mastering in protools

[KEVIN COLLINS]

my question is what is the best way to create a master session? should I bounce to disk multi mono ,then create a new session and import songs to that session. and do I dither before mastering? or should I record everything to a new track, then import that to a new session. thanks Kevin

[ejwells]

Best way? I don't know.

My way? I bounce sessions to 24 bit stereo interleaved, no plugs on the master bus, plenty of headroom.
I import the 24 bit files into a new session, add mastering plugs to the master bus in that session, and rebounce them one at a time to 16 bit (with dither last in the plug-in chain on the master bus).

[KEVIN COLLINS]

I hear ya. Thats what I was gonna do,but I'm not sure if thats the best way? thanks for reply.

[Stig Eliassen]

I bounce sessions to 24 bit stereo interleaved, no plugs on the master bus, plenty of headroom.
I import the 24 bit files into a new session, add mastering plugs to the master bus in that session, and rebounce them one at a time to 16 bit (with dither last in the plug-in chain on the master bus).

I'm curious - since PT can't use interleaved files directly; why do you bounce as stereo interleaved instead of multi-mono files?

Thanks.

[KEVIN COLLINS]

how u doin ?no when I bounce back in to same session I use multi mono

[KEVIN COLLINS]

Is that better than recording the project in to a stereo trax then importing that trax to a new session?

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by PT Lover

I'm curious - since PT can't use interleaved files directly; why do you bounce as stereo interleaved instead of multi-mono files?

Thanks.

Since when? I import stereo interleaved files without issue. In any case, I prefer to master in Wavelab for several reasons, not the least of which is fast rendering(no real-time bounce required) and the analysis tools are really great. I would bet the $99 Essentials version would be nice for getting a taste of it(without dropping $499). Version 7 also runs on Macs if anyone cares

[barters81]

Can you use all your RTAS plugs in Wavelabs? My apologies, I'm not really up with mastering software. Tried using T-racks, but ended up going back to a dedicated mastering session in PT.

I do the same as above. Bounce to stereo, import into the mastering session, then add plugs, and bounce one at a time.

I like how you can master entire albums with T-Racks though...as really thats how it should be done. It would be one hell of a long session if you did a whole album in PT that way though.

[Stig Eliassen]

Since when? I import stereo interleaved files without issue.

Always been like that I believe. I'm not saying that PT won't import interleaved files, but all interleaved files are split into multi-mono files during import. No biggie - just asking.

[albee1952]

PT Lover makes a good point that I had not thought about. The one time I bounced out to separate L&R files was a nightmare to get aligned in WaveLab for mastering(for sure it was my lack of knowledge there). As to the plugins question, WaveLab uses VST plugins, so none of your Pro Tools plugins will be available. Many(most) 3rd party plugins can be installed with both VST and RTAS versions(waves is one brand that works great on both Pro Tools and WaveLab) and WaveLab includes some of its own. Mastering and recording/mixing really are 2 different animals, and while I CAN master in PT, doing it in WaveLab(or any program designed for this) just works much better for 95% of the time. Plus, WaveLab is a good CD authoring program (something the PT does not do at all, and iTunes stinks at)