Eddie Greybox Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 So, I finally finished my first track and a small independent label is interested, happy days. I take in as many videos on mastering from youtube as I possibly can, I am excited and I am ready. I begin by Bouncing all the tracks to audio, it takes a bit of time, but this is the first stage. I then play it, and the sync is all out, the vocals are delayed and the sounds a bit sluggish???? WHAT did I do wrong? HELP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarekith Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Why are you bouncing all the tracks to seperate audio files? Try this guide for nice and simple home mastering: http://tarekith.com/assets/mastering.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Greybox Posted October 12, 2011 Author Share Posted October 12, 2011 Thanks, interesting guide, but I am still wondering why the bouncedowns of my track didnt sync? I was happy with my mix, so was bouncing down the tracks in order to do a final mixdown, which I then planned to export as a AFF file, import back then apply the mastering - yes my main aim was to end up with a louder MP3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holger Lagerfeldt Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 So, I finally finished my first track and a small independent label is interested, happy days. I take in as many videos on mastering from youtube as I possibly can, I am excited and I am ready. I begin by Bouncing all the tracks to audio, it takes a bit of time, but this is the first stage. I then play it, and the sync is all out, the vocals are delayed and the sounds a bit sluggish???? WHAT did I do wrong? HELP Sounds like you're confusing mixing and mastering. While mastering can be done with stems, it's usually a stereo job on the final mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Greybox Posted October 12, 2011 Author Share Posted October 12, 2011 I dont think I am confusing it. The reason I bounced the tracks was because some were midi, and I could be wrong, probably am, but if you try to export a track with midi files, to create an aff file to master from, only the audio tracks will export? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holger Lagerfeldt Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 For mastering you will need to bounce your entire song to a stereo file. There's no need to export to separate tracks first. If you have external MIDI instruments (hardware) you will need to either record those first into your arrangement or simply realtime bounce those at the same time as the rest of the mix. For the rest of the procedure you can read this PDF about mixdown for mastering: http://www.onlinemastering.dk/pdf/mixdown-for-mastering-tips.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Greybox Posted October 12, 2011 Author Share Posted October 12, 2011 Nice, Doc, well set out. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrissnyder Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Did you fix the sync thing ? I guess it's perhaps cause you had a plug-in without delay compensation on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsetzer Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 A few related questions: I'm preparing my mix for mastering and had all of my mixes adjusted so that nothing clipped over zero, and then I started reading suggestions on mastering service sites that recommend keeping all tracks under -3dbfs (others say -3dbs). -3 seems very quiet--does this really mean -0.3 (a few decimal places below the red zero clipping point) or are they actually wanting the stereo output to be 3 whole numbers below the clipping zero that shows up in red? Lastly, looking around on the internet, I'm seeing that there is indeed a difference between dbfs and dbs. It seems like logic's read outs are in fact dbs and not dbfs. I felt like I was very close to sending these tracks out to be mastered, and I now am filled with lots of doubt. Quick summary of my questions: 1) Do they want: -3dbs, -0.3dbs, -3dbfs, or -0.3dbfs? 2) Is logic's readout showing dbs rather than dbfs? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eriksimon Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 I don't know where you found dbs, but I don't know it as an existing unit. I do know it as Doctor of Biblical Studies or Deep Brain Stimulation, but as a decibel derivative unit it is unknown. dBFS is what you are (only) looking for. deciBel relative to Full Scale. Full scale being zero, so any dBFS value will be negative. To answer your question: most mastering engineers like the mix they are going to master to peak at or under -3 dBFS. The levels of individual tracks are (theoretically) irrelevant, as long as the main stereo output stays under -3 dBFS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsetzer Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Thanks, Eriksimon. I've read both -0.3 and -3dBFS--but you're saying that it is in fact -3. I'm actually quite surprised, but I guess that gives the mastering engineer plenty of room. I guess I could use some of that Deep Brain Stimulation now, since I've got to go back through all of my mixes. Thanks for your time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creationcollective Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 It is as simple as lowering the master fader of your track, or a gain plug in on the master buss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holger Lagerfeldt Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Thanks, Eriksimon. I've read both -0.3 and -3dBFS--but you're saying that it is in fact -3. The -0.3 dBFS is sometimes using for the final master provided by the mastering engineer. Using an output ceiling -0.3 dBFS can take care of most small inter-sample peaks that happen during MP3 conversion for instance, but it's not completely safe. If the signal is already massively compressed, limited and clipped during mastering, then the amount and amplitude of the inter-sample peaks are likely to be much higher though. You're mixing, so you so go for somewhere between -12 dBFS and -3 dBFS on your stereo output during mixdown, i.e. the mix you'll be giving to the mastering engineer. Leaving some headroom allows the mastering engineer to avoid unnecessary digital attenuation if the first processing in the chain changes the peak level. This often happens in any type of minimum phase processing. If you read the PDF document I linked to in my earlier post you'll find all the information you need on how to mixdown correctly. The -3 dBFS is not related to all your tracks in the mix as you wrote, but the stereo output only. However, there are some workflow benefits to keeping your levels from overloading internally, especially if you're using plug-ins that aren't able to input a 0 dBFS+ 32 bit floating point signal without internal clipping. This is covered in this PDF: http://www.popmusic.dk/download/pdf/levels-in-digital-audio.