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I have recorded my first full song using DP, and now I'm ready for the mastering phase.

My question is this. And maybe this is better suited for the general recording area, but let me know what you think:

When mastering, is it better to bounce the mix, and master the stereo mix, or is it better to master right in the existing project that I recorded, using a master fader?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

this has been discussed in other threads; a search would be worthwhile.

FWIW, my experience is, as time goes on and software versions change and maybe you'll switch DAWs or Mac/PC platforms or whatever, it's a huge benefit to have clean, "unmastered" bounces of every project. Baking any pre-mastering into the final mix really limits your options down the road.

larryf wrote:this has been discussed in other threads; a search would be worthwhile.

FWIW, my experience is, as time goes on and software versions change and maybe you'll switch DAWs or Mac/PC platforms or whatever, it's a huge benefit to have clean, "unmastered" bounces of every project. Baking any pre-mastering into the final mix really limits your options down the road.

I 100% agree. Keep mastering separate from mixing.

Hi

Here you might find some useful Mastering info:

http://www.tweakheadz.com/mastering_your_audio.htm

jarok

Okay, That all makes sense, and I appreciate the information. I think I will do it that way. Coming from a PC, and recently making the swtich to the mac, I know about this all to well.

Thanks for the link as well. looks like a good resource.

Good advice above

These days I only process individual tracks in a mix. I'll use processors on the Master Fader only as a preview of the final sound.

It really helps to have a tool like Inspector XL http://www.rogernicholsdigital.com/inspectorXL.html to compare Peak and RMS levels from song to song; analize the frequency spectrum for bumps that may be candidates for processing with MB compression; and checking out the stereo balance.

In the absence of such a tool, DP's TRIM plug-in is very handy for bringing up the level of a tune that may have a lower volume compared to the majority of tunes in the collection. It also offers static Peak and RMS readings. MasterWorks Limiter also has good metering. MasterWorks EQ's FET display can help with the frequency spectrum interpretation.


I like to load my two track mixes into a new DP file, arrange the order, do the "analysis"with eyes and ears, then add the needed processors on the master buss and on separate tracks if needed. If the Master bus processors need adjustment from song to song, I use Clippings to store the settings. Or use Automation.

SOS recenntly had two articles on Mastering in DP.
Best.