Cheers for all the advice, Dan!
p.s. For double jealousy inducement, I've got a Fatman 2 as well which provides me with a valve based mic pre-amp/compressor front end and when coupled with my Audio Technica 4033 mic, sounds sweet as f*ck. I would HIGHLY recommend this combo for an affordable but great quality mic frontend.
From: "Daniel Norman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: "Drum & Bass Arena Discussion List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Drum & Bass Arena Discussion List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [dnb-prod] RE: mastering question PLUS MORE questions!
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 14:27:54 -0000
Glad you liked the bubblewrap idea - its sounds crap, but having totally removed the monitors from any vibrations via air suspension and plastic membrane works really well.
I can't see the harm in normalising the finished track to 0db.
It will only take the peaks to 0db, but then it may have a slight effect.
I usually just do the following.
Mix the tune down and then record out of the mixer into Cool Edit (I have an Alesis 3630 compressor on light 2:1 compression etc going into a Behringer Ultrafex on the main inserts) .
Edit length and leave 2 secs at the beginning and end, then turn those intro/outros to silence (useful noise reduction that doesn;t affect the whole track). Then normalise as below, save and just run through T Racks on zero settings to give it the warmth that my wages can't afford in TLA and Avalon valves. Seems to come out fine...
I don't think audio exciters affect vinyl pressing as I have read high praise from Omni Trio and Blu Mar Ten etc about these things and they have pressed a few tunes between them.
Dan
-----Original Message-----
From: Terry Morgan [ HYPERLINK "mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]"mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: 11 February 2003 11:46
To: Drum & Bass Arena Discussion List
Subject: [dnb-prod] RE: mastering question PLUS MORE questions!
Dan,
Actually, maybe you can clear up a bit of confusion for me. When I master
my tracks, I normally DC offset, run the track thru BBE sonic maximiser,
compress (lightly, as I compress each sound individually) using Waves C4
(thats a multiband compressor to allthe peeps who don'thave Waves...very
handy) and then run a limiter (Waves L1+) over it to bring the overall level
up. Should I then normalise it to 0db AS WELL? Will the normalising process
take the louder parts of the track oevr? Or does it only raise the peaks to
0db?
Also, while we're on the subject, does anyone know of an EASY to use
spectral analyser? I find the one in SF6 to be a bit confusing. I'd like to
be able to run a track run an analyser and watch it in real time...
One last question: I heard recently that BBE and other "stimulators" work
well for tracks that are to be pressed to CD but not so well on vinyl? Is
this true? If so, why?
Dan, that idea about the bubble wrap is great, I'll be doing that tonight!
Phew...thats the longest email I've written for a while!
Cheers.
>From: "Daniel Norman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: "Drum & Bass Arena Discussion List"
><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: "Drum & Bass Arena Discussion List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: [dnb-prod] RE: mastering question
>Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 11:28:50 -0000
>
>Ha,
>
>I actually meant Normalise to 0db (or whatever the standard setting is) to
>make sure the overall levels are as high as possible without any nasty
>clipping.
>
>Cheers Tel,
>
>Dan
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Terry Morgan [ HYPERLINK "mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]"mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
>Sent: 11 February 2003 11:08
>To: Drum & Bass Arena Discussion List
>Subject: [dnb-prod] RE: mastering question
>
>
>Daniel,
>
>Great email but did you mean:
>
> >Normalise (DC bias 0 and stereo link) to 100db
>
>to be Normalise to 10db?
>
>Cheers.
>
>
> >From: "Daniel Norman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >Reply-To: "Drum & Bass Arena Discussion List"
> ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >To: "Drum & Bass Arena Discussion List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >Subject: [dnb-prod] RE: mastering question
> >Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 10:57:12 -0000
> >
> >Matthew
> >
> >All you need to do is use your ears and work out if your tune sounds as
> >good as someone elses that you like when played back on the same
> >speakers...CALIBRATION is the name of the game...