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsetzer Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Got it, Lagerfeldt. That makes sense and explains why I've seen both -3 and -0.3. Creationcollective, I had read somewhere that whenever possible I should try to reach the desired stereo output level using the individual track faders, and that whenever possible, I should always keep the master fader at zero--I assumed it somehow changed the algorithms in a less than desirable way. But maybe that's not the case. I did read it on the internet--so there's a high probability that I've been misinformed. Thoughts on this, anyone? Thanks all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creationcollective Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 I always try to mix with a peak of -6 to-3. It makes me work harder and try to figure out where the "meat" of the mix is. I will lower the master fader as a lady resort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holger Lagerfeldt Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 as a lady resort. I've tried years and years to do that, so tell me what's the secret, please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holger Lagerfeldt Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 Creationcollective, I had read somewhere that whenever possible I should try to reach the desired stereo output level using the individual track faders, and that whenever possible, I should always keep the master fader at zero--I assumed it somehow changed the algorithms in a less than desirable way. I'm afraid that's bollocks. Logic Pro uses floating point calculations so the scaling is lossless. There are some advantages to keeping your levels in check, but that's explained in my article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkgross Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 and really.. Eddie..just sent your 'final mix' to Mr. L with plenty of headroom, and let him master it. Worth the $ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creationcollective Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 as a lady resort. I've tried years and years to do that, so tell me what's the secret, please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsetzer Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 Lossless, eh? Wow. This will be much easier, then. I really appreciate everybody's clarity and time. I'm going to read your PDF article now. Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holger Lagerfeldt Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 and really.. Eddie..just sent your 'final mix' to Mr. L with plenty of headroom, and let him master it. Worth the $ Check's in the mail, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkgross Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 I'm ALL for learning and getting better at ones craft and all that, but, I'm also a BIG fan of paying a Pro to do the last little bit of something. JUST MY OPINION, but I think if you write and mix your own music, you should NOT master it yourself. *unless your Prince*. Just me..but by the time I'm done, I'm sure I've lost perspective.. That's one additional thing a great mastering engineer brings (along with every thing else). Fresh ears are good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Nahmani Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 I'm ALL for learning and getting better at ones craft and all that, but, I'm also a BIG fan of paying a Pro to do the last little bit of something. JUST MY OPINION, but I think if you write and mix your own music, you should NOT master it yourself. *unless your Prince*. I so agree with everything you just wrote. Unless you're Prince, you should come to term that your music will most probably benefit from not being you playing guitar, singing, programming drums, playing keys, recording, mixing, and mastering. It takes talent to recognize your own strengths and weaknesses, and to find the right people to help you where you need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyreww Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 I'm ALL for learning and getting better at ones craft and all that, but, I'm also a BIG fan of paying a Pro to do the last little bit of something. JUST MY OPINION, but I think if you write and mix your own music, you should NOT master it yourself. *unless your Prince*. Just me..but by the time I'm done, I'm sure I've lost perspective.. That's one additional thing a great mastering engineer brings (along with every thing else). Fresh ears are good. Irecently sent a track to Tarekith for mastering, great overall experience, and a great result. Not having the gear/experience it makes sense to pay a pro to master tracks.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruari Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Irecently sent a track to Tarekith for mastering, great overall experience, and a great result.… Where can we hear this track Andy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shivermetimbers Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 So what ever happened to Eddie Greybox? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.