Ableton Forum

Hi,

I'm preparing my first live gig and I'm wondering if you are using any plug-ins on the Master Channel? I'm playing house music.

While searching the web I found people who recommend to put a limiter and saturator or a vintage warmer, others say never put something on the master bus... I'm quite doubtful. Does anybody know the plug-in D82 Sonic Maximizer Plugin? Would this be a good choice for the master channel?
Thank you for your help!

Hi.

I think it all depends on your preferred way of working; I know people who play with a masterchain and people who play without. Though I mostly see people playing without anything but an Ableton limiter.

I also work like that; with just a limiter, and aim to have all my channels independently mixed properly without the need of much mastering. In general it seems to my ears that the sound of those who mix their sets into an array of mastering plugins suffers from it.

I'd recommend downloading the Ableton Live Packs by Minus: for instance Gaiser's set is a good example of properly mixed channels, that can be played out live without the need for mastering tools.

I always use a limiter set to 0 gain. Before that I often have a frequency shifter set to beat synced ring modulation, a frequency shifter that I use as a phaser/chorus and grain delay. Occasionally I have a saturator and gate in the chain as well.
All of these pre limiter devices are set to pass the dry signal as default. I then turn them up (individually) when its time to release the madness. Sometimes I turn the gain on the limiter up as well.