Master Chain Suggestions

[CIS_RAM]

Hey guys, I'm still messing around with my master chain to find a decent default settings... Right now my chain looks like this: Compressor>EQ>Compressor>PSP Vintage Warmer... I just wanted to hear your suggestions on Compressor settings and eq tips on the master... I understand every mix is different but im sure you guys have some guidelines that you keep in mind.

[River]

I always leave an SSL-style compressor strapped across the drum-bus, but I leave the master channel empty until the tracks done. I watched one of the last FM-in the studio interviews and the dude on that had a full on mastering strip running when he was writing the track, but I dont really see how it can be a good idea.

When its all mixed down with the right levels on each track and each track that has big spikes is compressed separately I tend to use Ozone for sterioing and either vintage warmer or the flatbuster reaktor comp to get it loud.

[scottb]

This futuremusic video with Ian Carey is pretty cool because he explains what he's doing and why. He's using high end gear but I got some good tips from it.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7580691520971611167#

[TheSqueezer]

Ian carey video is very good indeed, also Chris Lake Videos (future music & computer music) are awesome, he really knows how to explain things.

But for mastering tuturials i would recommend Robert Babicz video about mastering. He just uses hardware, but the principals are the same to software http://vimeo.com/808485?pg=embed&sec=808485

CIS_RAM; 3 compressors on a mastering channel seems too much for me. At least you should take out the first compressor before the EQ. But thats my opinion.

[CIS_RAM]

The setup I have right now is actually from the FM In the studio with Steve Angello... I figured it was somewhere to start

[TheSqueezer]

The setup I have right now is actually from the FM In the studio with Steve Angello... I figured it was somewhere to start

Using 3 compressors without knowing how to use them will only ruin your track.
I dont want to desrespect Steve Angello but his In the Studio was the worst of all. Dont know why..but or he didnt want to show his technics and was hidding something or...!!

If you want something to start just learn what compressors do and how they work then put the eq, the compressor and a limiter...i think thats a pretty good base to start and learn!!

[CIS_RAM]

Using 3 compressors without knowing how to use them will only ruin your track.
I dont want to desrespect Steve Angello but his In the Studio was the worst of all. Dont know why..but or he didnt want to show his technics and was hidding something or...!!

If you want something to start just learn what compressors do and how they work then put the eq, the compressor and a limiter...i think thats a pretty good base to start and learn!!

True, compared to the others, he definitely wasn't showing much... I definitely have gotten much more knowledgeable about compressors by just messing around with the settings and whatnot but you might be right that its a little much... Now regarding the EQ, what exactly do you guys focus onthe master channel... As a foundation i just apply a low cut at 30hz

[tomflynn]

With regards to EQ i won't have one on the master, i like it flat, i will have a low cut at 20hz though.

I will sort the eq out at the mastering stage if it needs any tweeks, useually with my psp console EQ's, or logics linear phase eq.

I used to have a compressor on my output, but i don't anymore, i simply have a psp vintage warmer 2 with my own settings on it, and the low cut eq.

It's just wheat works for you and what sounds best for you, trust yourself and your ears. When i first started i was putting all sorts of things on the master output because i'd seen others do it, but i didn't know why i was doing it, after i learned things i thought 'i don't see the point in this or that etc' so i strapped on a pair and did what sounded right to me.

We're always learning!!

[CIS_RAM]

so another question i have about the master chain... do any of you use stereo imaging for your master? Im still reading up and testing it out on a track of mine but I dont really know what to think.. it sounds good both ways...

[jon_fisher]

Hey guys, I'm still messing around with my master chain to find a decent default settings... Right now my chain looks like this: Compressor>EQ>Compressor>PSP Vintage Warmer... I just wanted to hear your suggestions on Compressor settings and eq tips on the master... I understand every mix is different but im sure you guys have some guidelines that you keep in mind.

if any thing you want eq compression eq limiter, by putting a eq first you can cut anything that needs to be cut so that the compressor is only compressing the frequencies that you want in the mix. after the eq cut and the compressor has done its work you can add another eq to give back any hfc that the compressor may have taken away. the limiter will lift the overall volume and catch any nasty peaks that got through the compressor.

or at least thats my understanding lol

[jon_fisher]

so another question i have about the master chain... do any of you use stereo imaging for your master? Im still reading up and testing it out on a track of mine but I dont really know what to think.. it sounds good both ways...

you can use stereo Imaging but it tends to take away from the central punch of the mix, i would use them on percussion leads or maybe vocals but as a personal choice not on the master.

[CIS_RAM]

hmmm.. I actually really liked the way the stereo imager really made the mix come to even more life... what i have decided to do it basically keep a compressor, then eq, compressor, then put in a stereo imager, and purchase a pure master limiter instead of using Vintage Warmer maybe... i hae this same set up with the psp right now ... and it actually sounds pretty good.. my eqing was reall off before and i just fixed that part up.. compression settings are nice.. none of the compressor are reducing more than 3-4 decibels at its peak... also its got a fast/medium attack with a long release so its very subtle... im starting to really get the hang of it.. but still need a little more work... anybody have experience with Voxengo Elephant 3.. did some research and that seemed to pop up quite a lot besides sonnox and uad precision limiter... unless both of those companies have some sort of education price like NI does..

