Newbie mixing question

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Member Since: Apr 20, 2010

hey guys i just starting mixing and need advice on mixing regarding headroom,levels...and im in cubase btw. now on my first mix project after i got everything nice and balanced, all by controlling volume knobs on vst instruments and playing with audio levels of individual audio tracks ,so no messing with faders on mixer yet. Ive now got my master fader at like -12db because a lot was getting distortion so i wanted to keep under the red so i turned the master fader down to keep all the sounds clean , i mean is what i did ok or did i push all my levels too far and shouldnt be at such low master db levels...ne advice would be reallly appriciated, thanks

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MASSIVE Mastering, LLC
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2008


Apr 20, 2010 11:27 am

If you need to pull your master fader down 12dB, something is seriously, seriously wrong somewhere...

*Individual* tracks should arguably be *peaking* around -12dBFS in most cases -- and those would still possibly require a decent amount of attenuation to keep some reasonable amount of headroom at the 2-buss.

Call me "old fashioned" but even with floating-point architecture (where you can "get away" with bringing down the master fader), IMO, it's just bad form. And sometimes an accident waiting to happen.

I'd pull all your faders down (and set the master fader back to unity) and start there.

Member
Since: Sep 30, 2009


Apr 20, 2010 11:54 am

I think what he's saying is that he's using a lot of samples and software synth kind of stuff. Am i right? If you're using audio, tell us what you're using to process it and such.

Anyway, i've been wondering similar things myself. but i reason that it's probably best to have levels lower earlier on. Plus thats what MM said, so. trust him :P lol.

Member
Since: Apr 20, 2010


Apr 20, 2010 08:31 pm

thnxs for the replys guys, n fragile most of the vsts im using are sample libraries and romplers. so i should just set the master to 0db and then all the other tracks to -12 db??(currently all my faders are at 0db except the master) or maybe backtrack and mess with the volumes on these vst instruments...and when doing a mix should i even mess with master fader i mean keep it 0db at all times and mess with everything else? please as much advice as u guys can since im completely new and really want to know how to properly mix. thnxs again guys

Member
Since: Sep 30, 2009


Apr 20, 2010 08:49 pm

Honestly, in my own experiments i rarely have adjusted the volume UP from inside the VST program itself. Maybe down, but its hard to tell where unity is in the editors, and you prolly don't want to go above that. Its easier to adjust levels from the mixer anyway.

And the -12db thing, i believe what MM was referring to was the tracking volume, peaks around -12DBFS. (i could be wrong, correct me if i am). But since you're using samples, already recorded, i'd just stick it at the standard setting, and mix from the virtual mixer. Keep the master fader at 0. You'll be able to more easily do things like automate the levels in different sections of the songs much easier as well.

MASSIVE Mastering, LLC
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2008


Apr 20, 2010 11:21 pm

Ideally, the tracks being recorded around the mix level (generally between -18 and -12dBFS) is ideal -- but in any case, I'd rather attenuate individual tracks over attenuating groups (or especially the main stereo buss).

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