Compressor/Limiter on master channel?

vadarfone · Post by **vadarfone** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:46 pm

Whineo wrote:
vadarfone wrote:Could you be more vague please?
yes

compressor-master channel-venturesome

seriously tho - it can do wonders - but imo you should be getting it right in the mixdown stage and any compression on the master will modify your hard work. Its easy to get lulled into the trap of thinking that your home made mastering is reprasentative of your production skills. particually when a-b referencing your tracks.
I am of the opinion that any eq/compression is best applied to individual channels where nescessary.

Haha, yeah I totally agree. I was just suggesting using a limiter on the master during composition, not the mixdown. The final product will not have the limiter on the master.

manray · Post by **manray** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:53 pm

vadarfone wrote:Anyway, I just wanted to post my method, not get into an argument, so peace and all that.

Of course there is no 'best' way to do anything.

serox · Post by **serox** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 2:32 pm

I just keep shit out the red and go with what sounds good to me.

daft cunt · Post by **daft cunt** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:42 pm

Vadar, or any other limiter user, how does a limiter help you during compo exactly? (not being sarcastic btw)

r · Post by r » Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:25 am

R's Master channel :

Eq
Compressor
Eq
Mulitband Compressor
Limiter

vadarfone · Post by **vadarfone** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 1:50 pm

Daft tnuc wrote:Vadar, or any other limiter user, how does a limiter help you during compo exactly? (not being sarcastic btw)

Alright shipmate.

Yeah, it helps like this..

When you are using a load of different sounds, and trying shit out, you dont want to be thinking about what is clipping. Actually, you shouldnt be thinking about anything technical, as that uses a different part of your brain...

You just want to be making music and throwing sounds together until you get a groove going.

So, limiter on the master will act as a fairly harsh compressor over the whole mix, and will make everything sound coherent while you are getting your freak on.

Once you decide to start being anal, you can take it off and face the horrible reality of your artistry (and then fix it with geek behaviour).

By the time this happens, you will have something musically worthwhile.

Basically.

hugh · Post by **hugh** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:36 pm

i tend to mix down my tracks at a very low level anyway, make sure there is no soft clipping or limiting taking place. Then i just turn my speaker output up

decklyn · Post by **decklyn** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:01 am

I like the idea of limiting the channels that cause the track to peak. seems like a really good solution. Will try that. i'm getting my mixdowns sounding too 'stuffed' when using limiter with threashold too low. i might as well just limit the hits that blow over on thier own channel.

Cheers!

martello · Post by **martello** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:16 am

When i do a mixdown to wav format for further processing (mastering), is it ok to use limiter then? or nothin in the master channel during mixdown? And when messing with eq and multiband compressor, is there difference is limiter before or after multiband compressor?

Steve AC23 · Post by **Steve AC23** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:48 pm

^It's fine to write with a limiter.

Just dont have it on your master channel when you do your final bounce.
Then yea, EQ & Compress/Limiting will be done in the mastering process.

Which will make it sound 'fatter'.

Littlefoot · Post by **Littlefoot** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 6:04 pm

put it through 8 vintage warmers.

two oh one · Post by **two oh one** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:51 am

It's fine using this on the master bus, because that's what it's made for. Just aim for 2-3dB comp maximum and see if you can get the needle to stay put.

Send two versions to the ME. One with and one without comp. Sometimes they even chose the one with...

fused_forces · Post by **fused_forces** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:14 am

Compressor straight on the master channel everytime for us, how much compression we use depends on the tune tho, sum need alot sum hardly any.

shonky · Post by **shonky** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:41 am

I agree with the limiter on the master whilst composing, but only to save your speakers, some vst's do seem to put out a large resonant spike so a limiter set very lightly can help stop your speakers sounding like a wet fart permanently.

Should really sort this out on the individual channels/busses beforehand though, limiting should only be used sparingly.

Compressor/Limiter on master channel?

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