[erol1988]

Just an SSL type comp, 10ms Attack. Release so pumping just starts. ratio anywhere from 2 to 4, max 3 to 4 db of glueing.

Followed by gentle limiting, to stop clipping.

A good tip for mastering post mixing, edit/cut up your breakdowns from the main body of the track and lower the volume a couple of db's. so everything isn't flat when compressed and limited. keeps some dynamics there.

Most important thing for me is getting a good mix down before mastering, eq parts while listening to the whole track makes things sound more together.

[CIS_RAM]

Compressor wise, I do feel like 2 compressors are better than jacking one up and its something ive noticed a lot of producers using also.. what exactly is an SSL type comp btw? right now i have the logic compressor on until i really train my ears and get a dedicated 3rd party compressor plugin...

Regarding the chopping up the breakdowns and what not... sounds like a good idea... thing is I generally create the track with my master chain on the ouput... Is it possible to just bypass that when i finish .. then bounce it as wav and just bring it back into logic and use the same chain except just lowering those parts??? Seems like it would work...

Another thing also is regarding the limiter settings... Now adays it seems like a lot of producers r slamming their input gains on the limiter... Besides distortion how do u know when ur brickwall limiting tooo much and not???

[TheSqueezer]

U really dont have to bounce your output to do that.Put in mixer view, go to your output channel, right-click and choose create/select arrange track. Then go to your arrangement view and you have there the output channel track and automate it to make those volume/mastering drops on the breakdowns.

[CIS_RAM]

U really dont have to bounce your output to do that.Put in mixer view, go to your output channel, right-click and choose create/select arrange track. Then go to your arrangement view and you have there the output channel track and automate it to make those volume/mastering drops on the breakdowns.

wow i do that for every other bus lol i dunno why i didnt think about doing it on the output channel ... thanks..

[erol1988]

what exactly is an SSL type comp btw?

Another thing also is regarding the limiter settings... Now adays it seems like a lot of producers r slamming their input gains on the limiter... Besides distortion how do u know when ur brickwall limiting tooo much and not???

SSL 4000 compressor is famous for its punch and glueing nature. Its great on drum or master buss. I've used the logic ones before and they're really good. you can mimic the settings with the waves ssl plug in if you want.

here is a preset from a mastering guy from gearslutz forum
http://www.popmusic.dk/download/logic/ssl/sslpresets.zip

not sure if it will work in latest version. other wise read this below

http://www.lydmaskinen.dk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11385

The UAD comp's are ment to be really good, as are the Softube stuff.

Limiting wise. i try and keep all the channels low going into the master then boost up the input in the plugin. some people say that you shouldn't go over 3 db of limiting as it can causes harmonic distortion (colour's the sound in bad way, in the digital world) on the otherhand if it sounds good then go for it

Another point to mention is dithereing, some limiters dither as does your DAW when exporting. only choose one of these when exporting.

[River]

For SSL style stuff, slap 'the glue' on your drum bus.

Its the nuts: http://www.cytomic.com/glue

[CIS_RAM]

For SSL style stuff, slap 'the glue' on your drum bus.

Its the nuts: http://www.cytomic.com/glue

speaking of 'the glue' ... I've been doing a lot of research on ssl style compressors and the glue seems to be the best bang for your buck.. any takers on this?? Only a $100 bux and supposedly very very similar to thewaves SSL compressor... Im really thinking of buying this since its very affordable for what it does...

[erol1988]

I had a go with The Glue beta a while back, thought it was really good, especially on drums. I read that that deadmau5 and Seb Leger use it quite a bit as well.

[joykrash]

! i think i posted the SSL presets again in another thread! lol!

anyhow!

normally there is some sort of saturation on my masterbus.. in u can hardly hear it mode>some EQ for top/bottom rollof> then gentle SSL style compression with Sonalksis or Logic compressor SSL presets from Lagerfeldt.

Unfies the sound nicely :)

[Definity]

Hey guys, I'm still messing around with my master chain to find a decent default settings... Right now my chain looks like this: Compressor>EQ>Compressor>PSP Vintage Warmer... I just wanted to hear your suggestions on Compressor settings and eq tips on the master... I understand every mix is different but im sure you guys have some guidelines that you keep in mind.

to be honest if you mix is done good enough you wont need and eq as for the mastering chain well it really depends what you want the overall master to sound like, sometimes when i master for people i ask them for reference material so i have something to A and B with so they get something that they will like. As for preset personally they don't do any track justice ALWAYS MAKE YOUR OWN!!! not only will it be customized for that track but you also get to learn a lot from it like how certain stuff works!!
Hope this helps!