Why -3?

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You all may think me crazy, but I've never even bothered to look in detail at the master VU meter other than when it's red, I pay attention. If I've got a mix that is using most of the dynamic range of the master meter, I'm going to be o.k. when I render to .wav.

It's the simpleton approach. If I like how it sounds in the mix, and also after rendering, and finally even if it sounds decent rendered to a 128 kbps mp3, I'm done. But that's just me making music for my own entertainment. Never sold any 'work' in any fashion.

-Scott

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Beno wrote:Right, in the digital realm the number on the master fader means nothing. It is simply your final level control to prevent clipping in the exported file.
Ben
Is this true? Will a mix at the same exact master levels sound identical if one has the master set to -50 and one at +50?

Someone told me before that when you have a VSTi on a track and it is too loud, it is better to lower the volume output in the VSTi's settings than the sequencers track level.

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rockstar_not wrote:and finally even if it sounds decent rendered to a 128 kbps mp3, I'm done.
that's why you're not making money doing this, man. ;)

do this, load up a 128kbs mp3 through a spectral analyzer and compare it with a wav file

RonC

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rpc9943 wrote:that's why you're not making money doing this, man. ;)
um, he seems to have a better handle on this than you do Ron! :P

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fake_fake wrote:Is this true? Will a mix at the same exact master levels sound identical if one has the master set to -50 and one at +50?
Try this test: export a mix at 32-bit with your master fader set as usual. Now drop youur master fader by 50dB or thereabouts, and export again.

Load both files into your audio editor and normalise.. can you hear a difference?

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IIRs wrote:
rpc9943 wrote:that's why you're not making money doing this, man. ;)
um, he seems to have a better handle on this than you do Ron! :P
what the hell does that mean

ROnC

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It means that this:
rockstar_not wrote:You all may think me crazy, but I've never even bothered to look in detail at the master VU meter other than when it's red, I pay attention. If I've got a mix that is using most of the dynamic range of the master meter, I'm going to be o.k. when I render to .wav.
.. is spot on!

If you mix down through a master limiter and export directly to 16-bit, then yes you need your mix buss at unity, but there is no reason not to drop another vol / pan fader into the master section before the limiter. :shrug:

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wait what? another vol/pan into master? whaaat? what the hell? maybe i misread this.

RonC

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rpc9943 wrote:okay well i set the master to 0dB and my master bus multiband comp's limiter set to -0.1dB
anyways this is what i meant.

stash is psycho.

RONC

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maybe it is so, that after you have bounced to disk and when you are mastering, if you boost anything you don't go over 0. so you can do you mastering stuff and then use a mastering limiter to maximize the volume of the track.

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rpc9943 wrote:
rpc9943 wrote:okay well i set the master to 0dB and my master bus multiband comp's limiter set to -0.1dB
anyways this is what i meant.

stash is psycho.

RONC
this is where you might want a vol filter before the limiter in the master section!!

if you dont trust me then trust IIRs if you dont trust him ask someone you do trust thay will say the same thing

that your a f**king nut bar

:D

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just to add!

i try to limit after i have bounced my track from T2

not that you have to but i find i mix a bit better with out the limiter working for me (but i allways use a limiter on my mastering of the finished project)

;)

disclamer: i know nothing about nothing :)

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rpc9943 wrote:
rockstar_not wrote:and finally even if it sounds decent rendered to a 128 kbps mp3, I'm done.
that's why you're not making money doing this, man. ;)

do this, load up a 128kbs mp3 through a spectral analyzer and compare it with a wav file

RonC
Ron,

Sometimes, I just wonder what you are talking about.

I do make money manipulating sound on a daily basis. I do it for one of the big 3 automotive companies. I'm a senior engineer for them, with excellent working hours and loads of paid days off per year (37 at last count). I've never had to work a Sunday, and have been able to travel all over the world (well mostly Europe) as a paid 'consultant' for sound quality of automotive products; been invited to speak at conferences with hundreds of attendees, etc.

I've compared thousands of sounds through so many different kinds of spectral analysis it would make your head spin.

I make enough money to have my 4 bedroom house paid off in another 8 years, with no other loans other than for my minivan, which my wife is able to use to haul around our 4 kids to various activities - and they aren't even malnourished. :)

To say that I'm fortunate would be an understatement.

None of that is to brag, but just to tell you that sometimes, you should just stick to the topic at hand.

I have no need to make money recording music. I do it for fun and personal entertainment. It's a hobby. In fact, I might not like it so much if I tried to make money with my hobby. It might become 'work'.

Making money did not enter into the thread until you brought it up.

Now, back to my post and what I meant.....

If my mix survives rendering to .wav, burning to CD, and through the lossy compression of converting to .mp3, then I'm not sure there's much more I can do with it, no matter where my output bus meter pegs at.

-Scott

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stop braging!

:)

umm im realy stupid, & i need you to tell me what automotive sounds are??

in my head i'm thinking of broom broom & chuga chuga chuga, you know like the sounds that come from a automobile :shrug:

PS i LOVE your sig!!!!! shame the rest of the west dont feel the same way :(

Subz

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:lol:

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