Louder

[micahc16]

What's the best simple way to get tracks louder in mastering without getting much more noise as well?

[kritikon]

Depends if you call distortion noise or not - if you squash the bejesus out of a track, it will get you distortion. For just straight reducing noise, then eliminate it at source - for plugins it shouldn't be an issue at all, and for h/w then good gain at input and gate the noise out in between sounds.

For the loudness - you simply apply as many compressors, limiters, maximisers, limiters etc as you can find and fill up all the insert slots then turn them to 11. That seems to be the doctrine nowadays. Doing that adds distortion, if you call distortion noise then...don't squash the bejesus out of it to start with. Simples.

[sircuit]

Simply put, a good mix. Dynamics control on each track and then eq to avoid frequency buildups (eq automation of key frequencies so they only kick-in in certain busy parts of the mix), so the master limiter will work less.

[ramseysounds]

One of the best bits of advice I ever read was 'turn your speakers up and your mixes down'.

[Azbest]

Loud master comes from a good mix. Good mix comes from a good arrangement.