Comments on: Keep your channel faders low and the Master at 0db! http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:31:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: mastering dance music http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/comment-page-1/#comment-43653 mastering dance music Fri, 25 Nov 2011 10:23:55 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/#comment-43653 At 24 bit 0VU on a large format analogue console is at approx -18dBFS on a DAW meter, this is where an SSL or NEVE console would operate at. 0VU = +4dBu or 1.23 volts. So when your mix peaks at -18dBFS on your stereo output meter on your DAW you are at the same electrical level as would have been found on an SSL or NEVE desk ! Peaking near or at 0dBFS is a very high electrical level at the analogue output of a typical £100 - £200 sound card. Do this : Operate at 24 bit, peak your kick drum or snare at -18dBFS when you start your mix then you will have plenty of headroom and not approach 0dBFS in most mix downs. Your monitoring will be cleaner as well as the tiny opamps will not be as close to their working limits. (i.e. adding distortion to what you hear) cheers At 24 bit 0VU on a large format analogue console is at approx -18dBFS on a DAW meter, this is where an SSL or NEVE console would operate at. 0VU = +4dBu or 1.23 volts. So when your mix peaks at -18dBFS on your stereo output meter on your DAW you are at the same electrical level as would have been found on an SSL or NEVE desk !

Peaking near or at 0dBFS is a very high electrical level at the analogue output of a typical £100 – £200 sound card.

Do this :

Operate at 24 bit, peak your kick drum or snare at -18dBFS when you start your mix then you will have plenty of headroom and not approach 0dBFS in most mix downs. Your monitoring will be cleaner as well as the tiny opamps will not be as close to their working limits. (i.e. adding distortion to what you hear)

cheers

]]> By: Michael http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/comment-page-1/#comment-37214 Michael Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:29:36 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/#comment-37214 Hi Oliver, just found out about this article and it's indeed very helpful. But I do have a few question; I'd like to know how you (or other people) handle their drum-rack in Ableton. Do you really keep every sample you load into the drumrack at -12db? And what will you say is the highest db level you can use for the best sound/dynamics? How do you place the fader on your mixer for the drum rack? also at -12db or do you keep this at 0db? grtz Michael Hi Oliver,

just found out about this article and it’s indeed very helpful.
But I do have a few question; I’d like to know how you (or other people) handle their drum-rack in Ableton.
Do you really keep every sample you load into the drumrack at -12db? And what will you say is the highest db level you can use for the best sound/dynamics?
How do you place the fader on your mixer for the drum rack? also at -12db or do you keep this at 0db?

grtz
Michael

]]> By: Mix & Master 007: Oliver Chesler Interview on Music Gear and Blogging http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/comment-page-1/#comment-25488 Mix & Master 007: Oliver Chesler Interview on Music Gear and Blogging Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:10:40 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/#comment-25488 [...] the Ear before, one of the most popular articles to start with is a funny yet insightful one titled Keep your channel faders low and the master at 0db!. And you can buy The Horrorist tunes here. Join Our Mailing [...]

[...] the Ear before, one of the most popular articles to start with is a funny yet insightful one titled Keep your channel faders low and the master at 0db!. And you can buy The Horrorist tunes here. Join Our Mailing [...]

]]> By: Mike http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/comment-page-1/#comment-24709 Mike Mon, 14 Feb 2011 08:38:25 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/#comment-24709 Following this advice causes the exact opposite of the problem for which ive been searching the answer. I imported a reference wav file to my DAW. The imported wave file looks almost like a solid block of audio: it is up at around maybe -.01db HOWEVER: it sounds gorgeous. Conversely, MY bounced mix looks like it is half as high: the loudest area is at about -6db or so. When i bounced my wav out of Live It sounded VERY loud. The mindwrecking yearslong riddle is: Even though Live's meter says "-0.1db", and my ears say "ok that's got to be as loud as a mixdown should be", the rendered wav file is at -6db. And when played in ipod or in my car, i have to turn the volume on the ipod all the way to hear anything. It keeps me awake at night, and ive given up hope trying to figure it out. Following this advice causes the exact opposite of the problem for which ive been searching the answer.
I imported a reference wav file to my DAW.
The imported wave file looks almost like a solid block of audio: it is up at around maybe -.01db HOWEVER: it sounds gorgeous.
Conversely, MY bounced mix looks like it is half as high: the loudest area is at about -6db or so. When i bounced my wav out of Live It sounded VERY loud.
The mindwrecking yearslong riddle is:
Even though Live’s meter says “-0.1db”, and my ears say “ok that’s got to be as loud as a mixdown should be”, the rendered wav file is at -6db. And when played in ipod or in my car, i have to turn the volume on the ipod all the way to hear anything.
It keeps me awake at night, and ive given up hope trying to figure it out.

