i’ve heard mixed opinions about putting compression/limiters/eqs on the master track. some say you shouldn’t put anything on there and leave it for the mastering engineer. how do you get your songs so damn loud, man? (this is a compliment).

You’re definitely supposed to take all your master bus effects off before sending your mixes off to a masterer. Some people leave their first compressor on, but, y’know, to each his own.

The secret to mixing something so that it can become super loud during mastering is by getting your mix as loud as you want it WHILE your mixing. If you just get your mix to sound right without any compressors or limiters on it, once the mastering is applied, your kick and snare will shoot way down.

I like to mix the entire song with the kick and snare a little louder than they should be, then apply mastering effects right before vocal automation. If you don’t tweak your drums with a limiter on the master fader, you’re basically flying blind.

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Posted on Sep 19, 2010 at 12:49pm with 3 notes | #formspring.me

  1. danromer posted this