Quickie on Waves L1, L2 etc..

[Alanfc]

Waves L1, L2 etc.. These are programs for treating an entire mix is that right?

If I'm taking my finished product to a Mastering Engineer, is Waves then something I don't need to buy ? right?

Thanks

 

[sonusman]

I found they work much better on individual tracks than over a whole mix. The L2 is a big improvement over the L1, and either will work "okay" over a mix, but they tend to make the audio sound a tad harsh once you bump it up to any usable volume. Just my opinion here of course.

Ed

 

[cstockdale]

I'll have to check out the L2, but I have been using the L1 on drum tracks to act as a hard limiter to bring down teh attack peaks. If money is not in the way, then the Waves stuff is great to have for working on individual tracks, and will make the mastering engineer's work easier as your individual tracks will be in better shape

 

[Alanfc]

Hey Ed and C

Thanks alot . Not only am I cheap but I'd like to process my stuff as little as possible until I have more practice.

As far as what kind of Treasure or Trash I eventually bring to the Mastering Engineer: are peak limiting and inconsistent levels some of the main headaches that can eat up way too much time in your studio workday ?

Thanks

Hey Ed, I was a Sunset Apollo, what were you?

 

[sonusman]

Hey Ed, I was a Sunset Apollo, what were you?

Went to Central Catholic for a half year then to Grant High in Portland.

I umpire high school baseball and just did a Sunset game a couple weeks ago when they played Central Catholic. Central won!

When I was in the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corp, about half our drum line was from Sunset.

Ed

 

[Alanfc]

Aha !

Thanks Ed for satisfying my curiousity !
I went to school with a guy named Frank Rei, (mostly just an aquaintance) and I was curious because of the same spelling of your last name.

 

[Son of Mixerman]

Waves L1, L2 etc.. These are programs for treating an entire mix is that right?

If I'm taking my finished product to a Mastering Engineer, is Waves then something I don't need to buy ? right?

Thanks

If you having your stuff taken to a Mastering Engineer I would n't woory about purchasing Waves L2. Most Mastering Facilities have either the Software L2 or the Hardware L2 and are more than likely not to screw it up wuhile using it. Like anything, it takes times and experimentation to use tools efficiently. The potential to damage your audio with the L2 is pretty high, even trained Mastering Folks tend to overuse it now days. Give the ME the best mix you can without heavy doses of limiting or compression. Ask your ME about it before you send off you mixes, that usually the best policy.


SoMm

 

[sonusman]

Re: Aha !

Thanks Ed for satisfying my curiousity !
I went to school with a guy named Frank Rei, (mostly just an aquaintance) and I was curious because of the same spelling of your last name.

Wow! I wasn't aware that there were any other Rei's in the Portland area at all. I usually check the phone book once a year too! I had an uncle name Frank, but he died many years ago. I have no cousin's that go by Frank either. One of my aunt's did a nation wide search on the name and all but 2 or 3 of the people we found were related.

Interesting.....

Speaking of Sunset, I am moving to the King's Court apartments which are about 1 mile from the school. Know anything about that neighborhood? My younger brother lived in the apartments a few years ago and liked them except that he said there was a "bee problem" and had to move because his wife was allergic to bee's.

Maybe I can squash the bee's with a L2? (just trying to keep this on subject somehow!)

On the subject, you will probably find much better luck using the L1/2 on tracks that are possibly a bit muddy sounding. They tend to get a bit harsh sounding when driven hard. Certainly, the L2 can get you about 4dB of gain on a mix with little to no artifacts, but I am finding the Wave's MB comp works out much better for any kind of serious "mastering" work. A change of opinion.

In the end though, a quality Mastering Engineer is your best bet. If you are still in the Portland area, I have a couple names I could suggest.

Ed

 

[Alanfc]

Thats what I wanted to hear!

Son of Mixerman - excellent/thats what I wanted to hear.
I plan on leaving all this final end-product detail to the ME.

Ed, I am looking forward to making a trip up to Portland and bringing my work. I will ask you about recommendations when the time comes (several months away).
I visit my family up there 2-3 times a year. I've been in L.A. for about 13 years now.... I'm sorry I have no experience living in that area by Sunset, and I couldn't shed any light on the bee problem. I'll ask my mom if she knows anything- she always seems to know these little things.
Thanks for the advice on the Waves issue. I'm not going to muck up my work with more crap I don't know how to use. I have been taking alot of time getting my ideal sound right on there tracking it dry. (except for vocals -ugh)