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Question about the Final Mix ?
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Liquid Acoustics
Started Topics :
3
Posts :
16
Posted : Aug 13, 2012 00:40:28
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Hey Guys Liquid Acoustics here again with another question
What I'd like to know is, During the final mix session, do you always mix a track like it's going to be mastered?
I mean do you always mix with the headroom for mastering engineer in mind or do you make one mix thats closer to 0db for the mp3 demo and then mix another one with the headroom later?
Everyone views are welcome
Thanks in Advance
"We can't run from who we are, Our destiny chooses us" |
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Kolishin Methud
Started Topics :
5
Posts :
266
Posted : Aug 13, 2012 03:01
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Great question! I think its to taste for the most part, unless the mastering engineer wants a particular amount of headroom. Personally I like to mix all my tracks with the same work flow technique i.e. working and starting of with my kick around -10 dB then work off from there, so there is usually -5 to -8 dB of headroom, and so far it works for me!! I mean what works for you may not work for another of course, but if you plan on releasing a track commercially with a mastering in mind, then yes i would always mix with enough headroom. but if you don't do a mastering like some people do they will purposely make the mix louder to make up for the "mastering" stage. this also has its own benefit too- if you do a live act, the track will be up to par loudness wise to fit, instead of having to ether get the track stems mastered or put a mastering chain just for the live sets. But its a very good question, that i find helps heaps with mixing and workflow once you find a way you like to mix your tracks. I hope it helps in some way!
 http://soundcloud.com/brentmalik |
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Liquid Acoustics
Started Topics :
3
Posts :
16
Posted : Aug 13, 2012 14:14
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Hey Kolishin Method .... Nice one bro ..... Your on the right track ... thanks for sharing with me your ideas and experiences ....
I always used to mix with headroom in mind.
Wow can you master a song in stems ??
Keep it coming guys this is Gr8 
"We can't run from who we are, Our destiny chooses us" |
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Kolishin Methud
Started Topics :
5
Posts :
266
Posted : Aug 14, 2012 04:00
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sure thing man always glad to express my experiences to others.
yeah you can totally master a track in stems, you have to render out you track in stems first, then get them mastered. its a much more time consuming workflow if you ask me.
http://soundcloud.com/brentmalik |
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Soundmagus
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
67
Posts :
633
Posted : Aug 20, 2012 06:43
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Personally as i master my own tunes i try to get the final mix as close to what i would see as a mastered track.
I am of the thought train that in the mastering stage you should be aiming to do as little as possible to the track, maybe some final sheen and volume adjustment but really not a lot more than that, although, off-course, that depends on the mix you get.
Most mastering engineers will ask for at least 3db headroom.
Mark
Check out my site for Video tutorials and other tips & Tricks
http://www.music-production-videos.com |
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
Started Topics :
95
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5380
Posted : Aug 20, 2012 19:35
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Personally I don't think you need to make a distinction between mixing for mastering and mixing for any other reason. Either way, the aim is to make the track sound as good as you can without any processing on the main outputs. I can't see any reason why a mastering engineer would ask the artist to make another quieter mixdown unless the track is clipping, and clipping is bad practise anyway. Given that you can transparently adjust the headroom by moving the master fader, just make sure your track peaks -3dB. That way you'll end up with a mix suitable for any purpose.
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Contact for bookings/mastering - colin@oood.net |
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PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Aug 20, 2012 19:47
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start with kick at -12 and it s more safe in term of headroom (with modeled plugins runing signal to hot can be driving them ,same with analog gears..)
i find mixing with calibrated vu meters on the master can help too , you re sure to have enought headroom and the way it move i find it usefull..it s a truer indication of loudness as perceived by the human ear than your daw peak meter
not that i haven t heard very good mix made with kick almost at zero db and a limiter on the master.. whatever work in the end |
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