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I. Gain Staging<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mixdown is a science and an art at the same time. It take ages if not an entire life to master. <\/p>\n Without waiting any longer let\u2019s dive in to it with our first chapter: Gain Staging<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The volume balance between the elements of your track is at the same time your starting point and the major keypoint to focus in order to ensure a good\/excellent mixdown. Sometimes the sweet spot in the relation between two elements is really close, a matter of 1dB or less.<\/p>\n Note:<\/strong> An accurate monitoring system that you know well and can rely on is absolutely necessary in order to make informed choices.<\/em><\/p>\n If you take the time to analyse several tracks from the same genre and this in multiple genres you’ll notice some strong volume balance caracteristic with always the same elements on the same foreground\/background… To explain this better we’ll visualize 6 different stages between the lowest & loudest elements in the track. Respectively the really far background and the Foreground really close\/in front.<\/p>\n 1. Really Loud \/ Exceptionnal (SFX, Explosion…) You should think of those as flags\/stages when balancing your track, place your foreground around -14dBfs and balance the rest around it. For genres like Techno, House, Hip Hop, Edm etc… Kick\/Bass will be in the foreground with\/or instead of the vox. Nothing is settled ! Of course you can always break the “norms” if you feel like it suits your track. This is just some kind of scheme to help you to achieve a structured volume balance.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n –14dBfs ? <\/strong> Quickly\/Roughly : RMS would be more the medium\/integrated level of a sound and Peak the highest level reached by a sound.<\/p>\n Go further by reading a bit on dBfs RMS & Peaks\/True Peaks<\/a><\/p>\n ok, dBfs i got it but why -14 ? It’s really low, isn’t it ?<\/strong> – You’ll add up many elements so with your Kick at -14dBfs peak when you’ll have added everything you’ll be already higher.<\/p>\n – Plugins have some optimal entry levels, which for most are between -24 and -14dBfs (usually between -18 \/ -14) , which means they’ll operate better if the input sound is in the appropriated range. Feel free to adjust the volume before and after some specific plugins to match the optimal input level if needed, especially if you are running some audio recorded in 32bit, in a 32bit-float environment, it should not affect it (negatively) at all.<\/p>\n – K-System metering, K-14 (and K-12 \/ K-20) In other words, it allows to easely work lower with loosing your marks. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n K-System is easier to see\/practice than to understand explained like this, i invite you to check the pictures in the “Illustrations” folder joined along this course.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n K-12 & K-20 works the same way but at respectively -12dBfs and -20dBfs, they are mostly used respectively for Spoken works\/Broadcast and more dynamic content in the case of K-20 like Jazz, orchestral music etc…<\/p>\n Dynamic Range (DR) is the range between the lowest and the loudest sounds of the track.<\/p>\n Crest Factor (CF) is the range betweent the RMS level and the highest Peaks of the track.<\/p>\n Go further on K-System with this article<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Frenquency sets the wave length of a sound, it’s pitch. The lower the frequency is in Hertz (Hz) the longer the wave is making the sound low in pitch, while higher frequencies gives shorter waves with higher pitch.<\/p>\n High frequencies are more directional than Lows (Sub frequencies are almost Omni-directional). It means that the sound will changes following the distance\/position of the listener from the sound source, and will also change if there is some obstacles (e..g. Speaking in your hand => sound muffled).<\/p>\n Humans can hear from 20Hz to 20000Hz (20KHz). Which are basically the lowest and highest sounds hearable. Finally to help on communication and work we visualize the frequencies in multiple Frequency Bands :<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 20 \u2013 40 hz\u00a0: LowBass \/ SubBass<\/p>\n 40 \u2013 200 hz\u00a0: Bass<\/p>\n 200 \u2013 800 hz\u00a0: Low Mids<\/p>\n 800 \u2013 2000 hz\u00a0: Mids<\/p>\n 2000 \u2013 5000 hz\u00a0: High Mids<\/p>\n 5000 \u2013 8000 hz\u00a0: High’s<\/p>\n 8000 \u2013 20000 hz\u00a0: High High’s \/ High end<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n a) Compression<\/strong><\/p>\n By definition, a compressor is an amplificator lowering the output signal when you raise the input signal.<\/p>\n Note: <\/strong>A limiter is a compressor with the output signal remaining constant regardless of the input signal volume.