]]> By: dylabs http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/comment-page-1/#comment-24058 dylabs Mon, 07 Feb 2011 02:09:27 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/#comment-24058 i recently applied a similar principle to my hardware recordings i record my gear a lot quieter (around -12 to -16db) and makes mixing much easier i recently applied a similar principle to my hardware recordings
i record my gear a lot quieter (around -12 to -16db) and makes mixing much easier

]]> By: litekicks http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/comment-page-1/#comment-21915 litekicks Wed, 12 Jan 2011 01:21:56 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/#comment-21915 @Mongrand thumbs up for the info! @Mongrand thumbs up for the info!

]]> By: casey http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/comment-page-1/#comment-21592 casey Tue, 04 Jan 2011 05:11:46 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/#comment-21592 vintage warmer works magic on kicks as well. vintage warmer works magic on kicks as well.

]]> By: Do you mix in the box? : Steelberry Clones http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/comment-page-1/#comment-15159 Do you mix in the box? : Steelberry Clones Mon, 29 Nov 2010 13:29:52 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/#comment-15159 [...] Read the full post at wiretotheear [...]

[...] Read the full post at wiretotheear [...]

]]> By: Mongrand http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/comment-page-1/#comment-13770 Mongrand Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:29:43 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/#comment-13770 @litekicks : Use your kick drum signal to sidechain compress your bass signal. When a kick hits, it will trigger comp on your bass track, making room for kicks and avoiding bass frequencies overload. That should do the trick, try it with an average threshold, but a strong ratio, reasonable sidechain attack time (ie about 50 ms) and a long release (somewhat between 70 and 120 ms). A long release time gets you a pumping effect on the bass track; quicker release gives you room for your kicks, but you won't notice the compression triggering at each kick drum. You'll get to hear the kick clearly, and you'll get a clear bass when kicks are not hitting. Here's how to do it in details http://www.reasontutorials.net/2009/04/side-chain-compression-reason-tutorial/ Also, try focusing on your mixing before thinking of limiting / mastering your track. Limiting your master bus only prevents master clipping. Kick / Bass issues often come from frequencies clashes (bass frequencies are much more quick to saturate, so that a kick and a bass, even at lower volumes, are likely to sound muddy if unprocessed) rather than level ones. To avoid it, make sure your bass makes room for your kicks (or the inverse, depending on what style you're mixing down - I assume it's dance music); for instance, with your kick signal triggering a sidechain compression on your bass track. @litekicks :

Use your kick drum signal to sidechain compress your bass signal. When a kick hits, it will trigger comp on your bass track, making room for kicks and avoiding bass frequencies overload. That should do the trick, try it with an average threshold, but a strong ratio, reasonable sidechain attack time (ie about 50 ms) and a long release (somewhat between 70 and 120 ms).
A long release time gets you a pumping effect on the bass track; quicker release gives you room for your kicks, but you won’t notice the compression triggering at each kick drum. You’ll get to hear the kick clearly, and you’ll get a clear bass when kicks are not hitting.

Here’s how to do it in details http://www.reasontutorials.net/2009/04/side-chain-compression-reason-tutorial/

Also, try focusing on your mixing before thinking of limiting / mastering your track. Limiting your master bus only prevents master clipping. Kick / Bass issues often come from frequencies clashes (bass frequencies are much more quick to saturate, so that a kick and a bass, even at lower volumes, are likely to sound muddy if unprocessed) rather than level ones. To avoid it, make sure your bass makes room for your kicks (or the inverse, depending on what style you’re mixing down – I assume it’s dance music); for instance, with your kick signal triggering a sidechain compression on your bass track.

]]> By: litekicks http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/comment-page-1/#comment-11194 litekicks Tue, 21 Sep 2010 02:17:22 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/01/25/keep-your-channel-faders-low-and-the-master-at-0db/#comment-11194 Hi. I use Reason and my issue has been with my kicks and bass. If I leave them at 0db on the channel fader then the kicks aren't 'heavy' enough. The same goes with the bass. Reason has a Master suite/limiter which levels the master output. I usually boost my kicks then level my master output to 0db. Most times I'm not very pleased with the mix. Any suggestions? Hi. I use Reason and my issue has been with my kicks and bass. If I leave them at 0db on the channel fader then the kicks aren’t ‘heavy’ enough. The same goes with the bass. Reason has a Master suite/limiter which levels the master output. I usually boost my kicks then level my master output to 0db. Most times I’m not very pleased with the mix. Any suggestions?

]]>