Leaving headroom for mastering - Master fader or individual?

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macc
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Re: Leaving headroom for mastering - Master fader or individ

Post by macc » Mon Feb 21, 2011 11:42 am

paravrais wrote: Somebody said that mastering engineers didn't care what level your track was peaking at.
static_cast wrote:it doesn't make a difference to the mastering engineer whether they get a mix peaking at -20dBFS or -0.01dBFS
Which is, by and large, absolutely correct. As long as it isn't clipping, that's the main thing.


You're totally right about everything you're saying, don't worry! Mostly - MOSTLY - it isn't a problem if a synth/plugin/channel is going over 0dB as most things work in floating point format. But not all of them. And as I'm forever harping on about, you're moving the goalposts and reducing the chances of getting a good mix every single time. So, yes it is good to be in the position where you don't have to move the master fader because everything comes out at a good, healthy but still-safe level.

However the thing here in this thread is one of practicality/pragmatism - if the tune is done, finished, finito, then it's as well to turn down the master fader rather than have to re-mix the entire tune and end up hating it or just letting it rot cos you can't be arsed. BUT one should be aware, as you quite rightly say, that next time you would be wise to start with signals at a lower level. That's all that's being said! :)
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paravrais
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Re: Leaving headroom for mastering - Master fader or individ

Post by paravrais » Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:21 pm

Ah, ok I'm with you now.

I'll think twice before being a cranky bastard next time ;)

Cheers for the input as always macc!

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sketi
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Re: Leaving headroom for mastering - Master fader or individ

Post by sketi » Mon Feb 21, 2011 3:49 pm

Thanks guys, I do realise that I should ideally be mixing lower to begin with, bad habit I will eventually break out of

Cheers for the comments! took the lazy option lol :5:

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Ldizzy
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Re: Leaving headroom for mastering - Master fader or individ

Post by Ldizzy » Mon Feb 21, 2011 8:11 pm

thread win :D
Sharmaji wrote:2011: the year of the calloused-from-overuse facepalm

macc
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Re: Leaving headroom for mastering - Master fader or individ

Post by macc » Mon Feb 21, 2011 8:29 pm

sketi wrote:Thanks guys, I do realise that I should ideally be mixing lower to begin with, bad habit I will eventually break out of
Do yourself a favour and break out of it now :)

@ paravrais - :)
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