<\/p>\n The usual setting of a compressor are the following:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 4 Basic types of compressors:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some compressors are working with 2 mono channels, in this case for plugins, there is usually a “Stereo Link” option allowing to link settings for both channels or not. As well as a “M\/S” (Mid\/Sides) switch, allowing to switch the Left\/Right channels of the compressor to Mid\/Sides. <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Parallel compression: <\/strong>is the process of duplicating your source and compressing it (often heavily) then blending the volume of both sources (original & compressed). Allows to preserve the original signal while blending a color or shaping a bit the sound with the compressed signal.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sidechain: <\/strong>is the fact to apply a compressor on a source (let’s say the bass) but that the settings triggers based on a other signal than the bass (let’s say the kick). Allowing to compress the Bass each time the Kick triggers to make more room for it and create this reknown “pumping effect”. But Sidechain is also used for lot of other applications, including in broadcast for example to lower the music when someone talks (effect called “Ducking”).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n b) Equalizer (EQ)<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Equalizers allow to lower or boost different frequencies bands with different slopes. Additionnally following the type of EQ, they also It allows to shape the tonality of an audio signal. There is two “big families” of equalizers:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And different types of curves: Shelving, Cut, Bell, Notch… with various settings.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Different EQ types:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Susbtractive equalization and when to use it mostly?<\/strong><\/p>\n I would recommend to use susbtractive instead of addivitve equalization most of the time. Even when you wish to boost something, remember that by lowering the opposite it can produce the effect of boosting what you wished. You can also do a bit of both, let’s say you <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Additive equalization and when to use it mostly?<\/strong><\/p>\n I would recommend to boost with eq’s mostly when it is to add color (because you are using a specific eq that a particuliar caracter) or <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A few advices to master equalization faster:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1- Make sure you can trust what you hear (having a reliable, flat, full range monitoring system, is a calibrated and\/or at least well known room, properly placed\/calibrated + Use some references and don’t work to long on something!).<\/p>\n 2- When cutting, solo what you cut to be sure to remove only what you don’t want.<\/p>\n 3- Equalize the elements in context, not in solo too much otherwise you’ll have to keep tweaking them…<\/p>\n 4- Don’t use crappy eq’s, your daw’s stock EQ is probably better than most free EQ”s plugins outthere (not all, here is a nice free one<\/a> which is also dynamic eq) if you can’t afford solutions like FabFilter Pro-Q 3<\/a>, which is litterally the best digital eq for versatility, ease of use and clean processing without being a cpu hogger at all!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 5- Use the Mid\/Side function when you can and may need it, it’s lot better than fixed spreaders because you can gradually shape and <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Most known EQ’s plugins and applications:<\/strong><\/p>\n – Maag EQ4<\/a> : Air Band to bring this specific airy brightness to your sound.<\/p>\n – Brainxworx bx_digital V3<\/a>: one of the most known and high quality Mid\/Sides (M\/S) EQ.<\/p>\n – <\/strong>Neve<\/a><\/strong>\/SSL and other consoles channel EQ<\/a>: many emulations to choose from, not all are accurate, but they do have all a specific sound & – Fabfilter Pro-Q 3<\/a><\/p>\n – DAWs Stock EQs (they remain good & transparent usually).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n c) De-Esser d) Transient Designer e) Clipper f) Distortion<\/strong> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n a) Reverb <\/strong><\/p>\n Reverberations are the persistancy of an audio signal in a room\/environment after the extinction of the source signal.<\/p>\n The first setting to take in consideration is the decay\/reverb time that might be considered as one the room profile\/size settings. Following the reverbs types, you will often have access to the following settings:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n – Room\/Reverb type (Hall, large\/medium\/small Room, Plate, Spring….)<\/p>\n – Diffusion\/Density amount<\/p>\n – Reverb time\/Decay<\/p>\n – Pre-Decay (Allows to delay the arrival of the reverb, beware it can cause some syncing issues)<\/p>\n Note: Additonally you need to control the input\/output of the reverb, usually using an eq to cut bass, shape highs etc…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n b) Delay<\/strong><\/p>\n Spatio-temporal effect emulating the echo of a sound.