Mastering & Mixdown (ft. The Money Shot Thread)

[Depone]

Some good insight about the differences mixing in-the-box compared to analogue mixing -

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much- ... tored.html

[zuta]

great

[Kaaz]

Edit: posted in a seperate thread

[laurend]

Here are some examples mastered with the MaximalSound algorithm. That's not DubStep. It's only music.
The gain corrections required for a constant volume A/B comparison are specified under the "After" player.

Just Friends
Before
Soundcloud
After
Soundcloud
Correction -6.75 dB

One Note Samba
Before
Soundcloud
After
Soundcloud
Correction -6.59 dB

Rise and Shine
Before
Soundcloud
After
Soundcloud
Correction -6.57 dB

Room 34
Before
Soundcloud
After
Soundcloud
Correction -6.40 dB

Do not hesitate to download the PCM files to override the SoundCloud codec limitations.

[hifi]

Macc
http://www.dubstepforum.com/memberlist. ... le&u=81484

[Mr Hyde]

Posted this on somewhere else but perhsps DSF can help a bruvvah out:

I produce stuff on Logic and generally try to make tunes without frequencies overlapping (i.e. distinct sub, kick, bass, synth, high frequencies) then eq each part to really reduce any overlap. Then compress certain sounds as required (i.e. for sharper snares) and possibly some compression over the whole track if it sounds better with it (although usually it doesn't). Then check levels of individual parts for no clipping and all sounding the way I want it to sound on headphones and different speakers (especially seems to need high pass filters to stop overwhelming muddy bass taking up all the headroom).

I then export to Audacity to visually identify parts that are much louder than other parts and go back to Logic to see if those parts levels can be reduced (often something like a kick, sub and bass all hitting at the same time), then back to Audacity to amplify upto the limit before there is clipping, then export to MP3....then need to put it onto iTunes to add the artwork.


.......any recommendations for things I'm doing wrong there or could do better? My tunes often sound a lot quieter than others uploaded to soundcloud and don't sound as clear (more muddy) as MP3's than they do on Logic.

[laurend]

Posted here
Vague advices can't be used as general rules for mixing...
Sure a good mix is the keystone for a good production. The better the mix, the better the mastering.

[Mr Hyde]

^^^
yeah, I've looked all over for mixing threads/youtube videos etc. just wondering if anyone has anything specific to say about the way I'm doing it as it's all self-taught I'm sure I'm probably doing things wrong.

One thing that took me ages to realise is that importing tunes to iTunes to put the artwork on (as I can't seem to do that directly in Logic or Audacity) was ending up changing the quality from 320 to 256 automatically unless you change the default settings. A simple thing when you realise that it's doing it but until someone says it isn't obvious.

[Audio Animals]

Great thread

[Mason]

Posted this on somewhere else but perhsps DSF can help a bruvvah out:

I produce stuff on Logic and generally try to make tunes without frequencies overlapping (i.e. distinct sub, kick, bass, synth, high frequencies) then eq each part to really reduce any overlap. Then compress certain sounds as required (i.e. for sharper snares) and possibly some compression over the whole track if it sounds better with it (although usually it doesn't). Then check levels of individual parts for no clipping and all sounding the way I want it to sound on headphones and different speakers (especially seems to need high pass filters to stop overwhelming muddy bass taking up all the headroom).

I then export to Audacity to visually identify parts that are much louder than other parts and go back to Logic to see if those parts levels can be reduced (often something like a kick, sub and bass all hitting at the same time), then back to Audacity to amplify upto the limit before there is clipping, then export to MP3....then need to put it onto iTunes to add the artwork.


.......any recommendations for things I'm doing wrong there or could do better? My tunes often sound a lot quieter than others uploaded to soundcloud and don't sound as clear (more muddy) as MP3's than they do on Logic.

Have you heard of smexoscope? Gives you a real time visualisation of the waveform and would save you exporting to audacity. http://bram.smartelectronix.com/plugins.php?id=4

[Animal Cracker]

Whoa! Good info, thanks.

