Something about mixing I found out from a Reputable Studio.

[Raw-Tracks]

If the track needs buss comp and you can nail it, it's much better to do it in the mix. Strapping a compressor across the buss changes the balances of your mix, period - if it's done while mixing, at least you can hear what it's doing and ride faders, adjust sends, etc to insure the mix sounds like you want it to. It's not brain surgery, do what sounds good, but avoid doing anything for the sake of loudness.

Brad, I agree with you 100%. I usually do put a compressor across my 2-mixes for the exact reason you state above.

Now, if you're talking about laying off the 2 mix compression when printing your final mix, then you have a point. There is no reason for me to get carried away with a lot of compression on the final 2 mix. The mastering engineer can do that job a lot better than I can.

My above statement was my attempt to say what you referred to when you said:
"...but avoid doing anything for the sake of loudness.:

I do believe we are on the same page here.

 

[masteringhouse]

I have heard some pro mixers complain that doing this way creates a situation where you are "mixing to the compressor". It can be a big surprise as to what your mix sounds like after mixing this way for a while in a session and then removing it. You may find that certain tracks are driving the compressor in a way that that is affecting the mix in a negative way.

As a general rule of thumb I was taught to use very slight limiting on a bus comp (high threshold level 10:1 ratio) and make sure that it only hits the occasion peaks.

Anything can be overdone.

Despite what some would have you believe, we mastering engineers are not the final arbiter of what the mix should sound like - we're hired to take the mix (that sounds like the artist wants it to) and make it shine in the manner the artist intends.

Absofreakinlutely!

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Why, so the mastering engineer can remix your record?

If the track needs buss comp and you can nail it, it's much better to do it in the mix. Strapping a compressor across the buss changes the balances of your mix, period - if it's done while mixing, at least you can hear what it's doing and ride faders, adjust sends, etc to insure the mix sounds like you want it to. It's not brain surgery, do what sounds good, but avoid doing anything for the sake of loudness.

Despite what some would have you believe, we mastering engineers are not the final arbiter of what the mix should sound like - we're hired to take the mix (that sounds like the artist wants it to) and make it shine in the manner the artist intends.

That's quite true, assuming a professional/experienced mixing engineer.... but for a mix by with a novice with only a 3630 to strap across the buss, well, you get the idea.... better off in the hands of the ME!

 

[Raw-Tracks]

I have heard some pro mixers complain that doing this way creates a situation where you are "mixing to the compressor". It can be a big surprise as to what your mix sounds like after mixing this way for a while in a session and then removing it. You may find that certain tracks are driving the compressor in a way that that is affecting the mix in a negative way.

It depends on WHEN in your mixing process you put the compressor across the bus. If you do it early on, you will certainly run the risk of mixing to the compressor. However, if you get your mix the way you want it, then insert the 2 mix compressor to really put the final glue on the mix, you shouldn't have so much of a problem. You will usually find that after inserting the compressor that you have to make some little tweaks to counteract what the compressor is doing. By then, you'll know what you want the final mix to be.

 

[masteringhouse]

It depends on WHEN in your mixing process you put the compressor across the bus. If you do it early on, you will certainly run the risk of mixing to the compressor. However, if you get your mix the way you want it, then insert the 2 mix compressor to really put the final glue on the mix, you shouldn't have so much of a problem. You will usually find that after inserting the compressor that you have to make some little tweaks to counteract what the compressor is doing. By then, you'll know what you want the final mix to be.

Good point, also turning the bus comp on and off during the mixing process helps to gauge it's effect. Just a note for folks who may be starting out with using a comp this way.

I'm going to give you a rep point for that!

 

[masteringhouse]

Ah I guess the bartender flagged me, got the "You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Raw-Tracks again." message.

 

[nonreversebird]

Sheeeeshhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What does a guy have to do around here to get a rep point for God's sake.


Hey you guys I am new and havnt a clue about mastering. Thats why I have been asking questions but I got my sample mastered clip today. I was VERY happy with it and I am going to go ahead and come up with the cash and go for it. The Engineer there has gotten quite a reputation from what I am told and he did a great job on my music. I know what gear I used to record it and he did a great job at removing the harshness that I couldnt seem to get rid of in my mix. He brought out the bass and drums quite well and got rid of my excessive reverb on my drums but left enough to keep it the way I wanted. This guy has got a really good ear. Anyway I reside to my acceptance of a rep == 0 for my life here. Im just a musician recording on OLD 16 bit gear. I wont be buying new gear to record on and I really dont think I will be performing this music although I really want to. There is no music scene where I live and the screamo hardcore genre is just about all there is here and some death metal.
Really nothing else. So. Ill try to sell my CD and give away some of the non mastered tracks.

 

[7string]

Here's another one: Kennedy was assasinated!

Hell, I should get at least 3 for breaking that story. I'm on a roll.