<\/p>\n A short decay can be heard as a phaser or chorus, we are then talking of phase shifting.<\/p>\n Slapback delay<\/strong>: delay effect easely audible but with very little feedback. Allows to make a voice more ambiant without pushing it away. Doubler delay<\/strong>: delay effect which consist of one repetition late from about 30 to 80 milliseconds (ms). It’s approprieted from voice or additional instruments.<\/p>\n Echo<\/strong>: delay effect which consist of one or multiple audible repetitions.<\/p>\n See also<\/strong>: Flanger<\/a> | Phaser<\/a> | Chorus<\/a> effects<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mixdown Critical Feedback Guide (MCFG)<\/strong> : A way to identify strengths & weaknesses of a track. This little guide is available for free in direct download by clicking <\/strong>HERE<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Back to index<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In this article we share with you the different steps of a mixdown along some useful tips to apply for your next song!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":73,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\n I. Gain Staging<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mixdown is a science and an art at the same time. It take ages if not an entire life to master. Without waiting any longer let\u2019s dive in to it with our first chapter: Gain Staging.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n The volume balance between the elements of your track is at the same time your starting point and the major keypoint to focus in order to ensure a good\/excellent mixdown. Sometimes the sweet spot in the relation between two elements is really close, a matter of 1dB or less. -14dBfs ? <\/strong> K-System is easier to see\/practice than to understand explained like this, i invite you to check the pictures in the \"Illustrations\" folder joined along this course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n K-12 & K-20 works the same way but at respectively -12dBfs and -20dBfs, they are mostly used respectively for Spoken works\/Broadcast and more dynamic content in the case of K-20 like Jazz, orchestral music etc... Frenquency\nsets the wave length of a sound, it's pitch. The lower the frequency\nis in Hertz (Hz) the longer the wave is making the sound low in\npitch, while higher frequencies gives shorter waves with higher\npitch. 20\n\u2013 40 hz : LowBass \/ SubBass<\/p>\n\n\n\n 40\n\u2013 200 hz : Bass<\/p>\n\n\n\n 200\n\u2013 800 hz : Low Mids<\/p>\n\n\n\n 800\n\u2013 2000 hz : Mids<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2000\n\u2013 5000 hz : High Mids<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5000\n\u2013 8000 hz : High's<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8000 \u2013 20000 hz : High High's \/ High end<\/p>\n\n\n\n a)\nCompression<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n By\ndefinition, a compressor is an amplificator lowering the output\nsignal when you raise the input signal. 4\nBasic types of compressors: \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some compressors are working with 2 mono channels, in this case for plugins, there is usually a \"Stereo Link\" option allowing to link settings for both channels or not. As well as a \"M\/S\" (Mid\/Sides) switch, allowing to switch the Left\/Right channels of the compressor to Mid\/Sides. Sidechain:\n<\/strong>is the fact to apply a\ncompressor on a source (let's say the bass) but that the settings\ntriggers based on a other signal than the bass (let's say the kick).\nAllowing to compress the Bass each time the Kick triggers to make\nmore room for it and create this reknown \"pumping effect\".\nBut Sidechain is also used for lot of other applications, including\nin broadcast for example to lower the music when someone talks\n(effect called \"Ducking\"). \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n b)\nEqualizer (EQ)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nEqalizers allow to lower or boost different frequencies bands with\ndifferent slopes. Additionnally following the type of EQ, they also\nare more or less transparent\/colored. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\nallows to shape the tonality of an audio signal. There is two \"big\nfamilies\" of equalizers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n And\ndifferent types of curves: Shelving, Cut, Bell, Notch... with various\nsettings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Different\nEQ types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Susbtractive\nequalization and when to use it mostly?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I\nwould recommend to use susbtractive instead of addivitve equalization\nmost of the time. Even when you wish to boost something, remember\nthat by lowering the opposite it can produce the effect of boosting\nwhat you wished. Y Additive\nequalization and when to use it mostly?