Question on Levels
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Posted on Jun 10, 2008 08:04 am
mclir9
www.witchsmark.com
Member Since: Aug 13, 2006
Why is it better to use Compressors and Limiters to control individual tracks instead of just bringing the volume down with the fader?? I am trying to control my Master track from clipping and I have been using limiters and compressors on multiple tracks, and then realized I could just drop the fader a little and achieve the same function, alot easier.
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sticadokid*sticado: short and LOUD!*Member
Since: Feb 25, 2005
Jun 10, 2008 12:03 pm compressing the tracks individually is mainly nessecery for very dynamic clips. dont over compress things such as a distorted guitar.
the main reason y people use compressors and limiters is so the tracks dont clip themselves. if u use certain settings on a compressor or limiter on the master bus, u canobtain a more "even" volume throughout your entire mix... not just used for keeping the master bus from clipping; its more used for evening out the entire sound... but not clipping it at the same time.
for the master bus, however, use a more complex compressor. i use a multiband compressor so i can basically get different ferquencies to a steady volume, rather than just the peak volume alone. after that, i use Waves L1 Ultramaximizer so that my mix wont peak (if u end up using this, keep the input volume all the way up, and the output all the way up. this makes it so the maximizer doesnt effect the "low end" of your mix, cuz it will, and the out put will not let anything go past that volume. the highest level out is 0db). then i use PAZ analyzer (also by waves) to see exactly what group of frequencies are too loud...
and i adjust from there
sticadokid*sticado: short and LOUD!*Member
Since: Feb 25, 2005
Jun 10, 2008 12:10 pm one more quick note:
har-bal is something EVERYBODY will want u to buy. if i had the money to own it, i would end up telling u to buy it too (the demo was enough to make me want it). it can make the biggest impacts on your mixes, but its too much for one plug-in for me... ive made perfectly fine mixes before without it, so i dont believe buying it is worth it for simply one plug-in/stand-alone tool
mclir9www.witchsmark.comMember
Since: Aug 13, 2006
Jun 10, 2008 12:35 pm So if none of my tracks are clipping, just the Sum of the Master... should I go ahead and just keep recording the rest of my tracks and ignore the Master clipping here and there, or should I throw a Compressor on the Master now before I even finish recording the rest of the Tracks?? And how will this effect the Mixing stage of things??
P.S. I own Har-Bal already.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Jun 10, 2008 02:21 pm I don't see what harbal has to do with the mixing stage which for the most part is what you are talking about.
You don't use compressors on individual tracks to keep them from clipping so to speak, sure you could do that by just turning them down. You use it to tame the spread between the loudest and quietest peaks in said track. Just bringing balance really. It is then easier to maintain a decent volume level without clipping.
mclir9www.witchsmark.comMember
Since: Aug 13, 2006
Jun 10, 2008 03:49 pm Your right... Harbal is for Mastering anyways. I have basically broken my Recording process down into 3 parts, 1. Recording, 2. Mixing and 3. Mastering just like it is listed for these forums. My plan is to get the tracks recorded and save them to their own Folder called SongName/Virgin and leave them untouched in case I ever have to go back and get a completely untouched track. Then once they are all recorded, start mixing [adding FX and getting levels etc.] and actually save these to another Folder called SongName/Mixed. Finally once I am happy with that and I mixdown and Master, saving the Mastered File to a Folder Called SongName/Mastered. I guess I am trying to do things in a step by step process and I am having trouble leaving the Virgin tracks just that simply because I am having to Compress the Master Track, which I guess wouldn't matter cause it's not even really a Track being recorded. Hence, if I was to just record the tracks and make sure they all have some good Headroom and none of them Clip... this should accomplish my Virgin tracks without having to worry about Distortion at the Virgin stage correct?? Then when I get to the Mixing stage I can worry about the Master Track Clipping and all that jazz right??
mclir9www.witchsmark.comMember
Since: Aug 13, 2006
Jun 11, 2008 07:51 am Recorded some drum tracks last night and it appears as though everything was ok. I put a compressor on the Snare, Kick, and Overheads. The thing is they never had to engage... is this normal?? I used the Classic Compressor from Kjaerus and just used their Kick/Snare preset for the Kick and Snare, and used their Drums Preset for the OHLeft & Right.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Jun 11, 2008 02:14 pm The presets should be fine in regards to attack, release and ratio. But for the compression to actually work you will need to bring down the threshold. There is also an audible difference (to me) when I compress my kick.
Say I solo my kick drum and loop one single hit to play over and over again. I then adjust my threshold and can see (and hear) the compressor working. The looping of a single hit would not be normal practice but could give you a good idea of what your listening for.
Last but not least, if you have one of those super consistent hitting drummers, very little will be needed, just enough to warm things up.
