or perhaps something that you've already done...
thank you guys....

 

[knownuttin]

Roker, think what you're asking. You'd like us to tell you how to master your song which we've never heard.

So here's how you do it. If you have too low a level overall to begin with, go back to the mix and raise the master fader a notch or two. Use those ears always, and make sure you don't clip.

If you feel a need for overall compression, set a low ratio, say 2:1 or even less, medium to slow attack and medium release. Be prepared to adjust attack and release as you go. Start dragging down the thresh and watching the gain reduction. Listen, most importantly, to what happens to the sound as you start smushing it. The stereo image will start to collapse. Probably you don't want this, so back off. At this stage, most music probably can stand little more than 3db of reduction before serious degradation. Raise the makeup gain by the amount of reduction. Adjust your attack and release times to make sure you haven't lost the attack or made the release so fast that it distorts.

Limiting? Do you still need it? If so, what do you use? If you must, use it to tack on some aditional decibels without clipping. But watch out for excess attentuation. Pushing too hard with any dynamic control device will compromise your sound.

Okay, now forget all that and go try some stuff and figure it out for yourself. 'Cuz I'm knownuttin.
-kent

 

[Roker1]

thanks kent...eventhough you havent heard my song you sound like you have.... nah,,thanks man some good directions...i had some of those in mind but certanly not all that you mentioned....good man...

 

[camn]

...... thinking albumwise, some fragile tunes often attract the attention when it is a bit more quiet.......

like, THE fragile.. for instance...??!

xoxo