Master mixdown

[basslik]

Can someone direct me to a video tutorial how to mix down to a stereo bus, then master please?

[AlexLakis]

www.vikingkittens.com

[JMS40]

Originally Posted by basslik

Can someone direct me to a video tutorial how to mix down to a stereo bus, then master please?

Hi basslik-
Simple question to ask, not so simple to answer.
Understand, both mixing and mastering are college level degree equivalents, so no single video tutorial is going to apply here.

Maybe if we knew a little better where you're actually starting from it would help.
Do you have any experience with either or are we starting from scratch?

Where are you at as far as the basics in Pro Tools?
Know how to add a master track... understand Bounce to Disk... etc.?
Understand panning... use of effects and routing?

[basslik]

Originally Posted by JMS40

Hi basslik-
Simple question to ask, not so simple to answer.
Understand, both mixing and mastering are college level degree equivalents, so no single video tutorial is going to apply here.

Maybe if we knew a little better where you're actually starting from it would help.
Do you have any experience with either or are we starting from scratch?

Where are you at as far as the basics in Pro Tools?
Know how to add a master track... understand Bounce to Disk... etc.?
Understand panning... use of effects and routing?

thank jms40, yea i just started learning this pup, i have the song tracked, i did do a rough bounce to disc, but was wondering if there should be a mix down stereo sub, the apply a mastering plugin along with a dither?

[albee1952]

My advice for those new to mastering is; go lightly. In other words, small steps with small adjustments as you learn so you don't throw a bunch of plugins on and dig a hole for yourself. First thing is to play the mix over a few different systems before making any adjustments(try to see what is wrong on ALL the systems vs. correcting for 1 system and finding that doesn;t work for the others). At first I would stick to very gentle EQ and gentle mastering limiter(if you are sending the project to be mastered, don't do anything). If you recorded at 24 bit, your dither plugin should be the last insert(if the project is at 16 bit, then there is no need for dither). If your gentle treatment doesn't get the music where you want, I would remix and get the mix closer to where it needs to go. Mastering by a seasoned mastering engineer can do wonders but in the hands of the rest of us(I include myself here even after 20+ years of mixing).....you get the idea.

BTW, FWIW, I usually bounce with no master fader or plugins and then import the stereo file into a mastering session for the final treatment(which includes trimming the front and tail and creating a fadeout if needed).

[Mikeymike]

How do you mix down to a stereo audio track?

[basslik]

Originally Posted by albee1952

My advice for those new to mastering is; go lightly. In other words, small steps with small adjustments as you learn so you don't throw a bunch of plugins on and dig a hole for yourself. First thing is to play the mix over a few different systems before making any adjustments(try to see what is wrong on ALL the systems vs. correcting for 1 system and finding that doesn;t work for the others). At first I would stick to very gentle EQ and gentle mastering limiter(if you are sending the project to be mastered, don't do anything). If you recorded at 24 bit, your dither plugin should be the last insert(if the project is at 16 bit, then there is no need for dither). If your gentle treatment doesn't get the music where you want, I would remix and get the mix closer to where it needs to go. Mastering by a seasoned mastering engineer can do wonders but in the hands of the rest of us(I include myself here even after 20+ years of mixing).....you get the idea.

BTW, FWIW, I usually bounce with no master fader or plugins and then import the stereo file into a mastering session for the final treatment(which includes trimming the front and tail and creating a fadeout if needed).

thank you albee1952, give it a try.

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by Mikeymike

How do you mix down to a stereo audio track?

Easiest way is to Bounce to Disk, and choose Stereo Interleaved in the first options box that comes up. I usually bounce to the desktop(the default is to the audio files folder for the session you have open). Don't be tempted to cheat and bounce a 24 bit session to a 16 bit file without dither. I bounce my 24 bit sessions to a 24 bit file and import the stereo mix track into a new session and trim the head and tail, and add a fadeout if needed(I know its an extra step but I like to keep the mix as a step all by itself. Each of us must define our ideal working methods).

You could also choose to set all track outputs to a stereo buss(holding the Alt key while setting any single track's output will change them all). Then create a new stereo audio track and set its input to the bus you sent the test of the tracks to. Put the new track in record and roll the song. Once its done, you can export the new region(track) as a stereo audio file.

[Mikeymike]

The latter was what I was after. Thanks. I had read that you can put an insert on the Master Fader and bus it to a stereo audio track, mute the track, record the mix, and export the file, but there are no inserts on the Master Fader. I thought of doing it how you suggested, but I wanted see if there was a way to do it without changing the output on all the tracks. Thanks for the help.

[basslik]

right on guys, so many ways i guess?, will try different things, no rules right?