Do I really need to use the Master fader during final mix down..It kills my volume

[Trash Man]

Stupid question but I've noticed when I throw that master fader on my mix before mixing down to a stereo track the volume is so low that even w/ a decent mastering job the volume levels on a CD are low as hell...
So what I tried was I assiged each set of instruments an aux fader...It really boosts the levels of everything to my liking.....Drums have a stereo fader, Guitars, and Vox have one...I put a master fader on everything and sure enough, to keep the mix out of the red I really have to keep the volume down on the master fader.
So what I did was I threw out the master fader and just kept the Aux faders below red and bounced that...I mastered that (in T-Racks, I know it's not the greatest but it's all I've got) and compressed it a little so the master would stay out of the red and I really loved the volume levels on a burned CD....nice and loud!
My question is this...I would love to use the Master fader! I just dont know how to use it w/out sacrificing the volume. How do you guys do it? I dont want to compress the hell out of the master fader to get loud, but I do want the control of the master fader...


Any advice is totally appreciated!!!!!

Trash Man

take care

[Jeff D.]

Trash man,

If you don't use the master fader, how do you know if your levels are in the red or not? By deleting the master fader, you are probably allowing clipped audio to go unnoticed, and so your volume is higher.
I suppose that there's nothing wrong with clipped audio if you like it!

If you want high volume without clipping, consider Waves L1 (part of the native power pack) or Digidesign Maxim.

Also, if you can't achieve acceptable levels in mastering with the T-racks, something is wrong there as well... no matter how low level the source material, you should be able to make a master as loud as any average CD without too much trouble.

Good luck,

Jeff D.

[Trash Man]

Thanks for the reply Jeff D...So basically T-Racks should put out good levels no matter how loud the source mix is? If this is the case then I will try and get a refund..I master in T-Racks and I get as close as I can w/out clipping and the volume on the final CDR is still low....
Also I'll check out the Waves L1 and the Digi Maxim....I appreciate the help...

Trash Man

[slotools]

I find that the combo of Waves ren Comp, ren eq and L1+ limiter to be a viable home mastering solution. I am selling a finalizer that I had for a while. I am shamelessly EBAYing Most of my reserve gear and am preparing for a NAMM enlightenment in january.
I am so glad that it is back in Anaheim, Downtown LA has not been very good to me. I
just get such a kick out of seeing the heroes
of yesteryear still wearin spandex and leather
and almost totally consumed by alcohol, drugs
and tatoo ink.
Where else will you see things like Gene Simmons struttin' along with a almost totally
silicone based babe. And some guitar companies with almost pornographic explotations into their ad campaigns.
Smoke and mirrors galore! sorry for the
rambling! it is Saturday and my client is late!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!