Re: Leaving headroom for mastering - Master fader or individ
Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 11:42 am
paravrais wrote: Somebody said that mastering engineers didn't care what level your track was peaking at.
Which is, by and large, absolutely correct. As long as it isn't clipping, that's the main thing.static_cast wrote:it doesn't make a difference to the mastering engineer whether they get a mix peaking at -20dBFS or -0.01dBFS
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!
