Master Bus Automation

[Studdy]

I see a lot of people talk about automating there master bus a db or so up and down for excitement in parts. Is this generally happening before the final limiter/compressor? After? Thoughts? Obviously the compressor/limiter will be affected if the automation happens before.

 

[AudioGeekZine]

Post-FX or else you'd be hitting the limiter harder and losing punch.

 

[derekmoffat]

pre limiting for me. master the song normally, then in the verses (or whatever part) back down the gain on the limiter a db or so.
Don't boost up, back everything else down.

 

[waltz mastering]

If I do any section level automation, for those parts, I attenuate the signal that feeds the limiter.

 

[bryan_kilco]

Yeah, I'd create a "Mix" bus and do the automating on that.

 

[Studdy]

Wow this is a real mixed bag of answers. Some prefer post limiter some prefer pre. Post makes most sense to me by just bringing master fader down a touch when necessary but I have to experiment with it before as well.

 

[AudioGeekZine]

Some answers are for mastering and some are for mixing.

 

[right_to_rage]

Additional question, does anyone reguarly do automation on the 2bus compressor for pumping effects, or increased dynamic range for soft sections?