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I\nwould recommend to boost with eq's mostly when it is to add color\n(because you are using a specific eq that a particuliar caracter) or\nin some cases when it really needed to bring up some frequencies but\ndon't go to hard (unless it's really needed... sometimes it is but\nit's rare).<\/p>\n\n\n\n A\nfew advices to master equalization faster:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1- Make sure you can trust what you hear (having a reliable, flat, full range monitoring system, is a calibrated and\/or at least well known room, properly placed\/calibrated + Use some references and don't work to long on something!). 2-\nWhen cutting, solo what you cut to be sure to remove only what you\ndon't want<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3-\nEqualize the elements in context, not in solo too much otherwise\nyou'll have to keep tweaking them... \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4-\nDon't use crappy eq's, your daw's stock EQ is probably better than\nmost free EQ\"s plugins outthere (not all, here\nis a nice free one<\/a> which is also dynamic eq) if you can't afford\nsolutions like FabFilter\nPro-Q 3<\/a>, which is litterally the best digital eq for versatility,\nease of use and clean processing without being a cpu hogger at all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5-\nUse the Mid\/Side function when you can and may need it, it's lot\nbetter than fixed spreaders because you can gradually shape and\nspread as you wish. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most known EQ's plugins and applications:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n -\nMaag\nEQ4<\/a> : Air Band to bring this specific airy brightness to your\nsound. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n -\nBrainxworx\nbx_digital V3<\/a>: one of the most known and high quality Mid\/Sides\n(M\/S) EQ. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n -\n<\/strong>Neve<\/a><\/strong>\/SSL\nand other consoles channel EQ<\/a>: many emulations to choose from,\nnot all are accurate, but they do have all a specific sound &\ncolor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n - Fabfilter Pro-Q 3<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n -\nDAWs Stock EQs (they remain good & transparent usually).<\/p>\n\n\n\n c)\nDe-Esser<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Allows\nto reduce sibilicances (the \"Ssss\"). Basically it's an EQ\nboosting a frequency range (that you can usally adjust) before this\nfrequency band gets lowered by a compressor. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n d)\nTransient Designer e)\nClipper<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Like\nyou would guess from the name, those effects allows to clip\nan audio signal<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
II. Frequency Bands<\/a><\/strong>
III. Detailed steps of a Mixdown<\/a><\/strong>
IV. Dynamic & Tonal processing<\/a><\/strong>
V. Spatio-temporal processing<\/a><\/strong>
VI. Mixing Tips<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
I do not pretend that you\u2019ll learn everything through this article and that it\u2019ll make you a pro.
But, hopefully, it should help you to understand better what makes a good mixdown, what tools are used, why and even more\u2026<\/p>\nI. Gain Staging<\/strong><\/h2>\n
2. Foreground (Vox\/Lead)
3. Middleground (Drums\/Bass)
4. Support Background (Back Vox, Strings\/Pads…)
5. Discrete Background (Reverbs, Delays…)
6. Very Far, barely hearable (Textures, Drones…)<\/p>\n
Don’t be scared! Dbfs is explained on the next page.<\/em><\/p>\n
For genres more acoustic\/folk\/experimental (reggae, jazz, rock, ambient) etc… Kick & Percussive elements might be Middleground or even lower.<\/p>\n
dBfs (Decibels Full Scale) are the Decibels in digital world, the ones you can read in your daw. You’ll be able to read usually 2 types of dBfs, the RMS (Root Mean Square) and Pk or TP (Peaks or True Peaks).<\/p>\n
No, -14 is not low, there is many reasons :<\/p>\n
K-System is a metering system developed by famous engineer Bob Katz<\/a> which take in consideration headroom for dynamics (and mastering). With K-14 it basically means that you bring your “0dB” to -14dBfs , your 0dB (actual -14dBfs) is now your target for your medium RMS in the loudest parts of the track, peaks may go a bit above (max +8dB, so you keep 6dB of headroom for mastering). It would mean that the track would have +8dB of Dynamic Range (DR) which is already a lot for most modern tracks\/genres.<\/p>\n
Of course you compensate a bit by raising your Monitors volume or Audio Interface Output since you are mixing lower in the DAW and sound is coming out lower from the Master.<\/p>\nII. Frequency Bands<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Note than 20-30Hz is barely hearable but you’ll feel it instead as a vibration all around & inside ( it takes a heavy monitoring system).
