Mixing and mastering order
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Posted on Apr 14, 2008 07:59 am
Resident Jester
Member Since: Apr 06, 2008
ok, so I have all my tracks mixed down and i have my levels peaking at -6db (is this correct.) So where do i go from here? Harbal to wave mastering plugin, or is there a better order? Thanks.
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Apr 14, 2008 08:08 am HarBal is usually the last thing I do. Go to WaveLab (or whatever wave editor you choose) and get all the fades, EQing, compression and all that as you want it, then bring them all into HarBal to smooth out the frequency spectrum...then burn 'em.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Apr 14, 2008 11:46 am I would think, that a dither may be a good idea after har-bal. If I had harbal, I'd think
1) mixdown to stereo wave
2) import stereo wave and perform master EQ, comp, limit.
3) export as wave, and bring into harbal
4) harmonically balance.
5) import har-bal'ed file, for dither and 16/44.1 writing
6) burn
ymmv, etc.
Apr 15, 2008 07:11 am mixdown to stereo wave
2) import stereo wave and perform master EQ, comp, limit.
3) export as wave, and bring into harbal
4) harmonically balance.
5) import har-bal'ed file, for dither and 16/44.1 writing
6) burn
ymmv, etc.
i am confused by step 5, does that just mean render into a wav file? What is dither? and ymmv? sorry for the newbie questions. Also, what should my levels be going into the master eq phase? -6? and coming out? and than leaving harbal and finally in the last step?
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Apr 15, 2008 08:48 am If you have recorded your files at a sample depth of greater than 16bit, eg. 20, 24, 32, bit, at whatever point you change that resolution to 44.1, 16bit you should utilize a dithering algorithm in that process. Bit depths of 20,24,32 have a lot more dynamic range than 16 bit. Dithering makes the transition less drastic.
example of process:
I record all tracks @ 48khz 24 bit.
When I mix down the prog utilizes 32bit float @ 48khz (no need to dither when going "up" from 24 to 32 bit.
I take my mixed track @ 48khz 32bit and import it into wavelab.
I use whatever mastering plugs necessary to get the best sounding, loud enough rendition I can. When I render (term akin to mixing as it incorporates all plug effects into the new wave) I use a dithering algorithm in the maximizing plug (loudness maximizer) and render the file to 44.1khz, 16 bit. It is now at the resolution compatable for printing on a cd.
I now import that file into HarBal and make final adjustements in eq of the overall waveform.
Now I import the track along with other tracks I want on the cd back into Wavelab and make adjustements to sequencing of tracks, and time between tracks.
Last burn cd.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Apr 15, 2008 12:16 pm Just recently recorded at 96 for the first time. Went really well but I definitely have to lock things down sooner and had to bump the buffers up a tad after we hit around 16+ tracks.
Anyway, I usually mixdown so I'm peaking around -6 to -3, harbal and then limiter.
I actually use the built in burning in Audition which converts and dithers for me, I have no complaints about it's process as it seems very quality when compared to the actual mixdown.
