| Author
|
mastering the master channel (help)
|
e-motion
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
71
Posts :
933
Posted : Sep 22, 2005 14:14
|
i'm new to mastering (have only mastered a track once) and really new to using plugs in the master channel\final wav file (never done it lol).
i'm planning to use Eqium (to cut what's left of the too low\high frequencys), Firium (slightest adjustments, probably not required), Waves LinMB and then Voxengo Elephant.
my doubt is using linMB... it's already hard to use it on a single channel but i have no idea how to work with it on the master channel. i can set thresholds and that but what confuses me is the attack and release values...
i'm asking for some tips in using them and what effects can i get in changing this and that value. some rules would be nice too.
thanks in advance... Boom ! |
|
|
shamantrixx
Started Topics :
7
Posts :
549
Posted : Sep 23, 2005 03:40
|
if you produce your own music and you need to master your track... than your mix is not good! You should focus on making a good sounding mix rather than nice mastering on bad mix.
Rules make the music sound like vocal house so I can't tell you anything about that 
 "It occurred to me by intuition, and music was the driving force behind that intuition. My discovery was the result of musical perception"
Albert Einstein, speaking about his theory of relativity |
|
|
|
cytopia
Cytopia.org
Started Topics :
61
Posts :
329
Posted : Sep 23, 2005 13:07
|
Defintately best to focus on a good mix first since if a track is released it will be mastered by a mastering engineer, so no need for the artist to master.
Home mastering is usefull for artsits if you want to play your unreased track at a party and want the level to be as loud as the other tracks. People have different ideas about what mastering chain works. |
|
|
|
billy ambulance
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
43
Posts :
560
Posted : Sep 23, 2005 13:46
|
if your problem is level than you can open your WAV file in soundforge and than do "normalize".
scan levels of the track to find out the RMS level of your track. usually track after master is -11db RMS.
its good to put compressor on master channel to avoid clips and reduce dynamic level but you need to set it right. low trashold and low ratio setting its better in my opinion.
you can put maximaizer after the compressor to add some more gain but carefull not to crush your sound/mix.
I know a lot of artist uses only L3 maximaizer on master channel but i woudn`t recomend it.
if you need EQ,compression, imager on the master than you need to spend a lot of hours learning mastering and frequnecy content of a comressial CD to get a fine resalut but if you know , for example, that you got too much low-mid in the mix than fix it in the mix instead of the master channel.
|
|
|
|
e-motion
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
71
Posts :
933
Posted : Sep 23, 2005 14:43
|
my track won't be released... i wan't to master it myself.... it's always a good thing to learn.
i know it's better to have a good mix than processing the mix but how about both? "if it sounds better then do it" it's my way of thinking 
my point in using linMB is to lower the difference between the parts with few channels playing and the parts with lots of channels playing... more or less the same with the elephant (as i said before this is an experiment).
ok and about my question can somebody answer it? when i mean rules i mean something like "don't put the release of the bass too low" or stuff like that.
you're the ones defening rules by saying that you shouldn't use plugs in the master channel
|
|
|
|
cytopia
Cytopia.org
Started Topics :
61
Posts :
329
Posted : Sep 23, 2005 17:45
|
This is how i do it:
1.Get mix done as well as you can.
2. Mixdown with NO compression or limiting on master bus. Mixdown at 24bit if this is what you are working in.
3. Import the 24bit WAV file into Wavelab or cubase
4. You CAN normalize the WAV file, but often not neccesary
5. Insert EQ as first plugin in mastering chain, i tend to use the Master Q by PSP, and i usually Hi pass below 35hz, this removes alot of the sound under 35hz which sounds like thunder on a sound system. Important to remove enough of the very low so it sounds good.
6. Multiband Compression - I got the best results with the PSP vintage warmer, it has quite an analogue sound for a digi plugin. i tend to use on mastering first aid setting. Can boost the level dial for more volume, and experiment with the knee, but i dont use knee over 5% or it gets crunchy. Make sure it is set to multiband and on Stereo.
7. Limiter - i use the L3 ultramaximiser, preset 16bit CD, i set the threshold at -2.0 at the most, and the upper limit to -0.2. Make sure dither is ON and set for 16bit.
8. Select mixdown or render depending on program, and make sure you set it so that it is being converted from 24bit to 16bit. In wavelab be carefull not to set up Dither twice, since the L3 will dither, and you can also choose dither in the plugin window, near the render button.
Good monitors are important, and also you learn and give yourself feedback by taking a track you mastered and playing on other speakers, try car, kitchen stereo, discman, party etc... make a note of what was wrong and try to fix it.
ALSO: also usefull when mastering in cubase, to import a well mastered track into another audio channel. Then on master bus run the PAZ analyser and set to RMS, then you can switch between tracks and compare vol, freq etc AND you can hear the differences.
|
|
|
|
shamantrixx
Started Topics :
7
Posts :
549
Posted : Sep 25, 2005 13:04
|
.........................
7. Limiter - i use the L3 ultramaximiser, preset 16bit CD, i set the threshold at -2.0 at the most, and the upper limit to -0.2. Make sure dither is ON and set for 16bit.
..........................
I also have noticed that L3 works best when threshold is not set below -2.5 db. Also it seems 2 me that fast tracks with bass line below 80 Hz sound better with noise shaping set to type 2!? Any expirience with this one maybe?
...
damn quote
"It occurred to me by intuition, and music was the driving force behind that intuition. My discovery was the result of musical perception"
Albert Einstein, speaking about his theory of relativity |
|
|
|
Fingax
Cosmic Station
Started Topics :
82
Posts :
1235
Posted : Sep 25, 2005 16:00
|
i think u can use all these tips but not in the master output.
the fluctuations of audio in your sequencer are difrent from the ones u get when u have the track in a stero file. its much more reliable to alpy all these mastering procedures in the wav file, cause its better for the "effectiveness" of these Dynamic process of mastering.. not in the output.. i only would do it to listen to a rough mix not a proper mix.
|
|
|
|
cytopia
Cytopia.org
Started Topics :
61
Posts :
329
Posted : Sep 25, 2005 16:59
|
Shamantrixx - I dont have the experience to know the difference in sound between type 1 and 2 dither, but it might be true, can try it by comparing.
Fingax -Definately, best have no compression and limiting on the master bus, and mixdown clean, then master the 32bit or 24bit WAV in wavelab.
Also a good idea is to have someone else master your tracks, since they have fresh ears and some people like Colin OOOD have a proper room and experience to master a track properly. |
|
|
|
e-motion
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
71
Posts :
933
Posted : Sep 25, 2005 18:23
|
thanks everyone for the tips guess nobody uses linMB in the wav file\master channel hehe.
cytopia... guess i'll try that when i have a quality track done |
|
|
|
makus
Overdream
Started Topics :
82
Posts :
3087
Posted : Sep 25, 2005 20:07
|
i agree with cytopia about both PSP products - they make the right touch and are easy in use.
www.overdreamstudio.com |
|
|
|
sex stile
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
11
Posts :
31
Posted : Sep 26, 2005 20:29
|
i have my question for these .......i have done some nice mix at a track and didn´t use any masterization at all.... i have bounce in logic audio 5.0 like spliff files. I have open in soundforge(.wal and .war) and just copy and drag into one file, 3 times. so it get the volume up and no cliping because it goes only to 0dB.
Iff i bouce the track like intervaled file it will go only like one file....i would like to know wich way it iss better...?
---------------------------------------------
Thanks
|
|
|
|
