Mixing is the balancing of the elements of the track relative to each other.

Mastering is perparing and finalising the track for presing/cutting- by adjusting the overall frequencies/level in relation to noise/headroom.

Putting a compressor over the whole mix is generally part of the mastering process-doesnt matter if its while you are recording it to a format, or after recording and in cool edit or whatever.

Yes...but do you guys master outside of the workstation?

___________________
please review my latest AMBIENT track HERE.

i do

i usually don't put a compressor on the mixer of a track

i use sound forge and use the wave hammer tool, which is the same as compression, but it gives a visual representation to what it is actally doing, which makes adjustments easier. then i usually normalize/adjust the volume

quote:

Originally posted by Freak Mixing is the balancing of the elements of the track relative to each other. Mastering is perparing and finalising the track for presing/cutting- by adjusting the overall frequencies/level in relation to noise/headroom.

that pretty much covers what your'e asking for


when I'm done with the mixdown I usually render the track to a wav and crank it up in wavelab

my default masteringchain looks something like this:
multiband compressor -> EQ -> Limiter

but of course it might change from track to track, some tracks doesn't need EQing at all and some tracks might need other things like a gentle stereospread (although this isn't very usual, it was just an example )


just remember to stay away from thoose all in one tools like ozone and T-racks, it might be good for learning but the soundquality of them is pure shite compared to using tools like waves and stuff that's even better

___________________

quote:

Originally posted by davedresden i suggest getting the gabriel & dresden prog-a-minute. in 3 easy steps you too could change the face of dance music. batteries not included. - dave

Like I understand -> no difference -> if you have CPU then feel free to use mastering effects in project itself. You dont need to mixdown and open it in audioeditor. Or am I wrong?

--
sebraa

___________________
http://www.supuer-music.com

I would prefer to do mastering work in a wave editor rather than in Cubase simply because of the lack of CPU available without putting on eq, master compression and limiting. I prefer also to be able to read the dynamics from a screen which is not available in all programs.

Generally speaking, mastering is done by someone other than the producer and hence is therefore done after the track has been exported to .wav

___________________
1 out of every 4 people in this country are mentally disturbed. Look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem okay, then you're the one.

Roger!

I'll fart around with what I have... basically only the P5 workstation that includes some nice plugins for compressing and limiting etc.

As DJ Thy put it...practice and mess around with one track at a time to get the feel or sound of it all...then see if I need something after the mixdown (that is, after Im done in P5).

___________________
please review my latest AMBIENT track HERE.