Mixing limiter?

[ShipwreckSoundWorks]

Does anyone put a limiter on their mixing sessions? I was told by a friend that it helps quite a bit. I tried it out on a mix for myself, and I can't tell if I like it or not. Everything comes out quite a bit more, like every piece of the drum kit comes through and gets buried less when I take the file from the mix to the master.
Any ideas?
Edit: I suppose I mean do you use a limiter on your master bus and then bounce it down and take it to a master session, to avoid any confusion. I don't mean using limiters on individual tracks within the project.

 

[HostileEx]

I always mix with a limiter on my master. I add pro-L and turn it up to like +7 or +8 so I can save a lot of headroom for my master.

 

[HostileEx]

Kinda related to this subject, I suggest reading through a thread that was popular a while back. Titled something like "-18 db mixing"

I believe it was that thread that got me started on using a limiter on my master. I have seen nothing but positive results.

 

[-Noodles-]

Nope - but that's because I don't master my own material.
On the rare occasion I master my own stuff (usually a demo), it's all done in one session - but I master the bounced version not the multitrack.

Limiters can serve their purpose well when mixing, if you've got super dynamic drum kits or vocals but I rarely find that the case. If my master meters are clipping I just turn the busses down to preserve the headroom.

 

[ShipwreckSoundWorks]

Yeah that's what I've been doing for the last few project I've had. Everything has sounded a lot better, and I avoid the problem of making everything sound squished while trying to get more volume out of something. Thanks a lot! I'll see if I can find that thread. Searched that term exactly, but didn't come up with anything. I'll keep looking!

 

[Trevoire520]

I mix through a rough mastering chain (compression, clipping and a little limiting) so I know my stuff will survive getting squashed in mastering.

 

[RedDog]

I usually have limiters on specific things like bass, occasionally a parallel snare, and for that I us AOM's Invisible Limiter. Lightweight, and fully capable.

 

[colonel kurtz]

+1 to mixing with a couple db's of compression and light limiting on the master

it's like having a look-ahead button for the entire mix...

 

[Ermz]

I've mixed into Ozone for a long time, but looking to try Pro-L out soon.

 

[infectdsniper]

i mix into a master and adjust my master chain as if it was just a part of the mixes final picture. im not sure if anyone else would support this idea though

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

I do that as well.

 

[Audio X]

I just turn the volume knob all the way up. Usually nothing on the buss.

 

[nezvers]

How much I read around internet - limiter help to find best gain staging mix and after final mix bounce down track without any comp/ clip or limiter on master bus. And then master bounced track.

 

[ShipwreckSoundWorks]

i mix into a master and adjust my master chain as if it was just a part of the mixes final picture. im not sure if anyone else would support this idea though

That's what I do my best to do, but my computer can't handle it sometimes.

 

[crillemannen]

I did some mixes in the past without mixing with a limiter on, and ended up with some level suprises once it was mastered. So i say yes, mix with a limiter take it off when you bounce your final mix.

 

[Sethis]

I would never used any effect on the master channel before mastering. There's no need to.

 

[Uros]

I've mixed into Ozone for a long time, but looking to try Pro-L out soon.

How much dB RMS roughly do you usually shoot for in Ozone, when you mix into it? Do you go up to ~10dB RMS as a sort of pseudo master or what?

 

[crillemannen]

I would never used any effect on the master channel before mastering. There's no need to.

Everyone has different approaches. But most ppl use something on the master. Gentle compression, and eq. No problem. As long as you are mixing in to it, it should be fine

 

[Uros]

hey crille, maybe you could answer the question from my previous post too

 

[crillemannen]

hey crille, maybe you could answer the question from my previous post too

I don't shoot for any particular RMS on Ozone. Just limit until it hits zero and the master fader still moves a bit. You don't have to hit it superhard but just as hard so you get the benefits of what limiting brings, just some more glue that it is.