mastering in a box or not?

[prodeucer]

I guess I meant to say that Finalizer is a physical hardware mastering suite as opposed to a software like Ozone, etc.

Also, isn't all mastering "processing the audio data resulting from a mix"? How else would it be done but from the mix? If you're mastering individual tracks while mixing, then isn't that still MIXING? I don't get what you're saying here.

About graphic EQs, are these what's used in radio stations so that all songs played are on the same volume level and same "sonics" or whatever? Usually each CD release are differently mastered and at different volume level and so on so if playing different bands or artists on radio these would all sound out of place because it's all over the place so what are the radio stations using to keep it all in place? Is it a graphic EQ or is it a maximizer that keeps all songs played on radio at same level and same "effect" (whatever that effect is) without changing the tone of the original song? This could not have been an EQ then since EQ can change the tone of the song, right? So what are the radio stations using to keep all songs at same level?

Computer and Finalizer are both digital harwares. The Finalizer is only super specialised in processing the audio data resulting from a mix.

About graphic EQ, they're mainly used in live situations because they allow to access very quickly to a particular region of the audio spectrum to kill a feedback problem. In studio, people have time to fine tune a parametric EQ to 1120 Hz, -5.2 dB and 2.3 Q when a live engineer uses the 1 KHz fader set to -7 dB with a constant Q in a second.

 

[laurend]

Radio stations use broadcast processors which create a real time mastering flow. I've never seen any graphic EQ in this chain that looks like what can be found in Ozone.
Mixing is summing individual tracks (BD, snare, bass, voice...)
Mastering is processing the mix.

 

[prodeucer]

OK. I looked around at broadcasting equipment sellers and found a few that could be what I was inquiring about. How about those "levelers"? I would assume it keeps everything at same volume or level? So radio stations aren't exactly using a mastering suite but something that process everything so that everything sounds in "one place"? I wondered about those compilations or "greatest hits" albums where some songs were recorded at different times and different years and why the flow of the album sound as if they were all recorded in "one place" at the same time. What is responsible for this? A mastering suite? A leveler? A maximizer? etc.? I doubt it's mastering because generally those songs were already mastered at one point. Would the term "re-mastering" be accurate? But wouldn't mastering a song that had already been mastered change its tone (if using an EQ or something that changes a song's tone from the original)? So running several different songs (recorded in different years) through a processor wouldn't or shouldn't be called "mastering" but simply running songs through the processor so that they all sound at the same level? Is this still a form of mastering? If yes, shouldn't the term "processing" be more accurate?

Radio stations use broadcast processors which create a real time mastering flow. I've never seen any graphic EQ in this chain that looks like what can be found in Ozone.
Mixing is summing individual tracks (BD, snare, bass, voice...)
Mastering is processing the mix.

 

[DJJEDTHV$LOTH]

What's the best way to get all the mixed - bounced out - tracks in a project to sound the same or similar volume? For example, Album, EP or mix tape with track spacing and levels.

 

[Wallengard]

I prefer mastering in a chair rather than a box.

 

[prodeucer]

OK so I inquired what those radio station uses to make all songs played at same level and I was given the answer that those products used are called an Audio Processor. Something like this:


Aphex 320D


Seems as if it can work for mastering as well but I'm not really sure. It lacks an EQ.

 

[laurend]

Much more link this

Omnia.11

 

[prodeucer]

I was wondering if anyone here has ever used Aphex's Exciter product? How was it? Is that more of an enhancer than anything else? Would that be closely related to a Maximizer?

 

[laurend]

An exciter adds distortion to the signal. It's mostly even harmonics from a hi-passed signal.

 

[bandcoach]

I was wondering if anyone here has ever used Aphex's Exciter product? How was it? Is that more of an enhancer than anything else? Would that be closely related to a Maximizer?

I have a type c aphex aural exciter (hardware) and I like it for live audio mostly

there are several roll your own circuits out there as well

harmonic exciter which references this image

What would be the best distortion for aural exciter like harmonics?


the basis of an exciters function is to add phase inverted 2nd harmonic distortion to the original signal (i.e. double the frequency and push the amplitude slightly) it has the effect of adding brightness to the signal (duh!) you mix in how much you want and you're good to go

 

[prodeucer]

How would you describe in contrast between Exciter and a Maximizer for studio use?

 

[Paschalis I.]

How would you describe in contrast between Exciter and a Maximizer for studio use?

Although you didn't ask me I hope my answer will help you out.

An exciter, as the name implies, excites a frequency band. It's boosting frequencies with a more gentle approach.

A maximizer gives loudness during mastering.

There are 2 different tools for different reasons.

 

[Cesar Calderon]

Do you have Flat Mastering Monitors?
are you Mastering in a acoustically treated room?

I have a tons of people talking to me about mastering but they are "mastering" in their bedrooms, which it makes no sense.

If you asking me or people that know about master at least tell us where you mastering your songs. I can tell you EQ goes first than compressor, but that wont help you. If you one of those bedroom with acoustic around i would say Pre-mastering. mastering and pre-mastering are two different things. good looks.

