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Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 2:16 am
by SMOR3S
So I was just wondering...
Lets say I am using a multi-band compressor on a track, during mastering, and I am compressing, per se, the mid range, and during the main part of the track, I get about 2.0dbs or like 2.3dbs of gain reduction max, but during lets say double hit snares, or snare triplet, it goes up to 3.0dbs, or a little higher... Should I lower the threshold on the compressor, or not worry about it compressing that part a bit more?
Just a thought I had for a while... I normally never worried about it... I just turned my make up gain a bit higher than my average gain reduction, so if I would get like 2.5dbs, I would set it to 3.0dbs... Just something to make up for a little bit of lose...
Thanks
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 9:14 am
by Ldizzy
id say use ur ears.
how would you like ur snares served sir...
squashed or dynamic?
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 2:13 pm
by outbound
3 options.
1. Have your compression set so that the rest of the mids are compressed to how you like but the snares are over compressed.
2. Have your compression set so that your snares are compressed how you like but the rest of the mix is more dynamic.
3. Automate your compression...
All 3 are valid depending on what sound you're after so try 'em out and find which you prefer.
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 2:30 pm
by Ldizzy
wonder how that would sound. automating multiband...
any examples????
is is common practice?
this is very interesting
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 2:52 pm
by outbound
Ldizzy wrote:wonder how that would sound. automating multiband...
any examples????
is is common practice?
this is very interesting
Not very exciting lol.
It isn't common practise no but it's another technique that can be pulled out of the bag as and when needed. Again sound-wise in this context it would be very subtle, you'd be looking at a compressor that would be applying about 0.5db - 1 db less compression than other parts but if it's the sounds that's called for then it's what the nix needs
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 3:15 pm
by Sharmaji
outbound wrote:3 options.
1. Have your compression set so that the rest of the mids are compressed to how you like but the snares are over compressed.
2. Have your compression set so that your snares are compressed how you like but the rest of the mix is more dynamic.
3. Automate your compression...
All 3 are valid depending on what sound you're after so try 'em out and find which you prefer.
#4-- get it right in the mix and don't worry about compressing the 2buss.
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 10:13 pm
by fragments
Sharmaji wrote:outbound wrote:3 options.
1. Have your compression set so that the rest of the mids are compressed to how you like but the snares are over compressed.
2. Have your compression set so that your snares are compressed how you like but the rest of the mix is more dynamic.
3. Automate your compression...
All 3 are valid depending on what sound you're after so try 'em out and find which you prefer.
#4-- get it right in the mix and don't worry about compressing the 2buss.
Sharm to the rescue.
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 10:52 pm
by SMOR3S
outbound wrote:3 options.
1. Have your compression set so that the rest of the mids are compressed to how you like but the snares are over compressed.
2. Have your compression set so that your snares are compressed how you like but the rest of the mix is more dynamic.
3. Automate your compression...
All 3 are valid depending on what sound you're after so try 'em out and find which you prefer.
I never tried automating the compressors threshold...
I only ever go for about 2dbs of gain reduction max, but I make sure the compressor always resets back to 0... Even if the compressor does trigger a little higher, I don't think it's over compressing, cause it still resets...
Ldizzy wrote:id say use ur ears.
how would you like ur snares served sir...
squashed or dynamic?
For sure... Just cause someone says , you have to set your compressors threshold, and ratio to a certain number, doesn't make it right... you have to use whatever works best for your track...
All in all, I doesn't sound like it's over compressing, so I presume it's not... I only ever get spikes like that, on parts that are a little louder than other elements... Like if I have a vocal sample, that I want to be up front, on a drop or something...
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 11:58 pm
by Samuel_L_Damnson
why not just get a good mix and not try mastering your own tunes on a home set up. which probably isnt really adequate. not to be a dick, just sayin.
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 12:47 am
by fragments
Sinestepper wrote:why not just get a good mix and not try mastering your own tunes on a home set up. which probably isnt really adequate. not to be a dick, just sayin.
Of course it kind of stinks that the mastering process requires not only lots of experience, but also a proper studio and quality gear. The other thing that people just won't listen to when its repeated over and over is the bit about a second pair of ears.
With a proper mix, mastering will only be a matter of volume and sweetening. There is no problem in a song that can't be fixed in the mix. Trying to fix it on the 2bus is pointless...especially if you are working all in the box.
