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Mastering, do you do it?
I need some input from you guys here, do you "touch up" your mix after completing it? If so, can you explain the process and the program(s) you use and what benefits does this offer? Or rather, to what degree does it make the mix better? I never master any of my mixes, they're all raw from the turntables... mainly because I don't know how to do it, but curious to see as to how it can help.
i dont do it because i first misread your post subject to be something else and second i dont know how... im only in phases on mastering beat matching and sound level issues. but it might be a good idea.
I only do it if I want a super clean mix. I throw my mix into soundforge and go though each mix and adjust the sound levels to get a even mix. Then I make a note of how high the VU meter reads from start to finish making sure the mix doesn't get louder as it goes on ( unless I want it to ). Then I just cut the ends and thats it.
I do, I use soundforge. I use Ozone. It makes my mixes sound cleaner and more upfront.
Is there a tutorial for any of this on the internet? Or maybe a quick description of how it's done?
There's no real specific way to do it.
Depending on what you have to work with... you can master your mix-sets to awesome quality with some decent EQing, compression and noise reduction.
I think more DJs who record sets should get into the habit of mastering or at least cleaning up their mix-sets... I've downloaded WAY TOO MANY sets off the amateur DJ forum and they all clip to distortion levels, or all the tracks aren't the same volume, or the recording is just thin and needs some EQing.
YOu can approach mastering a mix-set much like mastering songs for a CD or album..... aim for absolute clean audio signal and strive for audibility.
I use soundforge to do some basic mastering on occasion, like if I have mixed a 2cd set that is split onto 2 disc and I want to fade in and out of it at the split point. I haven't used it to normalise VU levels before, as when I'm recording the set I am constantly looking at a couple of different VU meters (mixer and computer screen) to get it about right. Oh, and sometimes, since I mix a lot of sets on the computer and software DJing applications can only do so much... if I majorly screw up and can't recover from a transition then I'll stop the set, and start again from just before the screw up... then of course I join the two parts.
I use pro tools to do it and so i can do almost anything to it. I'm sure theres some places on the web that give you a how to guide for it but i learned from taking classes and talking with engineers at the recording studio i work at.
I've never done it but I use SoundForge to record my mixes so i'm definately gonna give it a go next time.
yup.. soundforge for equing and normalizing...
soundforge has a nice little function called wavehammer that's pretty good for maximizing volume...
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'I've downloaded WAY TOO MANY sets off the amateur DJ forum and they all clip to distortion levels, or all the tracks aren't the same volume'
How do you sort out the latter problem?
Mastering :)
Definition of Mastering:
mastering is the last process before a song or album goes to press. It is what makes sure that the music will sound good in everyones system, whether you listen on your laptop or your ipod, car stereo or at the club. It is also the process that adds loudness to the mix. Usually it involves compression/limiting and eq. Rarely anything else. All other processes are done during the mixing stage. The mixing stage is where tracks are combined to create one song. As a general rule the mastering stage is NOT where problems are fixed. You can fix small problems, but it is generally only a final polishing process.
Mastering requires a lot of experience as well as time. It also requires a really good reference monitor. You have to be able accurately hear what is happening with the source material. It also helps to check your mix on several different systems to make sure that it sounds good on a variety of different systems.
Every Mastering Engineer has a different process that they use. Secondly, it is also very very different for every type of material.
Here is the process that I generally use on almost every mastering project I have ever worked on.
I will normalize the project to make sure it is not clipping. I will then compress the mix to give the mix a more even volume. I will then eq the mix to make sure that it isn't too bass heavy, or screaming on the top end. I will then apply some sort of limiter to increase loudness. All along the way I will check to make sure it isn't clipping and that it still sounds good. Sometimes I have to go back and change things around. Its just a matter of listening carefully and learning what compression and eq do to the music.
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thanks for the great info thirteen!
to the original poster:
i use sonic foundry ACID pro to change eq/volume levels on my mixes, but that is usually it. if i do mess up on a mix then i may split my mix at that point, continue mixing and then join the 2 parts, but rarely. i would search for some info as well, because ive read some similar stuff to this. good luck
razzi
Re: Mastering :)
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Thirteen Definition of Mastering: Here is the process that I generally use on almost every mastering project I have ever worked on. I will normalize the project to make sure it is not clipping. I will then compress the mix to give the mix a more even volume. I will then eq the mix to make sure that it isn't too bass heavy, or screaming on the top end. I will then apply some sort of limiter to increase loudness. All along the way I will check to make sure it isn't clipping and that it still sounds good. Sometimes I have to go back and change things around. Its just a matter of listening carefully and learning what compression and eq do to the music. 13 |
I use Soundforge + Ozone plug-in too, and some of the presets. Started it about 1 week ago so I still hadn't had the time to learn the program. But you can download the .pdf guide in the official site and I'm pretty sure you can learn a lot about mastering and making your own tweaks instead of experimenting with the presets.
