Mastering...need even more gain? Add another limiter

[David Polich]

This is an added comment to my post about "Mixing for an iPod?Depessing...".

Just for grins, I decided to see what would happen if I took the 24bit
masters (real-time bounces through Slate FG-X, with no dithering) and
run those through yet another limiter, this time Waves L2, with
the threshold set to around -2.4 and ceiling set at -0.1

Presto - right up there with the loudest commercial heavy rock masters I
have. "Extra crunch" negligible...seemed to be the way to get that last
little bit of over-the-top oomph.

Wondering if anyone else has tried this - it seems it should be "taboo",
that it isn't the correct thing to do..but it does work. For clients whose
sole concern would be flat-out insane master levels, anyway.

Curious to here from anyone who does mastering and has, in fact, used this
"two limiter" trick.

[kassonica]

I lot of places use even more

They may use a compresser with gentle reduction, then a Limiter and then into the L2.

This is what i've done ITB and it's a way of gently getting there as opposed to just using one and smashing it.

[daniel.sneed]

My two cents : What about using MW Leveler, followed by MW Compressor, followed by the complete Ozone4 suite ?

[kassonica]

My two cents : What about using MW Leveler, followed by MW Compressor, followed by the complete Ozone4 suite ?

It funny but I rarely use MW leveler over the mix as it's just a bit 'cloudy' imho.

Love it though on VOX, Gtrs etc.

[Dwetmaster]

Here's an intersting post by Magic Dave on the subject.
http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtop ... ng#p309269" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[monkey man]

It funny but I rarely use MW leveler over the mix as it's just a bit 'cloudy' imho.

It seems way too obvious on a mix to me, I suspect 'cause it's not multi-band. Anything more than 1 or 2dB GR and it's like, "Here! Over here! I'm here! Look at me!"

Obviously the judicious adjustment of the sensitivity (notch) knob is imperative, but does little in my experience to ameliorate the situation...

[daniel.sneed]

It seems way too obvious on a mix to me, I suspect 'cause it's not multi-band. Anything more than 1 or 2dB GR and it's like, "Here! Over here! I'm here! Look at me!"

IMHO, it depends a lot upon the tweaking. My first attempts were no success, but I decided to give a second chance latter.
Fast-Modern-comp has behaved as a good boy with the most part of my recent audio mixes.

I would not try to go deeper than 3dB though. Not 3dB absolute max gain compression, but I mean 3db difference between gain compressions of low and high level parts of the same musical piece.

And if the sound ever comes somewhat dark, generally not the case, Ozone has all I need to make it shine again in a glance.

[David Polich]

Thanks for the replies. Now I don't feel as guilty.

[kassonica]

Thanks for the replies. Now I don't feel as guilty.

Maybe dirty though

[monkey man]

Ssshhh... Kass, let's not corrupt this old-school gem any more than is absolutely necessary, eh?

That reminds me, Dave, I've got a crapload of krakz linkz and several smash-'em-up dance hittoon production videos from PooTurd... I mean, PooToob for ya. I'll send 'em off tomorrow along with that 100GB iTunes library I promised.

Be good, and remember: It's not who you know in this business, but who you accept "krakz and advices" from that'll determine your success...