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Mastering a DJ Mix

Advice please.

I've been recording all my mixes in Soundforge and at the end I normalise it and add markers for track splitting, but that's about it.

Anyone have any other tips that I could or should be doing to get the best out of it, like should I be running compressors or any other sort of effects on it?

u could add a little limiter so that the average level would be a little louder but i dont see the point.

Hello Vic, long time no speak

Up to you really... some people just like to leave it at that, and that's fine.

Personally I run my mixes through a flat compressor with a limiter on top, just to bring the level up a bit. Because of how soundcards work, normalising to 0dB peak on a recording will never be as loud as the originals from which it is recorded.

As much as anything, I do this for my own sake because the speakers in my car are a bit shit... it means I can get the most out of the volume! But obviously you have to be careful not to overdo it, it should still sound natural.

I'd say don't apply any EQ etc cos, unless your setup's got some weird characteristics you need to compensate for, you won't find a one-size-fits-all setting which works for all of the tracks in the mix.

Hello mate! Tis been a long time How are you keeping?

What you up to these days? Thanks for the advice too, I'll look into it

Re: Mastering a DJ Mix

quote:

Originally posted by Anaardvark Advice please. I've been recording all my mixes in Soundforge and at the end I normalise it and add markers for track splitting, but that's about it. Anyone have any other tips that I could or should be doing to get the best out of it, like should I be running compressors or any other sort of effects on it?

There's a thread on this already, use the search button

Usually a dj set doesn't have to be mastered cuz all tracks used are already mastered

Re: Re: Mastering a DJ Mix

quote:

Originally posted by orTof�nChiLd Usually a dj set doesn't have to be mastered cuz all tracks used are already mastered

Depends. When you mix two tracks together, even when you're REALLY careful with your levels, you end up with peaks flying higher than either of the original tracks. IMO it's a good idea to control these, otherwise when you normalise the mix it can be substantially quieter than commercially released CDs... and the 2 main reasons you might want to 'match' commercial releases are that a) people don't like having to turn their system down for one CD and up for another and b) you can lose a lot of the dynamic range.

Compressing a mix isn't about recompressing the original tracks - to me the aim really is to set your thresholds such that bits where you're not mixing are left essentially untouched and the bits where you are mixing are controlled.


But as I said above, even if you're not mixing, if you rerecord anything with some analogue components involved, 99% of the time the recording will contain stray peaks. So if you then normalise the peaks to 0db, the recording will be quieter than the original. Someone turning the volume up to compensate may cause their system to clip and distort. Careful compressing/limiting here can be used - not to change it from the original, but actually to make it closer to the original again by bringing these peaks back in line.

^^ hmm i might give it a try

just did one of these today...used the waves api 2500 compressor for about 1-2 dB of gain reduction just to control the peaks and get a little character of the compressor. then fed the mix through my tube mixer just to warm things up a bit (not worth it unless you have a high end sound card and analog gear), then ran it back in, applied about 4 dB of gain in voxengo elephant just to get some more loudness. at most gain reduction was about 4-5 dB, but that only happened a couple times. dithered to 16 bit and was done!

good thread.

also: you could try putting some donk on it.

quote:

Originally posted by epicaricacy good thread. also: you could try putting some donk on it.

What happened?

use cowbell

quote:

Originally posted by orTof�nChiLd use cowbell

LOL +1

just did one of these today...used the waves api 2500 compressor for about 1-2 dB of gain reduction just to control the peaks and get a little character of the compressor. then fed the mix through my tube mixer just to warm things up a bit (not worth it unless you have a high end sound card and analog gear), then ran it back in, applied about 4 dB of gain in voxengo elephant just to get some more loudness. at most gain reduction was about 4-5 dB, but that only happened a couple times. dithered to 16 bit and was done!
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automate gain for tracks when not mixing. For transitions, apply a compressor with minimal gain reduction so that there is no increase or decrease rms wise. If you have time, a general EQ template for the entire mix which means you will have to EQ every track so that the overall EQ aesthetic for the entire album is cohesive. Probably easier to EQ the tracks before hand. Again, unless you have years of engineering experience, probably best not to do any of this.

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