I usually get the loudness with t-racks clipper but it doesn't sound as loud as pro premasters.sure the mix is crucial but how do you generally get the standard level? limiter, compressor, clipper?
how do you get the loudness when mastering?
- Thread starter FrenchFrog
- Start date
I use limiters like Slate FG-X or Fabfilter Pro-L, but I use use multiband compressors before the limiter to avoid distortion, to get your mix loud, it should go at least to -9 or-10 RMS, but it may be on the cost of your mix
botus99
Microphone Assassin
Having a well-balanced mix (both in terms of spectral balance and dynamics), and then using the right amount of saturation and compression/limiting. That's it really.
heshian46
Member
A lot of my loudness comes from mixing into compression. I've found that when it comes time for mastering, compression and limiting are more effective in giving cleaner, more transparent, loudness.
cfh11
Member
Fluffbot
I like beef jerky.
My entire mastering chain is just an EQ for slight adjustments and getting rid of 30hz and below into an SSL master bus comp, into a couple instances of Ozone 5 for the limiter! I like to use two different limiters running a little softer than just one trying to smash everything all at once.
Pursuance
AKA Kylezan
I agree with fluff.
My best masters seem to be from using two different instances of the same limiter, and in my case i use the waves L2
My best masters seem to be from using two different instances of the same limiter, and in my case i use the waves L2
xTomx
Member
Compression on the individual busses, and SSL Comp, VTM, VCC and FG-X for the master channel.
Saturation is another good way to get perceived loudness without doing heavy limiting or compression.
Saturation is another good way to get perceived loudness without doing heavy limiting or compression.
harls
Member
ArthurD
Member
I use some principles I read in the Bob Katz book + other knowledge from internet (and other books as well),
Starting with a balanced mix...
This would give me the loudness...
Bus compressor (if it makes the mix sounds better) I like SSL 4:1 or 2:1 attack 10 or 30 release auto-> EQ for more perceived loudness (1-2 db on highs, brickwall hipass on 20hz if needed, -0,5 on mids depending on the source) -> Parallel comp with fastest attack and 400-500ms release, biggest ratio -> clipper to tame snare/kick trasient -> Ozone limiter or Fabfilter proL. you cant get -8db RMS easy with those.
Cheers
Starting with a balanced mix...
This would give me the loudness...
Bus compressor (if it makes the mix sounds better) I like SSL 4:1 or 2:1 attack 10 or 30 release auto-> EQ for more perceived loudness (1-2 db on highs, brickwall hipass on 20hz if needed, -0,5 on mids depending on the source) -> Parallel comp with fastest attack and 400-500ms release, biggest ratio -> clipper to tame snare/kick trasient -> Ozone limiter or Fabfilter proL. you cant get -8db RMS easy with those.
Cheers
Fluffbot
I like beef jerky.
good tips here! I usually use ssl comp too but I'll try the slate comp, I use them in every mixes and they sound really good. I'll give it a try with two limiters , makes sense! I only have t-racks brickwall limiter and l1 though. I also tried once with parallel comp but the result was weird. depends on the mix I think.
Deadstar
Member
Eq (a transparent one) -> Saturation (may vary) -> Slate VBC (sucking 2/4 dB) -> Gclip -> Gclip (again) -> Limiter (Ozone, Elephant, Slate FG-X)
cfh11
Member
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Fox Mulder
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A few tips from my experience:
- tight, solid, consistent low end (running bass through VTM both on the track and VTM on master helps massively with this)
- Mix into a buss compressor (FG-Red here) with max 3 dB gain reduction, I normally ride it at least 1 dB
- I once used the demo version of Voxengo curve EQ to match the EQ spectrum of my master buss vs a commercial mix, and it really helped to show where my mix was lacking - too much low end and not enough around the 200-500 Hz region. A lot of the loudness comes from the mid range, you gotta get that right. I don't think it can be fixed by an EQ on the master buss, I think you need to get that EQ balance right by adjusting individual tracks, specifically how the bass guitar and rhythm guitar fit together below 1 kHz.
Then a limiter should bring it up to -10 dB RMS quite easily without affecting the mix balance. I think trying to get it louder than -10 dB RMS is unnecessary.
- tight, solid, consistent low end (running bass through VTM both on the track and VTM on master helps massively with this)
- Mix into a buss compressor (FG-Red here) with max 3 dB gain reduction, I normally ride it at least 1 dB
- I once used the demo version of Voxengo curve EQ to match the EQ spectrum of my master buss vs a commercial mix, and it really helped to show where my mix was lacking - too much low end and not enough around the 200-500 Hz region. A lot of the loudness comes from the mid range, you gotta get that right. I don't think it can be fixed by an EQ on the master buss, I think you need to get that EQ balance right by adjusting individual tracks, specifically how the bass guitar and rhythm guitar fit together below 1 kHz.
Then a limiter should bring it up to -10 dB RMS quite easily without affecting the mix balance. I think trying to get it louder than -10 dB RMS is unnecessary.
