Masterlink Pick your brain Bruce!!!

[harley96]

I wanted to know do you peg the meters well up into the yellow on the masterlink and an occasional red will that digitally distort? Do you use any of the dsp internally on the masterlink or do you tend to use outboard gear. I know the compressor is designed obviously to compress the whole mix as a whole and if you were going to use it , what kind of threshold, ratio, release, would you use without adverse effects on the mix. I know every project has different elements to take in consideration when using dynamic processing but as a whole could you give me a good starting point. Thanks,Greg

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

I do use the DSP -- mostly the limiter - I find it pretty transparent. The compression is good too, but I don't use it often. EQ is very useful, but I don't use it unless absolutely necessary.

None of the onboard DSP will replace proper mastering at a mastering house, but it does quite a decent job when there is no intent to take a project to a separate mastering facility. (Much as I try, many of my clients don't bother - they pay me a bit extra to do what I can with it... it gets the job done, I suppose)

There isn't any standard of course for compression settings, but to get myself in the ballpark I set a ratio of 1:1.3 or so (yes, 1.3 - not a typo!) and select soft 1 for the compression slope. I set the meter display for both output and gain reduction (to see both) and drop threshold till I see maybe 2 db reduction.... I'll listen and if there's anything I need to adjust - transient attack, release, etc... The key is to be minimalist with the settings and avoid large ratios.

Bruce

 

[Meshuggah]

You're a big blue bear.. you don't need to be so modest Brucie...

/me hugz Bruce

 

[harley96]

Thanks Bruce!!