> >
> >Its as simple as that - there are no rules...
> >If you like it, then you have successfully mixed a track...
> >
> >However, if you want it to sound as good as someone elses then start
> >reading the SOS tutorials on mixing down in that link i gave you, read
>the
> >Future Music articles on remixing and mixing and experiment with the
>levels
> >on your mixer/samples.
> >
> >Also tape your tunes and listen to them on different stereos. Each one
>will
> >give you an idea of where the mix is going wrong and allow you to reign
>it
> >back in.
> >
> >Also buy some flat response monitor speakers (Tannoy Reveals, Absolute
> >Zeros or Twos are the best low cost ones) and read about speaker
>placement
> >on the internet (SOS again).
> >
> >Tip: mount your speakers on stands - immediate improvement and don't move
> >the bass/treble from the 0 position on your amp - (use source direct
>button
> >on the amp if you have it).
> >
> >Tip 2: If you have your speakers on a desktop like me, simply cut out a
>pad
> >of heavy duty bubble wrap for underneath each monitor- air suspension
>float
> >for accurate monitoring - its a bit Blue Peter, but it costs about �1 and
> >it does the same as the �40 lumps of foam that Digital Village sell.
> >
> >Record your finished tune thru soundcard into Cool Edit or Wavelab etc
>and
> >Normalise (DC bias 0 and stereo link) to 100db and cut all bass below
>20hz
> >using a high pass filter - improves the track loudness no end before
> >burning to CD for listening elsewhere or even just recording to tape for
> >the car.
> >
> >Theres loads more to learn, but I have to do some work 8(
> >
> >Dan
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Johnson, Matthew [ HYPERLINK
> >" HYPERLINK "mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]"mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]"; HYPERLINK "mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]"mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> >Sent: 11 February 2003 09:53
> >To: Drum & Bass Arena Discussion List
> >Subject: [dnb-prod] RE: mastering question
> >
> >
> >I would like to know more about Mastering.
> >
> >how does one know what levels to set everything to etc?
> >
> >lets say I just sample things and lay down a track as the samples are
> >recorded.
> >what would I then need to do to mixdown?
> >
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Andy Abang [ HYPERLINK
> >" HYPERLINK "mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]"mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]"; HYPERLINK "mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]"mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> >Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 10:51 PM
> >To: Drum & Bass Arena Discussion List
> >Subject: [dnb-prod] RE: mastering question
> >
> >
> >pre-production (mixing down samples), adjusting levels (during and after
> >the
> >track is arranged), and final mixdown.
> >
> >i don't think there's really any order you have to do anything in, but if
> >you mix down any samples you're using before or while you're arranging
>your
> >track it saves you some time at the end of the project.
> >
> >mixing down samples would DEFINITELY require eqing. You could compress
> >samples and shit too but if it's for something like drum sounds i'd
> >recommend leaving that off and just compressing them in whatever program
> >you're working in. compression/limiter stuff would be more of an FX thing
> >to
> >be applied while arranging everything (or when you're doing your final
> >mixdown, whatever works for you).
> >
> >Noise reduction is an optional thing, all depends on what elements in
>your
> >track you might need it for. Not everything requires noise reduction.
> >
> >What are you using to make your tunes? each program requires kind of a
> >different approach to all this stuff. Logic, Cubase, and protools can all
> >be
> >used for arranging and mixing down your stuff, but programs like Fruity
> >loops and Reason need something else for final mixing.
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: TJ Cinnamon [ HYPERLINK
> >" HYPERLINK "mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]"mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]"; HYPERLINK "mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]"mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > > Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 2:56 PM
> > > To: Drum & Bass Arena Discussion List
> > > Subject: [dnb-prod] mastering question
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > what are the main components or elements for mastering a track?
> > > Is it Eq,
> > > Compression, Limiter, Noise Reduction, do I have it in the right
> > > order and
> > > am I missing any components.
> > >
> > > Thnks Joe
> > >
> > > _________________________________________________________________
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