...and for the final mix? Should I shoot for somewhere between -3 and -6? -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mark Faben Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 11:39 AM To: JSonar -- JAWS Scripts for Sonar discussion list Subject: Re: [Jsonar] A Couple of Questions on Mastering Audio with Sonar and Setting Correct Output Levels
Hi, As to the level of peek to aim for on other tracks, it depends entirely on what instrument it is, and where you want it to sit in the mix. Typically things like pads or High Hats end up on my mixes being down to minus 15 or minus 20 DB or more, with kick drums anything from minus 10 to minus 12, though really that isn't true, as it all depends on what style it is, and where it is going to be. On 27/10/2010, Mark Faben <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi, > > Boost 11 is under the list of VST effects as far as I recall, not in > any of the subfolders; Its basically a loudness maxamiser or Limitor, > you can set it to boost the signal by a desired amoutn, and set the > maxamum limit to which the volume can go, thereby preventing clipping, > but you need to ensure pretty much taht there isn't any clipping > happening in any of the audio feeding in to it, otherwise it won't > produce as good a result. > > If you are setting up the buses as I do, you need to set the ouput of > the submix bus to the Master bus, and then the ouput of the master bus > shoudl already be set to your soundcard. Its not an absoolute needed > step in things, but it just makes things easier to look at levels on > the submix bus, to ensure things arn't clipping and are where they > should be, as if you've got the limitor on the Master bus, the meters > there will be showing the volume/peeks as a result of whatever > processing the limitor or compressor is doing to the signal. > > On 27/10/2010, Peter Torpey <[email protected]> wrote: >> Thanks Mark. That was very helpful. >> >> Two more questions: >> >> 1. What does Boost 11 do - Do I find it under the sonitus compression >> FX? >> >> 2. Also, I took your advice and routed all of my audio tracks to a >> sub-mix >> bus instead of the Master bus. I then set the Output for this sub-mix >> bus >> to "none" (in the ttrack inspector) but created a Send on a separate >> audio >> track. I thought that I could use this additional audio track as my >> final >> mix track (i.e., to add compression, gain, etc.), but somehow the bus >> send >> doesn't play or record to this track. Can you think of anything I'm >> doing >> wrong here? >> >> Thanks. I'll play around with your tips some more. >> >> --Pete >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On >> Behalf >> Of Mark Faben >> Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 11:10 AM >> To: JSonar -- JAWS Scripts for Sonar discussion list >> Subject: Re: [Jsonar] A Couple of Questions on Mastering Audio with Sonar >> and Setting Correct Output Levels >> >> Hi, >> >> My useual method is to check all the tracks individually, see where >> they each are peaking, and if necessary add some compression to them, >> either individually or in groups through a sub mix bus (if dealing >> with related pieces of audio; E.G., having a bus all the indivdual >> drum parts go through). >> The peek level to aim for depends on the audio concerned and where you >> want it to sit in the final mix; I aim for an absolute peek of minus 3 >> DB on the Master bus, but that is just how I tend to do it, minus 6 >> would probably be fine too, though it depends on if you plan on using >> a limiter or compressor on the master bus, and if your aming to get it >> up to as close to minus 0.0 DB for a CD master. >> Typically I put boost 11 on the master bus as a limitor, the final >> step in the chain as it were; before the Master bus I have a submix >> bus, to which all the audio feeds in; either via other buses or direct >> from tracks, I'll generally keep the submix bus free from any EQ or >> VST effects, as it allows me to quickly look at the actual level of >> the sound, irrelivent of what is happenign with the limitor on the >> Master bus. I may, however, if it is absolutely needed, once all the >> levels are sorted out, consider putting a bit of EQ on the submix bus, >> though this would useually be to remove/reduce certain frequencies >> rather than boosting them, and the absolute max I'd want on the submix >> bus would for me as I say be minus 3 DB; If I want that taken up any >> with compression or limiting, then that is what happens on the master >> bus with the Boost 11. >> >> On 27/10/2010, Peter Torpey <[email protected]> wrote: >>> I'm sure there are a billion ways of doing this, but I'm looking for >>> tips >> on >>> what others think works best. >>> >>> >>> >>> I have several audio tracks already laid down and want to record another >>> track to merge into the final mix. My basic question is, what is the >>> most >>> effective way of mastering these tracks into one without clipping and >>> getting a decent output level. >>> >>> >>> >>> Here is my setup: >>> >>> - I recorded several midi tracks into Sonar >>> >>> - I play back the midi through my external keyboard/synthesizer and >>> record >>> the resultant audio through my sound card >>> >>> - I have one other pre-recorded audio which I also want to add to the >>> mix >>> (let's call this a vocal track) >>> >>> >>> >>> Now a few questions: >>> >>> >>> >>> - I can set the volume of each track individually until the mix sounds >>> pretty good. Question: When these are all added into the final mix or >>> master bus, how do I guarantee that I don't get clipping when all the >>> signals are added together? >>> >>> - I think that the meters in Sonar read peak values. Question: Is it >>> necessary to run through the entire song and listen to it in order to >>> determine the peak amplitude for the song or does Sonar have another >> method >>> for quickly letting me know the peak level of a track without having to >>> listen to the entire thing? (you would think that would be an easy >>> job!) >>> >>> - - What peak level should I be shooting for on the final master bus, >> around >>> -6 db? Would that be safe? >>> >>> - Any other suggestions for avoiding clipping and still getting a good >>> max >>> output level? >>> >>> >>> >>> Thanks. >>> >>> >>> >>> --Pete >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> Mark Faben >> >> Web: http://www.accessibilitytester.com >> >> Music: http://www.music.accessibilitytester.com >> E-Mail: [email protected] >> >> LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/mark-faben/12/a2/25b >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Find JSonar and Sonar FAQs, articles, guides and downloads at jsonar.org. >> >> Jsonar mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://jsonar.org/mailman/listinfo/jsonar_jsonar.org >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Find JSonar and Sonar FAQs, articles, guides and downloads at jsonar.org. >> >> Jsonar mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://jsonar.org/mailman/listinfo/jsonar_jsonar.org >> > > > -- > Mark Faben > > Web: http://www.accessibilitytester.com > > Music: http://www.music.accessibilitytester.com > E-Mail: [email protected] > > LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/mark-faben/12/a2/25b > -- Mark Faben Web: http://www.accessibilitytester.com Music: http://www.music.accessibilitytester.com E-Mail: [email protected] LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/mark-faben/12/a2/25b _______________________________________________ Find JSonar and Sonar FAQs, articles, guides and downloads at jsonar.org. Jsonar mailing list [email protected] http://jsonar.org/mailman/listinfo/jsonar_jsonar.org _______________________________________________ Find JSonar and Sonar FAQs, articles, guides and downloads at jsonar.org. Jsonar mailing list [email protected] http://jsonar.org/mailman/listinfo/jsonar_jsonar.org
