Mr. Master HELP!

hafnarbakki · Post by **hafnarbakki** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:52 pm

I have not got the grip of mastering yet... so I need some advice or advisory!

<QUESTION>
am I supposed to make all tracks into one master track before rendering..?
</QUESTION>

sometimes the output is way way way to HIGH and then on another song it is too low?

HugeBear · Post by **HugeBear** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:15 pm

multiple tracks -> mixdown -> one stereo track -> mastering

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:18 pm

no need. If you have the cpu power you can do mastering without mixing down to 2-track first.

hafnarbakki, you generally just have to watch your master output meters - if they're in the red, then it's a no go. No red. At all.

What I usually do is put a saturator across the master with the limiter on. That'll catch most of the bad spikes, without screwing with your overall sound.

Michael-SW · Post by **Michael-SW** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:38 pm

One advantage to mixing down to one track is that it is easier to do A/B comparison with the same volume level.

I usually render my master, then open a new Live session and import the render to two adio tracks. Put the mastering on one track, assign to crossfader left and put the unaffected track to crossfader right.

Fiddle with mastering affects, adjust level on unaffected track to approximately match, flip crossfader left/right and listen. Repeat until happy. You can even try to find someone else (girlfriend) to twist the crossfader for you while you close your eyes so you can do a real blind A/B comparison.

It is sooo easy to be fooled by louder = better.

hafnarbakki · Post by **hafnarbakki** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:53 pm

Thanx for the replies.. Machinate and Michael-SW

this is how it looks:

http://www.remark.se/master.png

it is the blue 7 3-piano-01 track that is low

by the way... what does that inf on the right mean?

and the Master-track
what should I have there... I amn't sure what the blue -1.0 means either

sorry for these newbie questions... I am ashamed... because I have own Ableton Live since version 5

longjohns · Post by **longjohns** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:25 pm

All the -inf are faders or knobs which are turned down to - INFinity

The blue -1.0 on the master is the solo/pre-listen volume

napalmskatterjazz · Post by **napalmskatterjazz** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:13 am

I also like to put a limiter on the master (and on certain tracks in the mix as well that have hits that clip). Dont forget to play puzzlepiece with the audio frequencies via EQs.. Other great little things to warm up the sound like throw a PSP vintagewarmer or BBE Sonicmaximiser under the EQ or even sometimes a BBE on the master I love that sound so much.

hafnarbakki · Post by **hafnarbakki** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:15 am

what's a BBE

I know BBC and B.B King.. but BBE... Beats me?
: )

napalmskatterjazz · Post by **napalmskatterjazz** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:29 am

http://www.bbesound.com/products/maxim/maxim.asp

extra extra read all about it. does wonders for your high ends...

hafnarbakki · Post by **hafnarbakki** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:25 pm

hey Machinate..
where am I supposed to put the .adg files like your Operator sound pack?

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:44 pm

Hey hafnarbakki,

Sorry for the late reply. Machinate is out on some business.

You can use the .adg files from anywhere on your HD.
But I suggest you consult the install instructions you received.
Once you covered that, you'll know a thing or 2 about the project manager.

Cheers

- Bjorn