What's on your master bus?

[heffus]

Slate VCC Mixbuss
A compressor, PSP Mastercomp,IK Bus Comp or ArtsAcoustic CL. Slate VBC when I can afford it.
TB Reelbus
Waves RS56

[Compyfox]

If I work clean:
- just the channel fader at unity


If I need a certain "vintage" sound:
- Gain plugin (if I want to overdrive the summing plugin)
- Slate VCC
- Gain Plugin (to compensate the overdriven summing plugin)
- Tape Machine (if desired)
- channel fader at unity


If I do mastering in Cubase:
- ToneBoosters EBU Loudness
- channel fader at unity

[cryophonik]

FabFilter Pro-L (set at -0.1 as a brickwall against overs)
Blue Cat FreqAnalyst

[Tricky-Loops]

If I work clean:
- just the channel fader at unity


If I need a certain "vintage" sound:
- Gain plugin (if I want to overdrive the summing plugin)
- Slate VCC
- Gain Plugin (to compensate the overdriven summing plugin)
- Tape Machine (if desired)
- channel fader at unity


If I do mastering in Cubase:
- ToneBoosters EBU Loudness
- channel fader at unity

You don't use limiters?

[Compyfox]

That's why I use Wavelab.
Mastering (as in form of "cut/arrange/render for CDs" and "final loudness raise") is a separate process for me.

In Cubase, I usually never exceed -3dBFS to -2dBFS on the summing bus. Thanks to using a reference level of -18dBFS.

[ras.s]

That's why I use Wavelab.
Mastering (as in form of "cut/arrange/render for CDs" and "final loudness raise") is a separate process for me.

This. I think using a lot of effects on the master bus while mixing is.. destructive editing. Meaning there's no way to go back if you want to. Then again when working on individual songs that aren't going to be part of any sort of compilation (where they are presented in relation to other tracks), using those effects can work out as the mastering process itself. So, each one's mileage varies..

[Tricky-Loops]

That's why I use Wavelab.
Mastering (as in form of "cut/arrange/render for CDs" and "final loudness raise") is a separate process for me.

In Cubase, I usually never exceed -3dBFS to -2dBFS on the summing bus. Thanks to using a reference level of -18dBFS.

Oldskool...
(But I prefer a similar process - I make some kind of mastering on the rendered AUDIO FILE, not on the master bus of the mixing project.)

[Zombie Queen]

I think using a lot of effects on the master bus while mixing is.. destructive editing.

The OP asked abut "master bus", not mastering. The reality of average DIY musician is not doing mastering. "Finalizing" mix on master bus makes perfect sense in such reality. Mostly, as I see, people don't put much there.

[ras.s]

Yea, I can see that, that's why I said the part about 'working on individual songs' - I meant exactly that mix-finalizing.

[murnau]

i dont use a limiter on my masterout anymore. i noticed that it affects every decision i made on eq, dynamics and so on.

best is nothing on the masterout.

[Kingston]

best is nothing on the masterout.

I agree. Complete silence is preferable to most music.

[murnau]

best is nothing on the masterout.

I agree. Complete silence is preferable to most music.

good one..

..but i said nothing on not nothing out of it.

[faun2500]

I disagree.


My master bus:

Klanghelm VU
Cable Guys Volumeshaper
Ozone 5 Advanced with Insight.

Sometimes Nebula with a massive passive or neve eq and NI ssl bus comp if needed.

[Tricky-Loops]

best is nothing on the masterout.

I agree. Complete silence is preferable to most music.

I don't want to have a naked master bus...

[HTBoogie]

Don't have the details in front of me, but usually

Compressor - This one gets swapped out a lot.

T-Racks Brickwall - Looking to change this mainly because it gets "stuck" every so often only passing one of the stereo channels. I have actually been using the output gain to set the final output level in conjunction with the meter below and my ears, of course.

K-meter (post fader)