Right... but Oswald wasn't the only shooter...

 

[7string]

The Engineer there has gotten quite a reputation from what I am told and he did a great job on my music.

But how many rep points does he have?

 

[masteringhouse]

What does a guy have to do around here to get a rep point for God's sake.


Hey you guys I am new and havnt a clue about mastering. Thats why I have been asking questions but I got my sample mastered clip today. I was VERY happy with it and I am going to go ahead and come up with the cash and go for it. The Engineer there has gotten quite a reputation from what I am told and he did a great job on my music. I know what gear I used to record it and he did a great job at removing the harshness that I couldnt seem to get rid of in my mix. He brought out the bass and drums quite well and got rid of my excessive reverb on my drums but left enough to keep it the way I wanted. This guy has got a really good ear. Anyway I reside to my acceptance of a rep == 0 for my life here. Im just a musician recording on OLD 16 bit gear. I wont be buying new gear to record on and I really dont think I will be performing this music although I really want to. There is no music scene where I live and the screamo hardcore genre is just about all there is here and some death metal.
Really nothing else. So. Ill try to sell my CD and give away some of the non mastered tracks.

A rep point to you for having a sense of humor and a bit humility ...

 

[giraffe]

. There is no music scene where I live and the screamo hardcore genre is just about all there is here and some death metal.
Really nothing else.

jaksonville is the death metal capital of the states, if that's not what you do
then

 

[nonreversebird]

giraffe yea it sucks, I mean..

There is so much more music out there and because Death Metal , well in most cases requires very little skill to pull it off, is pretty big. The screamers are fading away because they are losing their voices. I know, I did it and lost mine. But thankfully I recovered. I am older and I cant pull it off anyway. I mean Slayer has even had to lay back now.

Anyway , giraffe I noticed your "Rep Power: 2" ,

thats pretty good I guess, but you know look at the Master with
Rep Power: 18. Shit you aint never gettin there . All I wanted was one lousy rep power point. ya know "Rep Power: 1" . Is that so bad for Christ's sake. . I know I failed as far as bringing something new to the table. I thought I might have though. I mean didnt that count for anything giraffe?
I mean come on have a heart. Just a point man. 1 little point.

 

[Rokket]

OK, I learned something new here, and because everyone was being so generous, I hit almost everyone who posted in this thread (with rep points)!

 

[giraffe]

A: sorry, for some reason i can't give points (nor can i take them)
B: they are nice to get but haveing them isn't an actual gurentee that a person has even an ounce of skill.

don't get me wrong, some people with a ton of rep have a TON of skill
but the oppisite is also true
and the third possibility as well
ssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh don't tell

 

[giraffe]

shit, masteringhouse only has 3 rep but go look at his client list
if that's what it takes to get three then i sure as hell don't deserve two
as in, i deserve less

 

[masteringhouse]

shit, masteringhouse only has 3 rep but go look at his client list
if that's what it takes to get three then i sure as hell don't deserve two
as in, i deserve less

Thanks G!

And Brad Blackwood doesn't have any rep points last I looked.

I think that you can chalk up rep points by hanging out in other parts of the board for doing pretty much nothing. I recently got one for helping someone with their homework

I still don't get the scoring of them anyway, my control panel says that I have 98 points total, I don't understand why only 3 show up.

Read the content and make your decision about a poster's reputation from that.

 

[chessrock]

I think Rep points should be voted on weekly by an elected committe.

Anyone who proves that they can understand and intelligently answer one of that Mr. Walter guy's posts should automatically get 5.

 

[nonreversebird]

Well the green box says Im on my way

I guess in a couple of years I might go up. Ill just wait.
No, seriously though. I have learned a great deal reading what all you guys post.

The one thing I finally realized was it really is best to leave the mastering to someone else, good that is.

I have never worked so hard at recording and mixing in my life and I am so worn out from it that I dont even want to think about writing any more and recording for a while.

I am excited about getting back my entire CD though. I really am doing all this for myself so if the Engineer can make me happy with what I have recorded , then he has really done a great job. The conditions I recorded in let alone the guitar and amp I chose are one thing but then put programmed drums in there and a Berhinger Vamp for bass and you got something very difficult to master I am sure.

Im right , right?

Anyway I unfortunately feel like my time here is almost over since I am not recording anymore and I took all you guys advice and left the mastering job to someone else, I guess I will drop by every so ofter just to see whats going on or maybe I will see about helping some people with Cakewalk or something.

But thanks to all of you
-nonreversebird aka Crashman

 

[Dogman]

OK, interesting post. Thanks for the read guys.
Ed

 

[7string]

I think Rep points should be voted on weekly by an elected committe.

Anyone who proves that they can understand and intelligently answer one of that Mr. Walter guy's posts should automatically get 5.

I think anybody who can do THAT should be head of the committee...