Final Mastering/Compression

[inDistinkt]

Every time I make a new sound I always begin with eq to give it a better shape, and add some compression if I think it's needed. I've been leaving plenty of headroom in my tracks for any final editing after the song is complete, and I'm getting a much better understanding of eq and compression.

The only concern I have, is what will happen if I compress the entire project when I'm finished, while I have some individual instruments that have been compressed as well, such as a snare. Does this make a difference, or is it something that will just entirely depend on the song itself, and need mere listening to in order to determine what to do.

I guess the most important rule is if it sounds right it works, but I just want to make sure I'm not overdoing anything.

[decklyn]

I generally leave the master alone. If something is making the tune go over the clip line, go adjust it in the mix.

[inDistinkt]

I know it's much better to have mastering done professionally, the only thing is, is that I leave a lot of headroom and it makes the tracks a bit flat or dull. Since I'm a fairly new producer and dont plan on any of my tunes needing to be professionally mastered anytime soon, I just would like to see how they sound with a little amateur touch added to the final mix.

[societyloser1]

Leave your master fader always at 0.
Just mix your volume and play with your eq till you think everything is fine...
When you wanna export the track, just for listening purposes (or to share with friends for some feadback)
You could put a limiter on your master bus and boost the input/treshold untill you think it sounds hard enough to you... (Don't overdo it, I think it's best that your highest limiting is only 3-5 db!)
Also, always leave enough headroom... (-6db on the master channel)

Another tip: If you have something that can meassure the RMS level (voxengo span), you can check it while you're limiting (Most of the tunes have an RMS of +/- -10db)

[Frenk_Dublin]

I always mix and master like this:

Get a nice mix en leave room for a master, so the mix is around -2, -3. then export too .wave and start a new project where you load your mix.
Next pump up your track using a Multiband compressor, limiter and if needed an EQ.

If you compress to much, you dynamics will disappear, so theres almost no diffrence in the highest peak of volume and the lowest.

[Kes-Es]

Every time I make a new sound I always begin with eq to give it a better shape, and add some compression if I think it's needed.

Dunno how everyone else works, but why are you trying to regulate your sounds right out of the synth rather than designing them to sound good without it?
Seems destination fail to me.

[Sharmaji]

if you're curious, try it and see what it does.

use compression on a single source to change its tone; use it on multiple sources to change relationships. you can get really cool pumping, or you can make something flat and lifeless.

best thing to do is try it, and make note of what it does. i often send stuff to be mastered w/ nothing on the master channel, but then again i've definitely sent out material w/ a compressor on the master at 13:1, taking off 5 db (albeit rarely). depends on what the song needs.

[therook]

I never really touch master buss compression to be honest. That's a job for the mixing engineer. 98% of the time (according to macc) compression does more harm than good. I find compression just squeezes the life outta everything and I just actually avoid it.

The only thing I really do is some minor eq work (roll off and some slight dips in the mud / ear piercing zones) and sticking a waves limiter on it.

As far as headroom goes read the first two pages of the mixdown thread on here

http://dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=74832

[hans blix]

I just would like to see how they sound with a little amateur touch added to the final mix.

If you just wanna boost the level of your mix, so that its as loud at the professional stuff, cos you wanna upload your tunes to soundcloud/myspace, want DJs to play em, etc ... this is what I do ..

Master Chain:
- your master level should peak at -6
- first compressor (0 attack, 0 release, ratio 1.5, only 2-3 GR) still peaking at -6 on the master
- second compresser (20 / 30 attack, short release, ratio 4, 4-5 GR) still peaking at -6 on the master
- limiter (use until right before you start hearing distortion ... -9db threshold or whatever)

now A/B your track to a 320 of Distance or Emalkay or whatever, and your track should be able to stand gallantly next to theirs.