Cheers!
Re: Mastering :)
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Thirteen I will normalize the project to make sure it is not clipping. 13 |
Re: Re: Mastering :)
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Dj Thy A little remark on this, normalizing will not solve any clipping problems if you clipped at the recording stage (basically : normalizing is looking at the loudest peak of the signal, then apply a gain on the whole signal, so the loudest peak will be at the level you specified. For example, if your recording peaks at -4 dB, and you ask to normalize to 0 dB, your whole recording will be increased by 4 dB). It's best to leave a little margin when recording. Most of the time it is said to record as close as 0 dBFs as possible, without actually hitting that 0 dB mark. This is mostly true for recordings in 16 bit (as you want to have the best S/N ratio possible). Still, try to leave a little margin. Try to peak to -3 dB for example. When recording at 24 bit, you can even give more slack. if you peak at -10 for example, that won't prove a problem (the "loss" of S/N won't be noticeable, and you can bring the level up after the recording). It's better to leave some "headroom" than risking to clip (digital distortion sounds bad). Furthermore, if you're intending to use a limiter (or a loudness maximizer) like Waves L1/L2, the one in Ozone, or similar ones, it's pretty much useless to perform that normalizing step alltogether. As you'll be able to set the maximum output level with the limiter, you can obtain the same result in the end, without the normalizing step. The least steps you use, the cleaner the end result will be, remember that. |
anyone use t-racks?
Software I use to master
I use soundforge for a lot of stuff, becuase it is really good at cutting up the mix into regions. I don't generally use it for mastering becuase I like to use real time plugins so that I can listen and adjust and listen and adjust, etc. Once I feel like its right I will bounce the plugins. I have done some mastering projects in soundforge completely, and that was actually the process I was explaining. As far as normallizing goes, I use that after eq, to prevent clipping. But like was mentioned before, the less you do to your mix the cleaner it will sound. So try to avoid repetive processes. Good Luck.
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Plugins
Also I generally only use the waves plugins for mastering. This is what is used in major studios across the world, and I have tried most everything out there, and I find these do the best job.
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Re: .
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Matt Dixon 'I've downloaded WAY TOO MANY sets off the amateur DJ forum and they all clip to distortion levels, or all the tracks aren't the same volume' How do you sort out the latter problem? |
Thanks for replies, this seems to be an untapped resource on these forums (mastering I mean). A couple of more questions: What do you mean (Thirteen) by Real-Time plugins? What does the Waves plugin do and where can I find it? And what is meant by "clipping?"
I do have the problem of some tracks being louder than others, or the bass on one is much louder than the rest, etc... this is really useful information to me. Thanks.
Does Soundforge have a limiter/EQ/compressor/all these things we're talking about? Or are other programs/plugins needed? If so, which ones? Spoon-feed me please.
Never Normalize?
| quote: |
| Originally posted by SgtFoo You can use your VU meters and gains on your mixer to make sure the tracks are always the same VU reading, so then they record at or closer to the same level... and some limiting/compression will bring them all to a relatively similar level. and just a note.. as I've said it many times b4... NEVER NORMALIZE!!!! (COMPRESS IN STEAD!) |
Waves Plugins
What do you mean (Thirteen) by Real-Time plugins?
Real time plugins, are used to process audio in real time, meaning they do not actually change the audio, they are placed in the signal path, via software, and as you play the audio it changes it as you play. If you remove the plugin or change a setting it will no longer have any effect on the audio. This way I can adjust the plugin till I see fit, instead of applying and undoing. Also it allows me to use less effects. I can generally do most mastering using a limiter, eq, and that is usually about it. I generally also use some noise reduction plugins to remove clicks and pops and other record noise.
What does the Waves plugin do and where can I find it?
The waves plugins are probably one of the most expensive plug in packages out there. The gold bundle which some of the mastering plugins is about $1000. But it is well worth it, as these are the plugins that are used on pretty much every song you hear on the radio. There are some really great plugins inside of soundforge, as well as some other plugin packages that are cheaper and work almost as well.
And what is meant by "clipping?"
Clipping is anytime your signal level reaches about the 0db marker. On your mixer usually you can push the signal above 0db, and it will turn red. This is bad. Don't do this. If you wanna sound like a pro, don't clip. period. This is near impossible to do consistently, but you can try and keep it to a moderate level.
I do have the problem of some tracks being louder than others, or the bass on one is much louder than the rest, etc... this is really useful information to me.
As far as some tracks having more bass/less bass, this is what you us eq for. While your mixing as well as when you master, you can eq the mix after your done recording it to make it sound a bit more even. It is also how you make sure that it sounds good on all peoples systems.
Soundforge has a pretty good set of plugins that you can use. Try using the wavehammer, and the eqs. The best thing you can do is experiment and learn how to use these plugins.
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Waves Plugins
also if you want to check out some more info about waves plugins:
go here:
www.waves.com
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