Mastering Stems for live performance.

[computercontrolled]

I do my own "home mastering" my self a mastering engineer but i add the following chain in the master channel to my finished tracks...low cut,multiband comp,sonnox inflator and a limiter (in logic 9).For live sets i render my tracks into 4 groups (kick,bass,percs,synths&fx) without any "mstering" process and i add similar mastering plug ins in the master channel in live.

But id like to have my stems already mastered and add no mastering plug ins in the master channel when i play live....so i was wondering if theres a special way of mastering the stems or just solo the tracks and render with the plug ins on the master channel??

[Khazul]

A 'mastering' is very specific to the material fed through it and behaves accoridng to thatt material.

So, if your plan was to use the same mastering chain and setings for each stem that you use for the entire mix, then you will get really odd results that do not sum to create the original master mix.

The only valid bit of the post mix (mastering) chain to bounce through would be an EQ. Even enhancers are usually level and material dependent.

For live play, then stick no more than an EQ and very minimal limiting (just to make sure nothing actually clips) and even use Lives EQ and limiter or anything else that low latency and light weight on CPU. BBE Maximizer + Vintage warmer seem to be a common master bus chain for live use as well.

I also tend to apply a vinyl mastering style high roll-off EQ (high cut at about 14.5Khz with EQ8 is fine) as this smooths out the high end and makes it less fatiguing on ears at club levels. With a CD you may not do this, though I know of many people who do this or something similar on when mastering for CD/mp3 - not just vinyl.

I wouldnt worry to much about getting your live sound identical to a produced track sound - if anything being a little bit more raw can more appealing and more respresents you in the moment rather than you several weeks back in your studio, else you may as well just bounce and master entire tracks and use traktor.

BTW - too many premastered and pre-limited stems dont mix nicely at all and can actually distort badly through the DAC to the PA even if the digital levels in Live dont appear to be going over 0dbfs - at the least they might sound a little harsh and fatiguing especially at higher levels on a not-so-great PA - depends on how much a brick wall limiter was abused of course (and of course a high cut eq at 14K would help with this as well).

[cacti]

you dont need to master for live performances.

[computercontrolled]

thanks for ur replies..i play house music and dj's play mastered tracks...but i agree that for live sets i dont need to sound exactly the same, ill use. eq,wintage warmer and limiter only