 

[prodeucer]

yup mastering in a bedroom type setting. But I would think even studios are technically "rooms" without bed? So you said EQ goes first then compression. How would this work for an all-in-one like the Finalizer 96K? I think you can use EQ first then compression but it could be all-in-one setting. Would a maximizer or exciter go first before anything else (EQ, compression)?

 

[Cesar Calderon]

yup mastering in a bedroom type setting. But I would think even studios are technically "rooms" without bed? So you said EQ goes first then compression. How would this work for an all-in-one like the Finalizer 96K? I think you can use EQ first then compression but it could be all-in-one setting. Would a maximizer or exciter go first before anything else (EQ, compression)?

Maximizer, exciter, or Limiter always is the last thing you use to completed your pre-mastering no matter which Khz. if you not planning to send it to mastering, which its not require if you only a musician. Mastering it's more for business purposes TV, Radio, and ect. if you are signed by a label, your label will take care of the mastering and then you don't need to add Limiter, Maximizer, or Exciter if you don't want the master engineer to hate you.

If you only a Musician, just record your song with the right equipment, Mix it good, make sure it sounds good, if you think its ready, add an (Frequency Analyzer by wave) in the master track to make sure your frequencies are right, i always do because i am human being. then add a limiter i always use (L2 by wave) gently to make it loud. If the L2 is not making you song sound loud on the car radio or boom box w/e its because something wrong with the frequency.


Maximizer, exciter, and limiter are pretty much the same not 100% i would give it a 50% just because they make things loud. The exciter will add EQ on your mix to make things more excited and bright, the maximizer some of them have EQ too like the BBE, and Limiter is pretty much the decent one without EQ. use them gently, and they will do what you want. if you ask me which one i would use to finalized the track i would say limiter.

 

[prodeucer]

are you saying that if I used Maximizer (or Limiter or Exciter) BEFORE mastering, it will be a pain to work with for the mastering engineer? I thought they'd be able to work around it since mastering is nothing more than for "business" or "polishing" a product for commercial release?

 

[laurend]

In theory, the limiter should be the very last step of the audio production. Limited audio is dead for any further mastering job.
Note also that the average monitoring for mix is inferior to the usual mastering monitors, so the exciter which can also be called distortion, will surely be applied over its optimal setting. And there's no way to remove distortion.
Please, allow the ME to offer you the best possible sound by keeping your master section clear from any limiter, exciter or clipper during the mix.

 

[Paschalis I.]

are you saying that if I used Maximizer (or Limiter or Exciter) BEFORE mastering, it will be a pain to work with for the mastering engineer? I thought they'd be able to work around it since mastering is nothing more than for "business" or "polishing" a product for commercial release?

Your mind got confused with all these answers I understand.

We'll do this simpler for you.

If you're mixing something THROUGH IT that means that you've added it FROM THE START, right?

Anything that's been added from the START and mixed THROUGH it, should be kept.

Any POST processing is considered mastering, and if you master it then you're limiting the mastering engineer.

P.S: Caps are not meant to offend, but just to give attention to the words.

 

[bandcoach]

let's make it simpler

anything added to any channel strip or subgroup strip should be kept, as it is part of your mix vision for the track

anything that you add to the master buss for soundgooderer purposes during mixing, should not be part of the chain sent to the mastering engineer;

i.e. check your mix without all of the extra goodies on the master buss and see if you need to redo your mix in light of not using them

 

[prodeucer]

I read on another forum thread that Limiter and Maximizer are "almost" interchangeable EXCEPT Limiter "limits" and Maximizer "maximizes". A limiter DOES NOT Maximize, however a Maximizer does PLUS it can function as a limiter as well. Not sure how much of this is true but these product's names may imply what their functions are. It's the OCD in me that makes me go round and round thinking too much.

are maximizers created equal?


It's a simple tool so I'm not sure if other brands would have something more exotic functions than others?

I have the BBE Sonic Maximizer. I haven't tried other brands to make a comparison.


I think my need for a Maximizer is to "maximize" a song so that it gets people's attention. I'll leave the mastering to the pros.

Maximizer, exciter, or Limiter always is the last thing you use to completed your pre-mastering no matter which Khz. if you not planning to send it to mastering, which its not require if you only a musician. Mastering it's more for business purposes TV, Radio, and ect. if you are signed by a label, your label will take care of the mastering and then you don't need to add Limiter, Maximizer, or Exciter if you don't want the master engineer to hate you.

If you only a Musician, just record your song with the right equipment, Mix it good, make sure it sounds good, if you think its ready, add an (Frequency Analyzer by wave) in the master track to make sure your frequencies are right, i always do because i am human being. then add a limiter i always use (L2 by wave) gently to make it loud. If the L2 is not making you song sound loud on the car radio or boom box w/e its because something wrong with the frequency.


Maximizer, exciter, and limiter are pretty much the same not 100% i would give it a 50% just because they make things loud. The exciter will add EQ on your mix to make things more excited and bright, the maximizer some of them have EQ too like the BBE, and Limiter is pretty much the decent one without EQ. use them gently, and they will do what you want. if you ask me which one i would use to finalized the track i would say limiter.