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compression and eq on master track
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| trancey_spacer |
What do you guys think about compressing the master track? Generally I put a low threshold (maybe -9.0 dB) and low compression ratio (maybe 2:1). I guess I want the whole mix to sound "tighter". Sometimes I think it doesn't sound tight enough - any tips?
Also, i heard that some people eq the master track. I don't think this is very common though, cause you usually have more control by eq'ing the individual tracks don't you?
Your thoughts?
Cheers. |
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| Freak |
The compressor I use on my master output is set to 2:1 with a lowish threshold too.
Gets it to really pump.
This can take away some of the top end though, so running through an eq (I have an old 20 band graphic made by Realistic I use to lift the top end) won't hurt it- providing of course it warrants it.
Don't just do it for the sake of doing it! |
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| Lindo |
| use eq sparingly is all I can say. use it when you know what you're doing on the master track versus just using it because "oh the 300hz region gets rid of muddiness and give a boost at 4khz for the synths and 6-7khz for clarity." Don't do it because everyone else is doing it, do it because you know it will add that "spice" and fix your mix. |
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| Four_On_Four-er |
You are basically wanting to preform some home-brew mastering to your track. Go for it, many of us do it all the time. Just remember that you are not properly mastering the track.
You can compress the track as long as it doesn't start distorting in some frequencies. Be careful with the EQ, but apply it sparringly to frequencies that you either want to sharpen or make less muddy. Be aware of "cigar music" syndrome (I wonder if automation would be a good idea, anyone?).
Sometimes we like to artifically inflate the value of our songs this way by normalizing the song this way through master compression and the like.
I must be a lousy mixer because my tracks are so quiet if I don't mix with compression/limiting and lower the volumes until they don't clip. |
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| dj_kane |
| compress when mastering yes but dont eq if you dont know what your doing as you can seriously mess up your tonal balance. try and get all the necessary eqing in the mixdown. |
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| DigiNut |
A ratio of 2:1 with the cutoff at -10 dB is usually my starting point, although it usually gets adjusted significantly from there. I'd say that if you find yourself using more than 3:1, or -20 dB, you are probably overcompressing, although there are certain exceptions like parametric compression on the bass and/or multi-stage compression/limiting.
EQ on the master track is almost always helpful but as others have said, use it sparingly. EQ on your instruments is more important, and EQ on the master track is not a replacement for that. |
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| trancey_spacer |
hey thanks for all these replies! Another thing I've noticed, and i'd like to get opinions on this, some digital releases seem to have the sound of having gain on the master track (2 to 7 dB). However, when you hear releases by the very top producers, it doesn't seem to have that sound. What do you guys think?
Cheers. |
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| trancey_spacer |
by the way, i know gain makes it sound louder, but whats the difference between gain and simply increasing the volume?
ta. |
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| DigiNut |
| quote: | Originally posted by trancey_spacer
whats the difference between gain and simply increasing the volume? |
Nothing.
And tracks can't have a gain of 2-7 dB. 0 dB is the highest it goes and -0.2 dB is as high as you want to get for a CD release. |
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| Eldritch |
| quote: | Originally posted by Four_On_Four-er
I must be a lousy mixer because my tracks are so quiet if I don't mix with compression/limiting and lower the volumes until they don't clip. |
I have the same problem. My mixes often sound quiet and they clip quite easily if I'm not careful. |
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| echosystm |
i usually try and get everything sounding as good as possible without any master effects first, then i put some on just to see what its going to sound like :)
i dont think its a "good" or a "bad" thing to do, at the end of the day how your final mix sounds is what matters, not how you get there. just be aware of the things you've put on your master so you dont overcompensate things! :D |
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| Derivative |
| quote: | Originally posted by Four_On_Four-er
You can compress the track as long as it doesn't start distorting in some frequencies. Be careful with the EQ, but apply it sparringly to frequencies that you either want to sharpen or make less muddy. Be aware of "cigar music" syndrome (I wonder if automation would be a good idea, anyone?).
Sometimes we like to artifically inflate the value of our songs this way by normalizing the song this way through master compression and the like.
I must be a lousy mixer because my tracks are so quiet if I don't mix with compression/limiting and lower the volumes until they don't clip. |
A compressor by its very definition prevents distortion by limiting the output gain dynamically.
I personally hate sticking compressors on top of compressors unless you want to do something very specific to a sound (reduce a clipping transient or prevent a clip or to change the...'shape' of a sound)
Just remember that sticking any sort of processor on the master bus is indescriminate - which is one reason I dislike it. It will affect everything - even certain sounds which do not need compression of any sort and which will sound worse because of it.
If you have to stick a compressor on the master bus to make your tunes louder you are missing the point. That should tell you that you have massive problems in the mix - lots of places where 0 phase instruments are sharing the same frequency ranges. Or where transients are overlapping. You need to fix those - not stick a compressor on the whole thing. Thats just avoiding the problem entirely and I guarantee the results will always sound . They always do, when you don't think the whole process through. |
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