Mixing Down (Master Track)

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www.witchsmark.com
Member Since: Aug 13, 2006

In Sonar 6 When you Mix Down your say 10 Tracks to a Stereo Mix, does the Master Track go with the 10 Individual Tracks and include in the Mix Down, or is the Master strictly so you can listen to your Mix while Mixing??

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www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Jul 13, 2008 05:33 pm

It does both really. I always export the master bus but you don't have to. However, if you don't mixdown the master bus you will lose any effects that you have put on the master bus.. like a compressor or automation etc... It all depends on which source category you use at the export screen.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jul 13, 2008 06:10 pm

Yep, what BH said pretty much.

Just make certain that you choose to include all you busses, FX and automation and you will end up with a finished product that sounds exactly as it does while you are mixing. I always export as a wav file first and then if I need an mp3 I will open the 2 track wav file in a separate project and work from there. That way you can master the 2 track file as needed and such before you export as an mp3 or whatever.

www.witchsmark.com
Member
Since: Aug 13, 2006


Jul 13, 2008 07:42 pm

I use different effects on my individual tracks and what not, but the only thing I end up throwing on the Master Bus is a Limiter, because my individual tracks almost always SumUp and clip the Master here and there. Thats why I was asking because I would like to get my tracks as is mixed down without having to use the Limiter so that when I use Ozone to Master the song, I am not actually using a Limiter 2X... does that make sense??

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jul 13, 2008 09:35 pm

Ya, it makes sense but it doesn't really make any difference if your not going to set you tracks so that you don't need a limiter on the master buss.

I as well as many others sometimes do it that way and it isn't really a big deal. The limiter is just insuring you don't clip the master buss is all. It isn't really doing much else unless you are really smashing the top end with the summed output of all the tracks.

When I'm doing a finished product I will always work as long as it takes to get all the tracks set so it doesn't clip hard and force me to use a limiter on the master buss.

In Sonar you can simply lock all your track faders into one group and then make one little adjustment down to prevent that. That or simply pull down the master buss fader until you don't clip it anymore. That is the easiest solution.

www.witchsmark.com
Member
Since: Aug 13, 2006


Jul 14, 2008 08:07 am

Quote:
That or simply pull down the master buss fader until you don't clip it anymore. That is the easiest solution.

Lol... I didn't even think of that!!! All I need to do is simply pull down the Master a little and prevent clipping on the master. I am new to this for the most part, and I tell ya I am so involved with all of the other aspects of getting the right levels, EQ'ing, Compressing, yada yada yada, that simple solutions like that don't even cross my mind. Thanks for the info.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jul 14, 2008 10:40 pm

Been there and done that for sure.

I grew up on analog and when digital came along I jumped in headfirst. But I made more then my share of mistakes along the way. I missed so many of the simple things it wasn't even funny.

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