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 1:52 am
by SMOR3S
Sinestepper wrote:why not just get a good mix and not try mastering your own tunes on a home set up. which probably isnt really adequate. not to be a dick, just sayin.
I do worry more about my mix than mastering... I think for what gear I have, and the knowledge I have, I do a pretty good job, of mastering my own tunes...
fragments wrote:Sinestepper wrote: The other thing that people just won't listen to when its repeated over and over is the bit about a second pair of ears.
With a proper mix, mastering will only be a matter of volume and sweetening. There is no problem in a song that can't be fixed in the mix.
I always send off my tracks, to a hand full of people to have it referenced...
And I just prefer to mix the whole track down to -6dbs, and then make up for that by limiting... If there is a problem, that I do need to fix during mastering, I always go back into the mix, and then fix it there, I don't try and mask the issue during mastering...
I was watching a video from Chase & Status, and they were saying how they don't even master, or put a limiter on the master, they just get their mix sound as good as possible... On the other hand, people like M Machine, and Madeon, say they master their own stuff...
Correct me if I am wrong, but if you have to send your own music off to get mastered by someone else, what happens if they make a song? Do they have to send it off to someone else?
If I was to try and get a track on a label or something, most labels now a days master tracks for you, so I wouldn't be doing it there...
Also "fragments" I noticed your from NE Ohio, word! What part?
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 2:00 am
by fragments
I'm sure Chase & Status have someone mastering their tracks. Aren't Madeon and M Machine on that super over compressed sound anyway? If you are going for that vibe it's unlikely there'd be much headroom for the ME to work with anyway.
I'd be willing to bet a good ME might send off his own tunes to someone else. And sending it to some other bedroom producers is useful, but with a good ME you are paying for their experience.
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 2:08 am
by SMOR3S
fragments wrote:I'm sure Chase & Status have someone mastering their tracks. Aren't Madeon and M Machine on that super over compressed sound anyway? If you are going for that vibe it's unlikely there'd be much headroom for the ME to work with anyway.
I'd be willing to bet a good ME might send off his own tunes to someone else. And sending it to some other bedroom producers is useful, but with a good ME you are paying for their experience.
I don't want my tracks over compressed no lol...
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 2:56 am
by fragments
^That's refreshingly out of the ordinary around these parts.
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 3:07 am
by SMOR3S
fragments wrote:^That's refreshingly out of the ordinary around these parts.
Well I am a rather out of the ordinary person, if you ask me :3
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 4:03 pm
by Ldizzy
theres nothing u could do to match a guy like bob katz. those guys have kilotons of experience behind them.
ur job would be to produce a decent mix, since mixing and production are now kindof almost the same... do u work with a label?
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 4:30 am
by Hircine
Sharmaji wrote:outbound wrote:3 options.
1. Have your compression set so that the rest of the mids are compressed to how you like but the snares are over compressed.
2. Have your compression set so that your snares are compressed how you like but the rest of the mix is more dynamic.
3. Automate your compression...
All 3 are valid depending on what sound you're after so try 'em out and find which you prefer.
#4-- get it right in the mix and don't worry about compressing the 2buss.
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 6:33 pm
by Be-1ne
I never chip in around here but thought I would on this post.
Mastering is a basic eq / compressor / limiter chain.
As a few have said, if your mix down is even half decent your only mastering to raise the overall level and compressing to make the track elements gel that little bit tighter.
I agree on mixing to -6dB. I find it leaves nice head room in the daw so you get decent dynamics in the tune.
With regard to multi band compression, can't personally say I use it, see the point of them or have come across them in a mastering session. Again people tend to use these to try and balance out a poor mix down. IMO.
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 7:40 am
by safeandsound
I tend only to use MBC for correction of problems, rarely enhancement purposes.
It's impossible to advise you need to hear sound to advise on it.
If your monitoring is up to snuff it tells your what needs to be done, if thats not set up right
there will be endless deliberation until you realize for yourself not being able to hear what is actually in the mix is a
very huge hindrance to betterment of your skills.
Re: Mastering Compressing Question
Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2013 4:20 am
by aeor
don't use multi-band compression, its useless, only use is for some correction
but since you are in total control of your mixing, make sure your mix is as solid as funk
don't automate compression in mastering, because if you have a good mix 1- you don't need too, 2- MOST of the times it will sound like crap and be audible.
so, better mixing (i.e. you should maybe compress on the snare channel directly) and set compression on the master very subtle and fixed for the whole track.