Mastering: Getting that "Full" sound

bauer.cc · Post by **bauer.cc** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:50 am

Hello everyone!

I am a total amateur to mastering my tracks. I used to have a friend do it for me, but he moved away and now I'm struggling.

I am having trouble getting a full, loud sound on my tracks. Everything maxes out red on the master meter when it doesn't sound ridiculously quiet. Is there a trick for this? I've tried messing with EQ and compression, but I don't know what I'm doing at all.

I'm using strictly samples for everything (I'm not using any instruments). Any help would be more than appreciated. Thanks so much.

milesahead · Post by **milesahead** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:35 pm

there is a fantastic video available:
http://www.frequenzbereich.com/music-sh ... ts_id=2961
its from the ASK-Video Tutorials Serise - and shows James Tuttle, a real pro in the mixing-business explaining what he does.
you kind of look over his sholders while he`s at work, explaining exactly what he does
otherwise, a good book will do also for a start.
if you have a bundle of good EQ`s / Mastering-Plugs, just go and try...

bauer.cc · Post by **bauer.cc** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:13 pm

Thanks! Are there any good cheap or free Mastering plugins available online?

Michael-SW · Post by **Michael-SW** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:39 am

Mastering aint black magic. You need a limiter, a good EQ and a multiband compressor.

anti-banausic · Post by **anti-banausic** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 5:17 am

bauer.cc wrote:Thanks! Are there any good cheap or free Mastering plugins available online?

Sorry, not cheap, but Izotope Ozone is pretty good, all in one.

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:49 pm

You don't need a multi-and if you're mastering your own stuff, just go back and fix your mixdown.

stjohn · Post by **stjohn** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 1:37 pm

Tarekith wrote:You don't need a multi-and if you're mastering your own stuff, just go back and fix your mixdown.

yea it sounds like your problem is in the mix. you mentioned mastering compression & eq.... try and start with EQ alone, then add the others.

with Eq you want to separate the sounds into separate sections/frequecy bands, so there is no major crossover on 2 or more elements. this space allows every sound to have the maximum power, and when balanced with the rest of the other sounds, should create this full result youre after. this power also has to do with with the original sounds btw!!! so make sure every sound is generated and used strategically