mastering FX order

[e-modic]

hi,

I know nobody who makes smusic should try to master his stuff but I only want to do some boosting and equalising on a song, can someone tell me the right order of the FX.

Shall I start with EQ then multibandcompr then leveler? Or comressor first?

thanx for any Infos

Ingo

[M'Snah]

If you use compression as an effect then you can put it anywhere you want. If you use it to reduce dynamics it's smart to put it after the EQ, otherwise the EQ can partly 'undo' the effect of the compressor.

btw. some people advise to not use multiband compression, but fix the mix instead, and use a single band compressor.

--HansM

[e-modic]

I mean more if you do it in wavelab, full mastering on the completet song.

[M'Snah]

I read your reply, but I don't know if that would change my reply. I'm not familiar with Wavelab though... I'll leave the floor to one of the specialists to answer you

--HansM

[9b0]

hi,

I know nobody who makes smusic should try to master his stuff but I only want to do some boosting and equalising on a song, can someone tell me the right order of the FX.

Shall I start with EQ then multibandcompr then leveler? Or comressor first?

thanx for any Infos

Ingo

If you master your track, always leave the mastering limiter/compressor to the end. They define the final peak level, so if you use an EQ, it changes the peak mostly and the limiter looses it's sense.

[SzM]

My chain is:

1.Eq
2.Compressor
3.Stereo enchancer
4.Eq
5.Resample here if needed
6.Limiter
7.Dithering

[whyterabbyt]

Whatever Ozone does.

[e-modic]

My chain is:

1.Eq
2.Compressor
3.Stereo enchancer
4.Eq
5.Resample here if needed
6.Limiter
7.Dithering

an EQ after the stereo enhancer again? Why?

[VeXKoN]

be very careful using stereo enhancers on the master track. Remember it's being applied to the whole mix, so it needs to be subtle. Personally I'd use stereo placing effects before the mastering.

[kritikon]

I know nobody who makes smusic should try to master his stuff but I only want to do some boosting and equalising on a song, can someone tell me the right order of the FX.

Shall I start with EQ then multibandcompr then leveler? Or comressor first?

Personally I prefer Eq after compression - although that does mean you have to pull back the output a little if you're boosting. There is no hard and fast rule - do whichever your ears prefer.
Having said that, I don't Eq my finished mixes except for occasionally rolling back some of the bottom end. My monitoring just isn't good enough in my studio setup to risk boosting Eq.

If you're using a multiband, it's unlikely you'll need to use any Eq whatsoever if you get the multiband setup properly. If you do need Eq after a multiband, then go back and play with your settings on the multiband instead.

I can only really see a need for mastering Eq if you only use wideband compression.


As for using Eq both before and after an enhancer...

Does this person know what an enhancer/exciter is supposed to be doing? You could only want to use Eq after an enhancer for 2 things...1) it sounds bass-heavy...2) it sounds too bright and harsh or grating.
For either of the above, you've got the enhancer set wrong, simple as that. Either wrong settings or you should use it over subgroups rather than the entire mix.

A reasonable FX chain might be...

Eq -> compression -> limiter
Compression -> Eq -> limiter
Multiband -> limiter

With the option of throwing in an enhancer before the limiter in any of the above. Doubling up on any of those FX means you've got it wrong.

[cloudspine]

I try to do my best in the mixing stage, while the mastering chain is:
opto compression - eq - limiting

The mastering EQ is only for making an album sound like a cohesive whole

[SzM]

My chain is:

1.Eq
2.Compressor
3.Stereo enchancer
4.Eq
5.Resample here if needed
6.Limiter
7.Dithering

an EQ after the stereo enhancer again? Why?

You can put the st enchancer after the eq ,that doesn't count. The second eq is for compensate the changes what the compressor did. Little tweaks makes big difference here. But you need a good monitoring system for mastering, otherwise there's no point about it!

[VanLichten]

An rather unknown mastering alternative consists of three of Simulanalogs JMC 900 in a row; all in B setting with maximal drive, eq use as preffered, the last one can use the inbuild reverb (say 33-66 percent). I definetly maxes mixes in terms of loudness; the muiscal style of the piece may change a bit, though.

[OMU]

Try this: HarBal -> Limiter.
It's a golden combination if you have a high end limiter.

[wrench45us]

i've seen discussions in both orders

with eq before or after the multi-band compressor

i just picked up Voxengo's Gliss EQ, which unlike most EQ's can boost transients 'musically' in certain bands

it's very possible (esp. with something like Gliss EQ) for a given element of the fx chain to suppress or boost the effect of another

so there's efficiency, but finally it comes down to how things sound