Using insert plugins on your master channel?

[lunaticpro]

Im using Cubase Sx3 and have started to expieriment using Waves API 2500 plugin , inserted on the master channel. What other plugins are good for the master channel (over all mix) before mastering the song? A subtle drive, eq ? Any suggestions?

[richiebee]

It's a bit of a vague question - much would depend on genre, style and what the song sounds like when it gets to the main outputs.

[JabStyle]

Waves Q10 is pretty good for tweaking last minute frequency's and the L2 maximizer has been known to give a good final output volume...but it should only be adjusted according to how loud your over all mix is already ..If your mix is already loud stay away from the L2 maximizer

[lunaticpro]

Thanks for the info Jab. Im interested in cleaning up the a mix. Ive used compression and pass filters on individual channels alone but I was looking of inserts that are good to use in the master channel before mastering. Im interested in making the mix sound tighter, and even more cleaned up. I mainly record hardcore and heavy metal. If some one can name actual plugins, (ie: waves, wave arts, ) that would help. Thanks again.

O one last thing - Im trying to make the overall mix sound more polished and not as raw; if that helps any.

[brandondrury]

What other plugins are good for the master channel (over all mix) before mastering the song?

Man, you've opened pandora's box.

98% of the time I've got an EQ and a brickwall limiter on the 2bus. 70% of the time I've had a compressor too.

However, I've had distortion, flanger, and just about anything you could possibly imagine on there when it comes to achieving a specific sonic vision.

The flanger may seem ridiculous. I'll admit that it's not typical. However, it makes just as much sense to use a flanger on the 2bus when a flanger is needed as it does to use an EQ on the 2bus when an EQ is needed. With that same logic, it's stupid to use EQ or flanger when they aren't needed.

Brandon

[onlinemusic]

I think it's important to consider what the purpose of your mix is.
2 common scenarios are:
1. Final mix that is intended for a mastering engineer/house, or that you plan on mastering in a separate process.
In this case, I'd ask the engineer what they prefer. In my experience they have usually asked that aggressive dynamics and EQ be left off the stereo bus. However, it can be helpful if you deliver 2 versions, with and without the aforementioned processing, so they have some dynamic range to work with , but also a reference rough mix that approximates the sound you prefer.

2. You are trying to make a rough mix for listening in the car, playing at a club, impressing a girl (or boy), etc. In these cases I like to do some equalization and dynamics control so I end up with something that's close to the desired finished product, and will result in useful information when I do listening tests. Better yet, make different versions. With, without, with a little, with a lot, etc.

When I'm working in the studio, either by myself or with other artists, I like to have dynamics control, EQ, and a spectrogram plug in on my master out. Often I'll keep the EQ and Comp/Limiter bypassed most of the time, but engage them periodically to see what it will sound like when done, or so the volume can be comparable when I'm A/Bing it against similar exemplars.

Like most things having to do with recording, this is just one approach that happens to work for me.

[shackman]

You're right Brandon - pandora's box!!!

I'm with online music. Most of my work goes into the latter category and for sale online at MP3 level. So my mixes are also my masters and , as such, I tend to use a little EQ (VERY CAREFULLY) and a brickwall.

I'm having some trouble with loudness (doesn't everyone) but I've posted about that elsewhere.

I too try the with a little, with a lot, with none approach, and use a variety of listening mediums to see where the mix is at. Spent all last night working on one track to that end - time consuming and painful at times, but the right thing to do.

[angelestevisjr]

hey luna..by the time your gonna master you should have at least 4 db of headroom on your master bus...then its api compressor mastering 2....api 500 series eq..tweek only mid and high frequencies....and finally waves l3 multimaximizer..high resolution cd mastering setting...export to 16 bit 44 hrtz then import into wavelab 5 or 6..and burn to cd...red book spec automatic........thanks...nice clean sounding cd

[mrblitz]

I once put Stillwell Oligarch on the stereo out... and for a second there, I almost kept it that way. I couldn't believe though that it could actually sound as good as it seemed to (as if - for a single song at least - i'd stumbled upon something magical), so took it off.

It must be that 'initial phase' of having cubase; inserting VSTs willy-nilly and 'seeing' what happens.

Anyway, i'm with the 'flanger guy.' Whatever it takes for what you're doing at the moment, slap it on that stereo out.

[lunaticpro]

hey angel,

thanks for the suggestion - that was kinda of the answer i was looking for. Thats a good place for me too start and see what happens. I haven't messed with cubase lately because, i finally got my own band going again. isn't that a bitch!!!! it sure is fun jamming but it kinda takes away from me messing with the studio. Eventually, ill be there again - almost done with the creative process; so hopefully we'll record in a month or two. thank all for the suggestions....