mastering question...

[go fight x kill]

Or, do I still not quite understand the question...?

yeah, the final level was what i was asking for. so you got it.

but, what about the individual levels on the tracks before mixing?

 

[BrettB]

They are important befor eyou record: enough headroom to avoid clipping but loud enough for a good music/noise balance;

After that, you just put them as loud or quiet as you want, as long as your master volume seems OK.

 

[lpdeluxe]

Wow. Time to retrofit my studio with those military-spec, self-extinguishing (for really hot mixes?) knobs. Thanks a bunch!

 

[Dom Franco]

OKAY here's a few ideas....

1.Bring up the drum and bass tracks, set the balance between them and faders up to about -20 DB

2.Bring up Guitars Keys, etc all except lead vocal and watch meters so that they reach -5db to 0db, only occasionally dipping into red

3.Slowly bring up lead vocal until the lyrics are understandable, adjust EQ slightly so the vocal cuts through the guitars just slightly but sits in the mix.

4. Add Compression, EQ and Effects sparingly and watch over all volume. Keep out of the red and It should not "Distort" if your master is digital. If you are mastering to analog tape, you can and should hit it hard +5 to +10Db or even more.

Dom

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

1.Bring up the drum and bass tracks, set the balance between them and faders up to about -20 DB

2.Bring up Guitars Keys, etc all except lead vocal and watch meters so that they reach -5db to 0db, only occasionally dipping into red

3.Slowly bring up lead vocal until the lyrics are understandable, adjust EQ slightly so the vocal cuts through the guitars just slightly but sits in the mix.

4. Add Compression, EQ and Effects sparingly and watch over all volume. Keep out of the red and It should not "Distort" if your master is digital. If you are mastering to analog tape, you can and should hit it hard +5 to +10Db or even more.

Dom

huh??????????


The truth is..... there's no way to give numbers because the answer always is "it depends...."

It depends on your tracks... it depends on the style of music.... it depends on the signal chain... and it depends on the type of recorders... and most of all, it depends on your ears.

You have to become VERY familiar with your rig and understand the levels of the signal as it goes thru each path and you have to balance between punch, and noise/distortion.

Here's an article to give you a bit of background on levels --
Meters, Signal Level, and Headroom

 

[masteringhouse]

Wow. Time to retrofit my studio with those military-spec, self-extinguishing (for really hot mixes?) knobs. Thanks a bunch!

No problem. Before I got them all of my tracks sounded wimpy. Now I get that banging, major label, radio ready, warm and punchy sound!

 

[respina]

newbie and my software is Nuendo

Hi thnx for blue b. article I will read it and I need more details for a rock band levels ,'cause I think these are same questions for newbies like me.....I am working with Nuendo and I don't know if the software that I use is a main key to my levels or not !pls help me too.