Lufs Lufs Lufs... - how much? Example for quick Mixing and Mastering

[Caine123]

EDIT: i added new questions for my post #3 and didnt want to open a new topic

thx so much for the replies!

i think i will target for bandcamp about -10 to -9 LUFS like i always did and then go by ear at the end with comparing each song to each other.

i just made a VERY FAST loop, so pardon me this is just a fast example and i eq'ed just a bit the single elements, no compression etc.

1. what dB value do you target while MIXING? about -6 or more to -3 dB? in my video i targeted about -3 dB.

2. i then start to enable the MASTER BUS for MASTERING and then enable the LIMITER.
a) how much do you set TP ? i set it to -1 value
b) as you can see the LUFS is about -11 when i just push the Limiter until -3dB Gain reduction (yes it also gets more distorted but because my mix is fast and not well). this is the normal way if you want to get to a specific LUFS isnt it? (of course you adjust the mix, add and check back with various other elements, this is a very simple example).

3. now you see the transients steal a lot of dB, (i let them like that for the example) if i wanted to target now my -9 LUFS i just dial in the CLIPPER to get the transients cut and save some dB. correct?

i uploaded the video here
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ozexhtq848sxx ... n.mp4?dl=0

thx for the tips!
------------------
hi, long time i tried to master some songs and i am not up to date with the Spotify stuff and so on. in the past i mastered everything by ear. how i proceeded.

Mixed e.g. 5 songs until i was happy.
then i slapped Fabfilter-L on my master bus incl. the other effects and was careful not to hit more than -3 GR and being around -9 to -10 Lufs.

my question is now, how much LUFS are recommended if you master for spotify too? is there a difference e.g. for bandcamp vs spotify?

is Fabfilter-L enough or are tools like Youlean Meter better?

thx

[CinningBao]

Again, it looks like you're using spurious YT information to make a decision.

Try to consider the mixing stage to be where you get your energy (LUFS) from. You should trying to reach as close you can to your desired LUFS there, and using small amounts of limiting/parallel compression/saturation to get the final 'sound'.

Mastering isn't just about LUFS, you need to consider dynamic range (this is very genre-dependent) and the overall frequency content of your mix. If you're just slamming your mixes into a limiter without thinking about how the energy in your signal is working (for example. overlapping parts causing built-ups of energy, this will make your limiter 'work harder' and unless you have a specific sound in mind, this is usually undesirable) so you first want to have a great mix to put into your mastering stage.

You should maybe look at some articles about it (not watching YT vids) and try to understand what you don't understand about mixing, and then explore that. The things you learn in that process will help you understand what you do to get the best from your mix.

This mastering overview gives you an idea of the things you need to consider (but it is a bit izotope product-focused).
https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/10-tip ... ineer.html

Once you understand all that, you can use Youlean meter, loudnesspenalty.com and any other measuring tools you have to knowingly adjust your mix (if you're mastering within your project) or what you should be looking at in your mix bounce to get the best from it.

For official targets as agreed by the Audio Engineering Society this article explains everything
https://www.aes.org/technical/documentD ... ?docID=731

[Caine123]

Again, it looks like you're using spurious YT information to make a decision.

Try to consider the mixing stage to be where you get your energy (LUFS) from. You should trying to reach as close you can to your desired LUFS there, and using small amounts of limiting/parallel compression/saturation to get the final 'sound'.

Mastering isn't just about LUFS, you need to consider dynamic range (this is very genre-dependent) and the overall frequency content of your mix. If you're just slamming your mixes into a limiter without thinking about how the energy in your signal is working (for example. overlapping parts causing built-ups of energy, this will make your limiter 'work harder' and unless you have a specific sound in mind, this is usually undesirable) so you first want to have a great mix to put into your mastering stage.

You should maybe look at some articles about it (not watching YT vids) and try to understand what you don't understand about mixing, and then explore that. The things you learn in that process will help you understand what you do to get the best from your mix.

This mastering overview gives you an idea of the things you need to consider (but it is a bit izotope product-focused).
https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/10-tip ... ineer.html

Once you understand all that, you can use Youlean meter, loudnesspenalty.com and any other measuring tools you have to knowingly adjust your mix (if you're mastering within your project) or what you should be looking at in your mix bounce to get the best from it.

For official targets as agreed by the Audio Engineering Society this article explains everything
https://www.aes.org/technical/documentD ... ?docID=731

thx so much i will read all through now, i also updated my 1st post with some example

[csoki436]

Mastering isn't just about LUFS, you need to consider dynamic range

This is actually something most people seem to forget nowadays. Don't get me wrong I understand where the chase for loudness is coming from, but often people make arbitrary changes in their music at the expense of quality. Instead, try to keep the dynamics as the main focus and only increase loudness if possible and not the other way around.