Mixing with Master Bus Comp/EQ/Limit/etc. on

[otop]

How far into mixing do you guys usually apply the Master Bus chain (Compression/EQ/Limiting/Gclip w/e)

I always find myself going crazy on the Master Bus once I have dialed in good tones and have a decent mix going on.. The only problem is I end up mixing around it for quite some time and before I know it the mix relies on the Master Bus Chain. When I go back and A/B I realize the mix sounds like crap without the Chain.

Is this normal? Should I be mixing with the limiter/EQ/Comp on?
Should I just go back and start a new mix and leave the MB Chain for the final touches?

I know a lot of this is "personal preference", but Id appreciate a little feedback from some experienced engineers.

Here's an A/B with the MB Chain on and off. (No bass in the mix)

 

[MetalSound]

there are a lot of threads covering this subject. just search for them and you will find answers.

 

[-Noodles-]

Is this normal?

If it's how you work, yes.

Should I be mixing with the limiter/EQ/Comp on?

Does it work positively for the track? If yes, then why not?

Should I just go back and start a new mix and leave the MB Chain for the final touches?

Only if you think that the effects on the MB are causing you to lose focus of the mix.

 

[RevoltStudios]

I always put MB comp on when mixing. It keeps me from squeezing the living crap outta stuff and trying to achieve what mastering will do on it's own.

 

[espartaco]

i will recommend you to not mix whit the entire mastering chain in he 2buss. instead just try a good comp doing 3 or 4 db of gain reduction. moderate attack. 30 ms, auto release if available if not try to adjust it whit the time of the song. you will get better results whit this. keep headroom not let the mix peak more than -6 / -3. build your mix trough the compressor. and check from time to time putting the limiter bouncing the mix. and just listen whit wmp or whatever are the player you use to listen your music. i find doing this i concentrate more on just the sound and can reference more easily whit other tracks.

a cool trick that has been working for me lately to not get my snare destroyed by the limiter ( if i going for a really loud master) is to put a limiter doing 4 or 5 db of GR, just before i end the mix and balance the level of the snare using g clip of another clipper. put off the limiter and bounce the track , this way i dont get any surprises latter on the mastering stage whit the snare getting buried.

Either way this is the way i work so dont take any fact out of what i say ,try by yourself and also check the forum there are a lot of threads whit very good info about this subject, try to look the posts from ermz, lasse and others experimented members, they gave a lot of good info.

 

[digitaldeath]

James Murphy gave some great info on this topic in the past.
Use the link in my sig to search!

 

[Geno_]

i never fail to lol @ your avatar digitaldeath!

 

[digitaldeath]

i never fail to lol @ your avatar digitaldeath!

Cheers dude! Funny thing is that I know guitarists that wouldn't even get it...

Niall.