Loudness Maximization?

[guitarguru777]

So over the past few months I have been kicking around the threads here about the subject and for some reason I am not getting it. Not getting it in the fact that my mixes never seem "loud enough" and Not getting in it terms of understanding how its done properly.

I think my main issue with mixing right now is really how to handle the Master bus. I have a fairly decent understanding of compression, multi band compressions, getting a good tone thats usable with guitars bass & drums but whenever I try to get my mixes loud it always winds up just a muddy mess.

I dont have the best plugins in the world, I have the Waves platinum bundle and Ozone but every time I try and use the Loudness Maximiser with either one the low end just gets unbelievable uncontrollable.

I know its not as simple as HEY DUDE DO THIS! and you will be golden, but any pointers on where to start on the master bus to begin to get things loud?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[pipaguapique]

I don't have the best plug ins in the world, I have the Waves platinum bundle

yeah you do...hahaha


no, but really...

Automation is crucial for getting a loud product. but I've gotten louder (just a lil' bit but very noticeable) ever since i got Sonnox Inflator.


It's not a plug in that will make you automatically sound louder but some of them do help

 

[topsoul182]

do you high pass and low pass all the tracks when you mix?

Even vocals and overheads?

 

[guitarguru777]

Well right now drums are all slate nothing live as of yet, but I have only done low / highs on guitars & bass.

maybe its not just a master bus issue

 

[guitarguru777]

Sonnox Inflator.

No VST? OMG you ProTools guys get all the love

 

[arv_foh]

you DEFINITELY have to use a low shelf on the slate kicks to roll off 5-10db starting at like 115hz or so, the slate samples have way too much low end in them to use for metal

the toms can also be really fucking boomy so I usually high pass those too

then slap the GSSL on your master bus, crank up the loudness maximizer in ozone and be done with it

 

[guitarguru777]

ARV ... DUDE ... you are the man!

The EQ on the kicsk and toms cleaned it right up ... wow

That SSL Comp and the Loudness Maxximiser combo is incredible. I cant believe it was so simple

I was WAYYYYYY over complicating things...

So here are the 2 versions:

Sonitus Compression / Ozone Loudness Maxx
http://www.jasoncohenitservices.com/djent.mp3

SSL Comp / Ozone Loudness Maxx
http://www.jasoncohenitservices.com/djent_ssl.mp3

The difference is night and day!!

 

[AntonioPetrole]

ARV ... DUDE ... you are the man!

The EQ on the kicsk and toms cleaned it right up ... wow

That SSL Comp and the Loudness Maxximiser combo is incredible. I cant believe it was so simple

I was WAYYYYYY over complicating things...

So here are the 2 versions:

Sonitus Compression / Ozone Loudness Maxx
http://www.jasoncohenitservices.com/djent.mp3

SSL Comp / Ozone Loudness Maxx
http://www.jasoncohenitservices.com/djent_ssl.mp3

The difference is night and day!!

Work on that guitar tone, it will increase your mix ten fold. What are you using for guitars?

 

[guitarguru777]

I kinda like that tone, its different ...lol

Its a 5150 recorded at low volume cause I live in an apartment

Setup:
Custom 7 String w/ Bare Knuckle Miracle Man 7's
TS9 with Keely JRC45 Mod
5150 w/ Integrated Quads
Vintage Marshall w/ G12 30s
SM57 just off cone to bottom right straight on
Ibanez 5 String bass > Tube screamer into my interface

 

[arv_foh]

soundin' pretty good brother, glad those tips helped you out

 

[guitarguru777]

Does anyone else notice a slight pumping at the start of the song about 3 seconds in? Maybe its just me

 

[guitarguru777]

Ok so I re-tracked the guitars and tried some "fizz" reduction on them via a narrow band parametric. Let me know what you think now.

http://www.jasoncohenitservices.com/djent3.mp3

 

[colynomial]

One other thing you could try is sucking some of the low-mids out of the bass guitar. Personally, I like hearing the sub bass from the bass guitar and let the kick fill in the space around 100Hz. A lot of the power of the mix comes from the low-mid range and will limit how loud you can get things if it's not real balanced.

For me, I always get the loudest mixes just by clipping. Get a good balanced mix and just throw a clipper on the master and drive the gain until ~11-9db RMS.

Otherwise sounds pretty good man!

 

[RichMinerva]

this may sound stupid guys but whats the GSSL ?

 

[Melodeath]

A Waves plugin. SSL G-channel

 

[arv_foh]

A Waves plugin. SSL G-channel

No, not the channel strip we are talking about the bus compressor, the name of the plugin is SSL Comp, 2 completely diff plugs

 

[espartaco]

someone can explain something about using the compressor in this situation ,how much gain reduction you guys usually can get away until it sound weird?? and also what is the objective of the compressor in this case what am looking for? tame peaks of just squash the mix ?

just trying to understand the procedure , thanks in advance

 

[amarshism]

Glue, quash some rogue transients, pumping if that's what you're looking for. You will hear things 'come together'. Gr is up to you. Some mixes need to breath, some need to be squashed. Play around with your attack and release times. Low ratio. I'm
no expert, but those are some things i consider whilst applying master bus comp.

 

[espartaco]

Glue, quash some rogue transients, pumping if that's what you're looking for. You will hear things 'come together'. Gr is up to you. Some mixes need to breath, some need to be squashed. Play around with your attack and release times. Low ratio. I'm
no expert, but those are some things i consider whilst applying master bus comp.

yeah i thought is all about the context of the mix, i will give it a try to this and see what work best for me, thanks dude

 

[Therion_Prime]

gclip. gclip. then gclip again.

If by then not loud enough (which I doubt), put a maximizer/brickwall limiter on top.