Note that with age humans lost a bit of hearing in the High frequencies by default, most of 50+ years old people can’t hear above 14KHz-16KHz.<\/p>\nIII. Detailed Steps of a Mixdown<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
IV. Dynamic & Tonal processing<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n
Slower, pretty warm, usually known for softening the transients (ex:
tube-tech, fairchild 670…),
History of the Teletronix LA-2A Leveling Amplifier<\/a><\/li>\n
Field-effect Transistor, faster, pretty transparent (ex: 1173
limiter amplifier),
Field-effect Transistor?<\/a><\/li>\n
Slower, good for vocals, bass…. (ex: Teletronix LA-2A)
What is Optical Compression?<\/a><\/li>\n
Fastest & most transparent (ex: SSL Buss Compressor)
Vintage King’s guide to VCA compressors<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
are more or less transparent\/colored.<\/p>\n\n
\n
wan’t to make a guitar more bright: Lower a bit the low mids and make sure you cut the lows under the fundamental (72Hz for guit), then
boost just a little bit around 2500Hz to make it appear more in front\/bright, and\/or 4000Hz for a more airy result.<\/p>\n
in some cases when it really needed to bring up some frequencies but don’t go to hard (unless it’s really needed… sometimes it is but
it’s rare).<\/p>\n
spread as you wish.<\/p>\n
color.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Allows to reduce sibilicances (the “Ssss”). Basically it’s an EQ boosting a frequency range (that you can usally adjust) before this frequency band gets lowered by a compressor.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Effect allowing to shape the envelope of sounds, boost\/attenuate the attack or the sustain of an audio signal. Mostly use on percussive elements.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Like you would guess from the name, those effects allows to clip an audio signal<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Allow to excite transients and generates harmonics on an audio signal. It’s a good way to give back some presence without touching the volume too much. Often works well in parallel processing. It is highly used in various ways in the industry.<\/p>\nV. Spatio-temporal processing<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Early Reflections (ER) allows to set the level of the first reflections of the sound in it’s environment.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Convolution reverbs are another type of reverbs where you can usually load the IR (Impulse Responses) of a room to emulate this particular room. Altiverb\u00a0<\/a>is one of the most known for example.<\/p>\n
It’s an effect from the 50’s.<\/p>\nVI. Mixing Tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
Numbers are just some “markers” to have in mind:<\/em><\/li>\n
<\/strong>
A one page .pdf with some key points\/questions that you can use to ensure accurate and complete feedbacks \/ analysis.
By following this little methodology, you should be able to point out pretty quickly the strenghts & weaknesses of a mixdown.<\/p>\nINDEX : <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
II. Frequency Bands<\/a><\/strong>
III. Detailed steps of a Mixdown<\/a><\/strong>
IV. Dynamic & Tonal processing<\/a><\/strong>
V. Spatio-temporal processing<\/a><\/strong>
VI. Mixing Tips<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through this course i do not pretend that you\u2019ll learn everything and that it\u2019ll make you a pro. But it should help you to understand better what makes a good mixdown, what tools are used, why and even more\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nI. Gain Staging<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Note:<\/strong> An accurate monitoring system that you know well and can rely on is absolutely necessary in order to make informed choices.<\/em>
If you take the time to analyse several tracks from the same genre and this in multiple genres you'll notice some strong volume balance caracteristic with always the same elements on the same foreground\/background... To explain this better we'll visualize 6 different stages between the lowest & loudest elements in the track. Respectively the really far background and the Foreground really close\/in front.
1. Really Loud \/ Exceptionnal (SFX, Explosion...)
2. Foreground (Vox\/Lead)
3. Middleground (Drums\/Bass)
4. Support Background (Back Vox, Strings\/Pads...)
5. Discrete Background (Reverbs, Delays...)
6. Very Far, barely hearable (Textures, Drones...)
You should think of those as flags\/stages when balancing your track, place your foreground around -14dBfs and balance the rest around it.
Don't be scared! Dbfs is explained on the next page.<\/em>
For genres like Techno, House, Hip Hop, Edm etc... Kick\/Bass will be in the foreground with\/or instead of the vox.
