Should a limiter on the master be the first thing you add before writing a track?
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 122 posts since 27 Nov, 2018
I usually place a limiter once I have completed the track at the end of the mastering stage. Should the limiter be placed on the master before writing music instead? Or is this one of those questions where there is no wrong answer?
*If this is a stupid question, I apologize in advance*
*If this is a stupid question, I apologize in advance*
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240
- KVRAF
- 35098 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from the wilds of wanny
I never put anything on the master until the track/tune is finished.
- KVRian
- 1008 posts since 22 Feb, 2014
It's ultimately a personal preference. It's not uncommon to mix into a compressor, and there are some who argue against it.CircuitTree wrote: ↑Mon Jan 14, 2019 5:23 pm Or is this one of those questions where there is no wrong answer?
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 122 posts since 27 Nov, 2018
I recently made the switch to Ableton from Logic and I'm still getting used to the prefaders. I really like how there is a separate one by default for each plugin.
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- Banned
- 658 posts since 4 Oct, 2018
If you're doing sound design with tools that could potentially go too loud - at the beginning.
Reaper has this track auto mute feature that prevents accidental hiccups: you do something stupid - level gets too loud - track goes mute.
Better safe than sorry, etc.
Reaper has this track auto mute feature that prevents accidental hiccups: you do something stupid - level gets too loud - track goes mute.
Better safe than sorry, etc.
- KVRAF
- 5796 posts since 17 Aug, 2004 from Berlin, Germany
If you don't master by yourself, don't put a limiter on the master buss.
You can run into mixing problems if you already mix against the limiter. At least, if starting with mixing/leveling I would disable the limiter and enable it again if your mix has the right balance.
You can run into mixing problems if you already mix against the limiter. At least, if starting with mixing/leveling I would disable the limiter and enable it again if your mix has the right balance.
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- KVRian
- 563 posts since 1 Jul, 2007 from over there
Top down mixing usually starts with some gentle eq and compression on the mix bus. As telecharge mentioned, you mix into the compress. In theory, this causes you to use less compression when mixing individual tracks.
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- addled muppet weed
- 105548 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.
to that end...
fudge banana popsicle
less stupid answer, im with controlcentre, i don't put anything on the master, till im done with the track.
some folk do use a limiter on the master while mixing, and it works for them. i didn't start out that way, so i just do what ive always done, because it works for me
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Winstontaneous Winstontaneous https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=98336
- KVRAF
- 2344 posts since 15 Feb, 2006 from Berkeley, CA
I mostly use Ableton Live, and often have an Audio Track set to Resampling input to capture a stereo audio file of anything I do in real time - for saving those magic moments that only come once. So I gain stage correctly, but have a limiter on just in case.
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Distorted Horizon Distorted Horizon https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=392076
- Banned
- 3882 posts since 17 Jan, 2017 from Planet of cats
I have a limiter in my master track on my starting template.
My track volume is -12dB so it's rare that anything even tickles the limiter.. But it's there just for safety.
My track volume is -12dB so it's rare that anything even tickles the limiter.. But it's there just for safety.
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- KVRian
- 1185 posts since 11 Sep, 2015
assuming you gain-stage properly and your whole track is around zero vu, you can either use a limiter to bring up the volume somewhere around full scale, or you can raise your physical volume control, it's either or...
or you can mix really quiet also, if you like, I guess.
or you can mix really quiet also, if you like, I guess.
- KVRAF
- 7395 posts since 20 Jul, 2004 from Clearwater
I always have a limiter in the master bus, flat, just to prevent overs.
You are currently reading my signature.
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- KVRAF
- 4709 posts since 26 Nov, 2015 from Way Downunder
No from me. Relying on a master limiter during writing/mixing means I'm doing something wrong - can easily trick you into thinking your peaks aren't overshooting as much as they are. Better to just keep an eye on the meters at all points and ensure no peak clips on any instrument, to deliver the cleanest mix for mastering.