Ableton Forum

Thanks:)

What is the problem if I have a little amount of clipping but then turn all tracks down to for example -4db for mastering ?

There is no problem, that's what you're supposed to do

You mean there is no problem by letting the master clip and then just turn him down to -4db ??
Or am I wrong?

Another question : When and how do you use utility while mixing/mastering ? Only for low frequencies ?

You mean there is no problem by letting the master clip and then just turn him down to -4db ??

>>> Correct, you can totally do that <<<

Another question : When and how do you use utility while mixing/mastering ? Only for low frequencies ?

>>> I don't personally use Utility that much myself, maybe if there's something like a stereo kick drum I want to make mono. Or like my new track where I'm manipulating the stereo width as a special effect. I'm making the live project file for that available in the next day or so when I release the track. <<<

dark soul wrote:You mean there is no problem by letting the master clip and then just turn him down to -4db ??
Or am I wrong?

Another question : When and how do you use utility while mixing/mastering ? Only for low frequencies ?

Yes, it's enough if you turn the master down so it won't hit the red. No need to turn individual tracks down – in the end, it's the same effect but takes more work.
With a 32-bit floating point engine, it doesn't matter how red your channels are hitting as long as your master isn't. But make sure you aren't going into the red between plug-ins.

All you need to know about gain-staging with digital audio: http://t.co/MuA2ivx5hk

Sometimes I split the signal into two (or more) chains; I often do this with bass, and insert Utility on each chain. I set one of them to width 0% – which makes it mono – and the other's width to 100%, which makes it stereo. I like to process bass that way. I usually do saturation, "sweetening" and stuff to the stereo chain, and also cut off the low end of it. I low-pass the mono signal to have a solid sub.

I also use the Utility on my master with its width set to 0%; I map the "m" key of my computer keyboard to its on/off switch so I can quickly listen to how my song sounds in mono (sometimes I do that for stereo checking, too).

Tarekith wrote:IMO, the ONLY thing that defines "mastering" is that you have someone else withn unbiased opinion working on it for you. Otherwise it's all mixing if you ask me.

agreed - I do it all in Ableton with a limiter - don't use Ozone or any other maximiser (too many artefacts and muddies the sound imo).

just try and do as much as possible using automation of individual tracks and parts

I think you get cleaner results this way.

Then just export straight from Ableton as 32 bit master with normalise on.

Why exactly would you peak at -3dBFS when you could peak for instance -12dBFS before the mastering process? I fail to see the gain in that (pardon the pun).

I set all my initial values now at -12dB maximum with the fader on -6dB, adjusting the volume with the instrument volume out control and/or utility as a trim plugin. The master peaks at -12dB (may be lower or higher higher while I work, but that's the target). This give my mastering engineer 12dB of headroom to work with, not just 2.7.

I'm assuming here that 0dB in Live is indeed 0dB, When exporting it is anyway. That, or rather -0.3dB, is the ceiling you can't go above, not the optimal operating volume.

Tarekith wrote:http://innerportalstudio.com/the-6db-rule/

Well, for now I'll happily break this "rule" and use -12dB. This also leaves me 6dB to raise sections of the song up towards -6dB.

Did you read the blog post? It's not a rule at all, and I explain why -12dB, -6dB, or -3dB are all acceptable levels to deliver something to your mastering engineer.

We're in agree in other words.

Tarekith wrote:Did you read the blog post? It's not a rule at all, and I explain why -12dB, -6dB, or -3dB are all acceptable levels to deliver something to your mastering engineer.

We're in agree in other words.

Yes, I did. That's why a put it in "quotes". I also read the materials from Dansk Lydeteknik. Very interesting to consider floating point resolution.