For genres more acoustic\/folk\/experimental (reggae, jazz, rock, ambient) etc... Kick & Percussive elements might be Middleground or even lower.
Nothing is settled ! Of course you can always break the \"norms\" if you feel like it suits your track. This is just some kind of scheme to help you to achieve a structured volume balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
dBfs (Decibels Full Scale) are the Decibels in digital world, the ones you can read in your daw. You'll be able to read usually 2 types of dBfs, the RMS (Root Mean Square) and Pk or TP (Peaks or True Peaks).
Quickly\/Roughly : RMS would be more the medium\/integrated level of a sound and Peak the highest level reached by a sound.
Go further by reading a bit on dBfs RMS & Peaks\/True Peaks<\/a>
ok, dBfs i got it but why -14 ? It's really low, isn't it ?<\/strong>
No, -14 is not low, there is many reasons :
- You'll add up many elements so with your Kick at -14dBfs peak when you'll have added everything you'll be already higher.
- Plugins have some optimal entry levels, which for most are between -24 and -14dBfs (usually between -18 \/ -14) , which means they'll operate better if the input sound is in the appropriated range. Feel free to adjust the volume before and after some specific plugins to match the optimal input level if needed, especially if you are running some audio recorded in 32bit, in a 32bit-float environment, it should not affect it (negatively) at all.
- K-System metering, K-14 (and K-12 \/ K-20)
K-System is a metering system developed by famous engineer Bob Katz<\/a> which take in consideration headroom for dynamics (and mastering). With K-14 it basically means that you bring your \"0dB\" to -14dBfs , your 0dB (actual -14dBfs) is now your target for your medium RMS in the loudest parts of the track, peaks may go a bit above (max +8dB, so you keep 6dB of headroom for mastering). It would mean that the track would have +8dB of Dynamic Range (DR) which is already a lot for most modern tracks\/genres.
In other words, it allows to easely work lower with loosing your marks.
Of course you compensate a bit by raising your Monitors volume or Audio Interface Output since you are mixing lower in the DAW and sound is coming out lower from the Master. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dynamic Range (DR) is the range between the lowest and the loudest sounds of the track.
Crest Factor (CF) is the range betweent the RMS level and the highest Peaks of the track.
Go further on K-System with this article<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n II. Frequency Bands<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
High frequencies are more directional than Lows (Sub\nfrequencies are almost Omni-directional). It means that the sound\nwill changes following the distance\/position of the listener from the\nsound source, and will also change if there is some obstacles (e..g.\nSpeaking in your hand => sound muffled).
Humans can hear\nfrom 20Hz to 20000Hz (20KHz). Which are basically the lowest and\nhighest sounds hearable.
Note than 20-30Hz is barely hearable but\nyou'll feel it instead as a vibration all around & inside ( it\ntakes a heavy monitoring system).
Note that with age humans lost\na bit of hearing in the High frequencies by default, most of 50+\nyears old people can't hear above 14KHz-16KHz.
Finally to\nhelp on communication and work we visualize the frequencies in\nmultiple Frequency Bands :
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\nIII. Detailed Steps of a Mixdown<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
IV. Dynamic & Tonal processing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Note: <\/strong>A\nlimiter is a compressor with the output signal remaining constant\nregardless of the input signal volume.
The usual setting of a\ncompressor are the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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History\n\tof the Teletronix LA-2A Leveling Amplifier<\/a>\n\t<\/li>
Field-effect\n\tTransistor?<\/a>\n\t<\/li>
What\n\tis Optical Compression?<\/a>\n\t<\/li>
Parallel compression: <\/strong>is the process of duplicating your source and compressing it (often heavily) then blending the volume of both sources (original & compressed). Allows to preserve the original signal while blending a color or shaping a bit the sound with the compressed signal.
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ou can also do a bit of both, let's say you\nwan't to make a guitar more bright: Lower a bit the low mids and make\nsure you cut the lows under the fundamental (72Hz for guit), then\nboost just a little bit around 2500Hz to make it appear more in\nfront\/bright, and\/or 4000Hz for a more airy result. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/strong>Effect\nallowing to shape the envelope of sounds, boost\/attenuate the attack\nor the sustain of an audio signal. Mostly use on percussive elements.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n