plainrat -
Sorry let's start over. The term crap was used in a general sense it had nothing to do with your mix. I can see how it may have been misinterpreted.
Largeness is achieved in many ways and depends on your definition of the term. Some people think volume when they are describing large, to others it means "density" (as in "those guitars sound huge"), and to others it may mean the "depth".
Volume we all know how to control. Through the use of compressors, limiters, riding gain through automation or manually, as well as how loud music is perceived by the nature of the frequencies it occupies. The trick is making music "appropriately loud" and doing it without having too many remnants of distortion (compressing or limiting always adds distortion to some degree).
Expansion of the stereo image (width) can be done with M/S processing, phase tricks, and use of delays. IMHO a good mix shouldn't need any of this. It's best taken care of in the mix. Changes in phase to accomplish this usually weaken a mix and can potentially cause issues in mono. If a mix sounds "centered" try other options in the mix via panning and delays (check out Haas effect thread). The end product will stand-up much better for it without all of that extra processing.
Depth in a mix is best accomplished with proper mic technique, delays, reverb, EQ, and levels. This is a tough trick to pull off in mastering as unless you get stems, there is little control over the individual tracks in a mix. Adding reverb over the whole mix just makes the mix sound more distant, not the individual elements.
Another definition of depth/bignesss is the sound that you get from things like analog tape. This comes from harmonics added through use of things like tubes, tape, devices like the Crane Song HEDD which add harmonics that match tube and tape (not the exciter variety), along with other analog emulation devices as well as analog gear itself.
Hope this at least partially answers the original question.
My gear list? Most often used pieces are:
Main DAW:
Pro Tools HD system on a Mac, but also have other PC related software that I use from time to time.
Digital processing/conversion:
Weiss EQ1
Weiss DS1
Various plugins such as
Waves Masters bundle
Waves Restoration bundle
Crane Song Phoenix (tape emulation)
Spectra Foo (metering)
Apogee PSX-100 A/D D/A converter
Analog processing:
Crane Song STC-8 compressor
Crane Song Ibis EQ
Chandler LTD-2 compressor
Urie LA-22 (de-esser/compressor)
Monitoring is dynaudio acoustics BM15s with
BX-30 sub
)
