I made a song called sun kingdom and
someone in the comments said its really loud and i should start mastering my songs
i'm going to learn how to eq and mastering and stuff
but i'd just like to know what is the limit my volume should be on in fl studio 10
On youtube I THINK someone said that it shouldn't go above zero
is that true?
(in the db meter it shouldnt go above zero)
not in volume because then it would be on mute lol :3
At 12/14/12 09:14 PM, Merpy wrote: (in the db meter it shouldnt go above zero)
not in volume because then it would be on mute lol :3
Well you don't want your track to clip and do stupid things like that.
Mix it properly. Leave headroom while mixing, make sure your low end isn't overpowering the mix, dont OD on the limiter. Basically all it takes is getting the mix done properly.
Don't go over 0db when you are mixing/EQ/mastering. Turn up the mix later when that's all done.
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so as a finished result it can't go over 0db
When I mix, the volume control is at 0db, but my mix peaks at around -5db or less. Sometimes as low as -12db! But in the mastering stage, I use a limiter to bring the loudness up. If your mix is peaking above -3db, there isn't much headroom for the limiter to work with, and you won't be able to get your track as loud as you would if your mix was quieter. However, if your mix is loud, you just bring the volume control down, and that will bring the peaks down with it.
As for the mastering stage, your volume control should definitely stay at 0db, and the loudness peak should be controlled by the limiter. Most mixes are limited at -0.2db or thereabouts. Some mixes are limited at 0db, though. Whatever you think sounds best.
A lot of figuring out the "best volume to export your mix at" and blah blah blah just comes with experience. What I will advise you to do though, seeing as you are new to mixing and mastering, is to try different things every project. One project, try exporting the mix at -3db, and see how the mastering takes it. Maybe next project, try exporting the mix at -10db, then hitting it with your mastering effects. And I don't mean try new things just with the volume of your mix, but with everything, such as EQ and compression.
If you use practically the same techniques every project because "it works", sure you may have a good sound going, but you learning will stop and you won't be very versatile in your craft. I've been taking production seriously for over a year now, and I still try out new things every project. What's the worst that can happen? If it sounds crap, you just take the plugin off the chain. The beauty of working on a computer.
At 12/14/12 10:05 PM, The-iMortal wrote: I've been taking production seriously for over a year now
I have been producing with progress for over 2 years though. By seriously, I mean spending hours per week on production. All production before that was just randomness with no progress.
I'm not trying to to advertise my song but can u listen to
Not because i want more plays i'm just wondering if that's to loud for you
i just want a second opinion
At 12/14/12 10:25 PM, Merpy wrote: Not because i want more plays i'm just wondering if that's to loud for you
It's definitely not loud enough compared to commercial releases. However, that does not mean turn the volume knob up in FL Studio! Loudness is achieved and determined by how well you have mixed your track, and how well you have mastered it. Learn how to use EQs, compressors and limiters, then you'll start getting somewhere.
It will take a while, but you'll get it if you stick at it!
I hope no one yells at me for suggesting this, but I've always found it useful.
When you start a new project, put a multiband compressor in the Master slot of the mixer (make sure it's last, because it has a limiter included in it). It's somewhat complicated but it has really good presets. Just click on the little arrow in the top left and mouse over the Presets. I like to use "Maximize 2" for electronic stuff.
This can lead to turning up your individual instruments too loud and making the mix muddy, so be sure to turn off the compressor every now and then and look to see if any of the other slots are staying in the red for longer than an occasional second. If so, tweak any equalizers or just turn the volume down.
If you're rich you can also buy Maximus, which is better. Or just add it back in every time you re-open the project. ^^
At 12/15/12 12:29 AM, Kajenx wrote: If you're rich you can also buy Maximus, which is better. Or just add it back in every time you re-open the project. ^^
Maximus is actually only $45 right now, along with all the image line plugins... it's their "End of the world sale".
The sale ends... the same time the world does...
So, go get your cheap maximus now if you want it, cause that's a HUGE discount.
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Ooh, that's right! Thanks for reminding me!!
At 12/14/12 09:12 PM, Merpy wrote: I made a song called sun kingdom and
someone in the comments said its really loud and i should start mastering my songs
i'm going to learn how to eq and mastering and stuff
but i'd just like to know what is the limit my volume should be on in fl studio 10
On youtube I THINK someone said that it shouldn't go above zero
is that true?
I'm still not sure abotu the whole db stuff though I know it
HOWVER
one of the main and simplest way to level your instruments is to
1. throw everything in the mixer (separate each instruments of course)
2. Make sure starting off that all of your synths and fx are in the green EXCEPT for you drums, let those be in the yellow
3. when you're actually done making every synths and adding every effects, level them accordingly through the mixer
4. reverbs; add different reverbs to certain synths and instruments so that the song gives off a feeling of "room"...as in...not flat on left or right but to varying degrees instead
5. add parametric EQ2 when necessary
then to add the last punch, ad maximus to the master and tweak it accordingly.
the more complicated/intricate ways follows afterwards on youtube videos
One does not simply learn to mix and master overnight. It takes many hours of practice and patience, and no matter what- your track will never be perfect. Ever.
I use FL Studio as well, and this is how I go about mastering.
Master channel, respectively:
1) EQ 2. Cut freq above 20khz, cut between 25-35hz.
2) Fruity Compressor. Adjust the threshold, ratio, and gain. If you're feeling ambitious, mess with the attack and release. Your goal here is to level out the sounds a bit. Also, adding a compressor makes the sounds work together much easier than manually going through all of the volumes. Don't get me wrong, you still need to adjust all of the master volumes in your mixer, but having a compressor eases that burden by 10+ fold.
3) Fruity Multiband Compressor. I personally increase the gains on the mids and highs, bass I leave alone for the most part.
4) EQ 2. Peak a bit around 7-14khz, adds brightness.
5) iZotope Maximizer. Boost to an almost commercial volume. You can also use the Fruity Limiter to do this, however it sucks in comparison.
6) Fruity Limiter. Just in case.
Now I export to .wav file. Open new project in FL, and put that exported .wav into the playlist.
In the master channel I insert the exact same plugins shown above, in the exact same order. I go through the entire process again, except this time tweaking knobs to different positions until I've reached the desired sound. If you feel like exploring a bit, my 3 most recent submitted tracks use this process. I'm still learning, and by no means am I a professional. But I'm getting there, one song at a time. I expect you to do the same. :)
I would like to point out that it's a lot easier to just output a 32-bit float wav and adjust it to a volume suitable for mastering rather than try to work with the mix itself. The end result is the same if you give the limiter an appropriate amount of headroom. I use this method only because I don't want to worry about a rogue peak ruining things, and I prefer to work with my mixes at close to the dB level I would be exporting the song at so I can address potential clipping early in the mix.
Also, try not to abuse the limiters too much. We already have plenty of absurdly over-compressed pop songs, so make sure you turn up your speaker volume first before you do any mastering. Louder will always sound better, but you should just turn up your volume rather than try to brickwall a track.
