Ok, some exp guys pro & non please weigh in here. OK im working on some projects here in the studio and (really goofing around) the compressor (dramwer) that will (the head eng here) setup was inactive just passing audio with a little gain and it sounded great! Most mastering comp really aren't doing "that much" when set right? (besides of harmonic content and what not) I mean the actual overall level? My question, would it hurt just not to have a compressor in the mastering chain at all? to help conserve dynamic range and just limit the audio. Am I crazy? wrong? a bloke? please tell me? I mean im trying my best to converse dynamic range and actually have a crest-factor while still being loud and commercially competitive.
Im just thinking out loud here if the goal is to persevere dynamic range and not to "crush' the audio the limiter is going to crush the audio some what anyway right? So a compressor in the mixing stage nor the mastering can compress that much right? or there will be no room at the mastering stage for dynamic range at limiting time. So once in the mastering stage the master comp setting are gentle in most cases and are set to be transparent (and Im not talking dubstep music that wants to pump your brains out) I mean most transparent settings are, fast to medium release, slow to medium attack, low ratios with low gain reduction. Even at these low & gentle settings you are loosing a hint of dynamic range correct? So would it hurt to just take it out?
What do most of yall try to accomplish with your compressor at the mastering stage? (I know thats a broad question just think of scenarios where you use small amounts of compression) If its an idiotic thing to think of, of no comp at the mastering stage just tell me just experimenting over here thas all. Anyway After that I tested both on Analog and digital and...(do I really have to give the spec's lol better now than later lol)
Analog Setup & Routing @ Wilson Art Mastering Studio
Monitoring - Dunlavy sv-c
Amp - Classe
Room - standard mastering room, great
Converters - Benchmark DAC1
Outboard gear (i was using at the time)
EQ - A Designs EM-EQ2
EQ - Bax EQ
Comp - Dramer S2, settings lets just say fast release, slow-medium attack, ratio 1:5 and about -3dB of gain reduction.
Out thru converts to DAW (here they use Wave Lab)
Digital, I tried same master (I know the plugins are different just bar with me the focus is dynamic range and overall level)
EQ - Pro Q
EQ - UAD Massive Passive
Comp - UAD fairchilld, time constant 1, gain reduction same -3
Limiter - Massey L2007
Again the settings of the fairchild were mild. I know its standard to use comp during mastering but what if you don't? ANy you guys exp or try this? Thoughts, comments please?
Im just thinking out loud here if the goal is to persevere dynamic range and not to "crush' the audio the limiter is going to crush the audio some what anyway right? So a compressor in the mixing stage nor the mastering can compress that much right? or there will be no room at the mastering stage for dynamic range at limiting time. So once in the mastering stage the master comp setting are gentle in most cases and are set to be transparent (and Im not talking dubstep music that wants to pump your brains out) I mean most transparent settings are, fast to medium release, slow to medium attack, low ratios with low gain reduction. Even at these low & gentle settings you are loosing a hint of dynamic range correct? So would it hurt to just take it out?
What do most of yall try to accomplish with your compressor at the mastering stage? (I know thats a broad question just think of scenarios where you use small amounts of compression) If its an idiotic thing to think of, of no comp at the mastering stage just tell me just experimenting over here thas all. Anyway After that I tested both on Analog and digital and...(do I really have to give the spec's lol better now than later lol)
Analog Setup & Routing @ Wilson Art Mastering Studio
Monitoring - Dunlavy sv-c
Amp - Classe
Room - standard mastering room, great
Converters - Benchmark DAC1
Outboard gear (i was using at the time)
EQ - A Designs EM-EQ2
EQ - Bax EQ
Comp - Dramer S2, settings lets just say fast release, slow-medium attack, ratio 1:5 and about -3dB of gain reduction.
Out thru converts to DAW (here they use Wave Lab)
Digital, I tried same master (I know the plugins are different just bar with me the focus is dynamic range and overall level)
EQ - Pro Q
EQ - UAD Massive Passive
Comp - UAD fairchilld, time constant 1, gain reduction same -3
Limiter - Massey L2007
Again the settings of the fairchild were mild. I know its standard to use comp during mastering but what if you don't? ANy you guys exp or try this? Thoughts, comments please?