[Mr Hyde]

Posted this on somewhere else but perhsps DSF can help a bruvvah out:

I produce stuff on Logic and generally try to make tunes without frequencies overlapping (i.e. distinct sub, kick, bass, synth, high frequencies) then eq each part to really reduce any overlap. Then compress certain sounds as required (i.e. for sharper snares) and possibly some compression over the whole track if it sounds better with it (although usually it doesn't). Then check levels of individual parts for no clipping and all sounding the way I want it to sound on headphones and different speakers (especially seems to need high pass filters to stop overwhelming muddy bass taking up all the headroom).

I then export to Audacity to visually identify parts that are much louder than other parts and go back to Logic to see if those parts levels can be reduced (often something like a kick, sub and bass all hitting at the same time), then back to Audacity to amplify upto the limit before there is clipping, then export to MP3....then need to put it onto iTunes to add the artwork.


.......any recommendations for things I'm doing wrong there or could do better? My tunes often sound a lot quieter than others uploaded to soundcloud and don't sound as clear (more muddy) as MP3's than they do on Logic.

Have you heard of smexoscope? Gives you a real time visualisation of the waveform and would save you exporting to audacity. http://bram.smartelectronix.com/plugins.php?id=4

nice one, will give that a go

[Mr 50]

I'm not sure if you've all seen this before, but Izotope have a free guide to mastering available.

What a nice bunch:

http://downloads.izotope.com/guides/iZo ... hOzone.pdf


.

[Eridu]

a question... I posted a few remixes on indbaba and they have the waveform display of your track. There are tracks which peak over 0 db to as much as 6-7 db, meaning off course they are louder. Almost all winners are "louder" tracks.

My question is: when is over 0 db ok and when is it not ok?

As I`ve stated in previous case it obviously works for internet presentations, regardless of someone`s taste or preference.

[SunkLo]

Hahah I can't tell if you're joking. Obviously you can't go over 0dBFS.







...unless you're a proper badman

[Electric_Head]

Look at his avatar, clearly a badman.

[didi]

Hahah I can't tell if you're joking. Obviously you can't go over 0dBFS.

where did this guy mention dBFS

he could be using a reference level of -18dbfs for example meaning that +6/7 db is definitely possible.

but then again if he was using a reference level of -18dbfs i'd wager he's clued up enough not to need to ask the question




eridu i'm not sure i get your question can u elaborate
tbh a rule to live your life by is if it sounds good fuck the numbers it's ok

[SunkLo]

Yeah but do you think Indaba or whatever really has VU meters on their waveforms?

[outbound]

Morning all! Just want to say I'm gonna try checking in on this thread more often to offer advice/ answers. If I'm slow to respond feel free to drop a PM

[Earjax]

Posted this on somewhere else but perhsps DSF can help a bruvvah out:

I produce stuff on Logic and generally try to make tunes without frequencies overlapping (i.e. distinct sub, kick, bass, synth, high frequencies) then eq each part to really reduce any overlap. Then compress certain sounds as required (i.e. for sharper snares) and possibly some compression over the whole track if it sounds better with it (although usually it doesn't). Then check levels of individual parts for no clipping and all sounding the way I want it to sound on headphones and different speakers (especially seems to need high pass filters to stop overwhelming muddy bass taking up all the headroom).

I then export to Audacity to visually identify parts that are much louder than other parts and go back to Logic to see if those parts levels can be reduced (often something like a kick, sub and bass all hitting at the same time), then back to Audacity to amplify upto the limit before there is clipping, then export to MP3....then need to put it onto iTunes to add the artwork.


.......any recommendations for things I'm doing wrong there or could do better? My tunes often sound a lot quieter than others uploaded to soundcloud and don't sound as clear (more muddy) as MP3's than they do on Logic.

Have you heard of smexoscope? Gives you a real time visualisation of the waveform and would save you exporting to audacity. http://bram.smartelectronix.com/plugins.php?id=4

nice one, will give that a go

Most producers use level meters in their DAW's for this instead, I'd suggest using a level meter and learning how to read that correctly, as it gives you more information such as dynamic range, and is much faster than bouncing the whole tune