Saturation on the master

[pixel85]

There are mastering grade saturation units like Black Box HG2 and others. If not that, then saturation/warmth often comes from other devices like EQs. If recording is sterile and "digital sounding", and client wants to have a bit 9f "analog goodness", then saturation is added during mastering process. Some will even send track to the tape, if this is what is needed. One of my EPs (trailer/epic style) went through Culture Vulture and damn, result was phenomenal.

I don't know where you're taking it from, that during mastering, only "crystal clear with absolutely no saturation" hardware is used. Sounds like urban legend.

[LeVzi]

Dunno if it's me, but I do know sometimes a plugin comes with an init setting which is quite "hot".

"Hot" in this sense means it could be "too hot" quickly; if one does not realize the settings are "hot" already when it comes to the specified purpose of a specific plugin.

Just saying that SlickEQ free ed. - for instance - comes with an init of +6 dB saturation..

The saturation in Slick EQ is very subtle though. The +6 dB don't correspond to a gain increase of 6 dB, rather it's related to the internal gain staging, which in turn affects the saturation stage.

I know; they both have separate level indicators. But if one drops SlickEQ first in their master chain, the effect is IMHO not so subtle. I can hear it quite clearly.

In my book "quite clearly" on the master bus is something quite different than "subtle".

"Subtle" means that my ears can barely hear it.

Thanks for sharing your personal definition of "quite clearly" and "subtle" with the world.

This thread is not about my opinion but why the OP does not like saturation on the master, however.

No I was actually asking if people did it, and then why they do it.

I haven't done it, and never really achieved anything by adding saturation anywhere unless I was looking for some kind of distortion.

So I was curious about what other people do, especially with dance music.

I always hear about mixing on an SSL for that angel dust that the console sprinkles on a mix.

[MogwaiBoy]

There are mastering grade saturation units like Black Box HG2 and others.

What makes the Black Box plugin "mastering grade"? Well, at least it doesn't alias like SPL Iron, their "mastering grade" compressor.

"Mastering grade" is just Marketing-speak.

[pixel85]

There are mastering grade saturation units like Black Box HG2 and others.

What makes the Black Box plugin "mastering grade"? Well, at least it doesn't alias like SPL Iron, their "mastering grade" compressor.

"Mastering grade" is just Marketing-speak.

I was talking about hardware.
EDIT: Mastering Grade saturation = it does gentle saturation, doesn't jump to heavy distortion when you turn a knob from 0 to 1% etc. The opposite to HG-2 would be GCA Plasma Rack for example

[LeVzi]

There are mastering grade saturation units like Black Box HG2 and others.

What makes the Black Box plugin "mastering grade"? Well, at least it doesn't alias like SPL Iron, their "mastering grade" compressor.

"Mastering grade" is just Marketing-speak.

Yeah I saw a video on that Black Box thing the other day, but wasn't used in mastering, was by Michael Brauer who is a mix engineer. (The PA version)

[kmonkey]

No I was actually asking if people did it, and then why they do it.

Because they like what they hear? It seems ok for their goals?

I haven't done it, and never really achieved anything by adding saturation anywhere unless I was looking for some kind of distortion.

It's all about what one need for his specific project I guess.

[crickey13]

It's all about what one need for his specific project I guess.

It's probably about raising the average levels when the compressor cannot do the job without squashing everything to a flat sausage, that comes with its own set of drawbacks though. It's also a matter of taste and depends on the material.

[dblock]

Works for me. I use P42 Climax. It's more about how much is too much.

[Plugintester]

I once saw someone creating a parallel track of the whole mix. It was a rock song. The parallel track had an amp sim or a saturation driving it pretty hard. Then he added an appropriate amount to the mix with volume automation (a little more in chorus) and the mix had way more energy and sounded better. I have never done that myself, but it's interesting.

[Unaspected]

I once saw someone creating a parallel track of the whole mix. It was a rock song. The parallel track had an amp sim or a saturation driving it pretty hard. Then he added an appropriate amount to the mix with volume automation (a little more in chorus) and the mix had way more energy and sounded better. I have never done that myself, but it's interesting.

I've been mixing like this for a while, using various forms of distortion in parallel.

Later learned that Scheps uses a similar technique. Not necessarily on the whole mix but lots of parallel character mixes to establish different relationships between sounds. This all runs like a reverb mix, in parallel with group busses.

But yeah. I'm not afraid to strap stomp box distortion across an entire mix.

[jankhner]

Sorry this is a bit off topic but has anyone else had any problems with Black Box HG2 on Mac (Ventura). I often get and error message(*) on Logic Pro X that i should restart the app or try to revert back to normal but it is frustrating since it happens all the time. Actually same problem with bx masterdesk I think.


Error message: "an audio unit plug-in reported a problem which might cause the system to become unstable. Please quit and restart Logic Pro."

[TMaudio]

I once saw someone creating a parallel track of the whole mix. It was a rock song. The parallel track had an amp sim or a saturation driving it pretty hard. Then he added an appropriate amount to the mix with volume automation (a little more in chorus) and the mix had way more energy and sounded better. I have never done that myself, but it's interesting.

I started doing this in 2011. Determined to out-do a seasoned, established professional at the time who was an all-analog mastering engineer, I "invented" this technique working all ITB. Mix engineer and band, mind you, liked my master better in the end, but he had the "NAME." So, lost that one.

[VELLTONE MUSIC]

if the mix is already saturated enough its hard to be saturated more,that's y people use some 'invisible' type of fx or something like let say Amek so to boost or cut gently something in the end.
During mixing stage saturation is everything imho entire boost-cut idea is to saturate different parts of audible spectrum one way or another.
Sometimes as discount addict i buy stuff i'm not sure i will ever use(and a lot are still just in plugin boutique shopping basket ,not even installed),,but yesterday one became absolutly my fav saturator the bx saturator - on a pluck track boost a bit upper middle 2-5 kh and the character i miss was there,so saturation is key digital cold and harshness to become pleasant 'pro sound or at least to add something to digital lifelessness.

[LFO8]

my fav saturator the bx saturator

I picked that up recently in the sale with the no-minimum-spend $20 coupon, so I ended up paying just $5 for it. I like it a lot as my go-2 multiband saturator.

Just wish they’d update the interface so we can resize it. It’s tiny.

[Michey]

Mastering Grade saturation = it does gentle saturation, doesn't jump to heavy distortion when you turn a knob from 0 to 1% etc.

Well, in that sense, I have a REALLY good saturator for ya :

ReaPlugs' Saturation (from LOSER - which, by the way, is FAR from being one. go figure...).

Crank the percentage, trim the result... and BAM ! you have a "mastering grade" saturator. not enough ? pile on one, two or four more.

I can coax a list of (at least) 100 more that are free and could be hailed as "mastering grade saturator".

Want to pay a little ? go Cassiopeia (and if we are to believe to NASE - you should have a BLAST using it )

Other than that.... "mastering grade saturator" is a term that should be banned from audio engineering jargon.