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Understanding volume and mastering.
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Oni Katsu
Li/fe
Started Topics :
101
Posts :
704
Posted : Nov 26, 2012 18:27:46
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Hello!
So 2 days ago i got this message telling me that my newest track was wanted for a new album. Digicult will be there too! i'm so stoked man.
The owner of the label also said "lets talk when i get back in 4 days! if u want to go ahead ill need the 24 bit wav -3db without any limiters/effects on the master bus"
>> -3db without any limiters/effects on the master bus
ALRIGHT, so in order of me understading this correctly, since my track is dynamic the main volume is varying all the time. But it lies somewhere between
-2.5 and -4dB
Have i done this correctly?
please see the screenshot.
http://s191.beta.photobucket.com/user/satoru_97/media/Skjermbilde2012-11-26kl171514.png.html  http://soundcloud.com/li-fe
I said I like it dirty, not muddy. |
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soospicey
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
13
Posts :
74
Posted : Nov 26, 2012 19:31
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what they are saying is that they want at least 3db of headroom. meaning no peaks above -3db. ideally your track would sit mostly around -6db with maybe a few peaks here and there reaching up towards -3db
if you have to turn your master channel down a lot to achieve this, then you need to lower the volume of all the channels or work on your mix more
http://soundcloud.com/soospicey |
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Vermeee
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
108
Posts :
1069
Posted : Nov 26, 2012 19:42
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if he says he wants -3 db... and ur track lies somewhere beetween -2.5 - 4 db .... u need to lower the master channel so u give him the file that lies beetween -3 - 4.5...
http://soundcloud.com/bgos |
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Oni Katsu
Li/fe
Started Topics :
101
Posts :
704
Posted : Nov 26, 2012 21:02
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Its really hard to determinate where it is! because the KB together is at -4.6
And some sounds steadily until they just jump 1dB
Limiters don't always do their job. :l
http://soundcloud.com/li-fe
I said I like it dirty, not muddy. |
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Ampersand
Started Topics :
6
Posts :
92
Posted : Nov 26, 2012 21:11
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Rather than touching your master fader, why not select all tracks and bring them down by say, -2db? Do that until you get the desired RMS or peak volume on your master fader. Seems a little more efficient to me I guess. |
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soospicey
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
13
Posts :
74
Posted : Nov 26, 2012 21:13
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its not hard to see where it is, just use a meter!!
-4.6 for kick bass is not really allowing much headroom for when other sounds are added
i would suggest putting your kick/bass around -10db and almost all other sounds lower than that
http://soundcloud.com/soospicey |
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Alien Bug
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
27
Posts :
682
Posted : Nov 26, 2012 21:30
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
Started Topics :
95
Posts :
5380
Posted : Nov 26, 2012 23:18
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knocz
Moderator
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
1151
Posted : Nov 26, 2012 23:41
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Quote:
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On 2012-11-26 23:18, Colin OOOD wrote:
Don't touch your channel faders. Just turn down the master fader until the track plays back with 3dB headroom. I guarantee that you will not lose any quality.
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Out of curiosity, if it's really that easy, then why doesn't the labels audio engineer do that himself?
Super Banana Sauce http://www.soundcloud.com/knocz |
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MuckyPuh
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
14
Posts :
86
Posted : Nov 26, 2012 23:55
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soospicey
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
13
Posts :
74
Posted : Nov 26, 2012 23:59
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Quote:
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On 2012-11-26 23:41, knocz wrote:
Quote:
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On 2012-11-26 23:18, Colin OOOD wrote:
Don't touch your channel faders. Just turn down the master fader until the track plays back with 3dB headroom. I guarantee that you will not lose any quality.
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Out of curiosity, if it's really that easy, then why doesn't the labels audio engineer do that himself?
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generally speaking, that is not the best advice....
if your mix sucks and your track is clipping a lot, and you simply turn the master channel down until it is below -3db, then your mix still sucks and the mastering will be just as sucky
http://soundcloud.com/soospicey |
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Noisecycle
Noise Cycle
Started Topics :
2
Posts :
36
Posted : Nov 27, 2012 00:45
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Quote:
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On 2012-11-26 23:41, knocz wrote:
Quote:
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On 2012-11-26 23:18, Colin OOOD wrote:
Don't touch your channel faders. Just turn down the master fader until the track plays back with 3dB headroom. I guarantee that you will not lose any quality.
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Out of curiosity, if it's really that easy, then why doesn't the labels audio engineer do that himself?
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Asking for -3db headroom is just the insurance that the mixed track will not be exported from the daw with any clipping in it. That's all about this really.
http://www.soundcloud.com/noisecycle |
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PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Nov 27, 2012 00:45
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Quote:
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On 2012-11-26 23:41, knocz wrote:
Quote:
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On 2012-11-26 23:18, Colin OOOD wrote:
Don't touch your channel faders. Just turn down the master fader until the track plays back with 3dB headroom. I guarantee that you will not lose any quality.
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Out of curiosity, if it's really that easy, then why doesn't the labels audio engineer do that himself?
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sound more complicated and pro lol .
no it s to avoid some cliping.. best is to export 32 bit float to avoid cliping and dithering to 24 bit but it might bring confusion.
for mastering its not a problem as long as it don t clip but for mixing imo -3 db is still toohot .i would recommend to aim for -6 peaks on the master or to try to aim for having no tracks peaking more than -10 db on their channels or even -12, imo it give better result |
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makus
Overdream
Started Topics :
82
Posts :
3087
Posted : Nov 27, 2012 02:12
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what about -2? is it worse? 
Oni, you first screenshot gives us no useful info, sorry.
this kind of pic would be better, as it shows the real peaks offline.
www.overdreamstudio.com |
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
Started Topics :
95
Posts :
5380
Posted : Nov 27, 2012 03:02
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Quote:
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On 2012-11-26 23:41, knocz wrote:
Quote:
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On 2012-11-26 23:18, Colin OOOD wrote:
Don't touch your channel faders. Just turn down the master fader until the track plays back with 3dB headroom. I guarantee that you will not lose any quality.
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Out of curiosity, if it's really that easy, then why doesn't the labels audio engineer do that himself?
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Because the "label's audio engineer" won't be the one making the bounce of the track, it will be the artist 
As for:
Quote:
| generally speaking, that is not the best advice....
if your mix sucks and your track is clipping a lot, and you simply turn the master channel down until it is below -3db, then your mix still sucks and the mastering will be just as sucky |
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...well DUH  However you are answering a post that no-one actually made. I was responding to Ampersand's post about the best way to turn down the mix as a whole, nothing to do with improving it.
Mastering - http://mastering.OOOD.net :: www.is.gd/mastering
OOOD 5th album 'You Think You Are' - www.is.gd/tobuyoood :: www.OOOD.net
www.facebook.com/OOOD.music :: www.soundcloud.com/oood
Contact for bookings/mastering - colin@oood.net |
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