Trying to master a track for the first time

[smrpg99]

I recently finished a track and tried my hand at mastering for the first time. It's a learning experience, that's for sure! I'm finding it to be tough as nails though. I'm using the all-in-one izotope ozone application, and I love the way the mix sounds in Pro Tools, but (and I forgot this happens) the bounced file is extremely quiet compared to the session. I've done tons of browsing the past 3-4 days, and the best information I've seen in regards to volume levels is that to get a balanced mix mastered and sounding good across multiple listening environments, many engineers compress and limit a piece of audio multiple times.

Is this what I have to do? I don't want to lose a lot of dynamic range.

Also, is this a common practice with DAWs? I used to use FL, and I don't remember that program ever exporting a session at a lower volume. If this information makes a difference, I am listening to the session and the bounced file with the same setup, an mbox2 and 2 sets of headphones I switch between for reference.

[zedhed]

Go into Pro Tools>Setup>I/O>Output Tab AND Bus Tab and check that Audition paths and Default Output Bus are set to Main Output. Then in the mix window, make sure all of your channel outputs are set to main out or bused to an Aux that has it's outs set to main out. Same goes for any Instrument tracks.

If this is not done some of your mix may not be going through the master bus to the bounced file. Also I assume you are using Ozone on a master track. Apologies if I am stating the obvious but it's hard to tell what level of understanding any one person is at on the internet.

I would be wary of compressing and limiting multiple times as you could end up with a very squashed and lifeless mix.

There is a reason why the mastering process is done by specialist engineers, it is an art in itself and takes years to master (pardon the pun). Having said that, I find Izotope Ozone to be a very handy tool for the average home recording enthusiast like me but I have come to accept that it is nigh on impossible to get to the standard a professional mastering engineer can achieve.

[smrpg99]

Under the Output tab in the I/O window, the audition paths and output bus are set to output 1-2, which is my main output. The only other options there are busses. All of my channel outputs are also going to output 1-2. I am using Ozone on the master fader as well. Is there anything else I can try?

[paulreed]

what's your pre-master level?
do you have a meter on your master also?
If not put one on it and see what your overall level is before Ozone see's it.
I use Waves PAZ but the one that comes with PT works too.
I keep my level about -2 dB peak to give the mastering processors something to work with but still have a decent loudness before mastering.

[smrpg99]

Originally Posted by paulreed

what's your pre-master level?
do you have a meter on your master also?
If not put one on it and see what your overall level is before Ozone see's it.
I use Waves PAZ but the one that comes with PT works too.
I keep my level about -2 dB peak to give the mastering processors something to work with but still have a decent loudness before mastering.

I never really paid much attention before, but I just noticed that there are two columns of numbers on the master fader. Do those refer to both the pre-master and master levels?

Anyway, going by the left column which is what I've always used, the meter on my master fader with Ozone off is hovering around -6db at its highest. With Ozone on it gets close to peaking at a couple points. The song is fairly dynamic though, so the master level moves in and out a pretty fair amount.

[paulreed]

the numbers on the master fader could be your peak but also delay and....something...i forget so make sure they are showing peak, I think you hit control and clik to toggle through (not in front of pt).
Try this:
make a group of everything and pull it all up with automation until it plays through at peaks around -2.
bounce it out to a mono L and R file at 24 bits and the highest sample rate ozone uses, if it goes to 96, use that.
create a new "mastering" session at the bit depth and sample rate you used then import your file into it, then work on that for your mastering, it should get better results

[smrpg99]

I'll give that a shot. I'll post back here when I do. It might not be today though.

[smrpg99]

I want to thank you guys for your tips. I've made many attempts at mastering the track and learned some things in the process. What stuck out to me the most was learning that modern mastering practices essentially drain dynamics out of music to make them louder. This was unknowingly part of my frustration as I was trying to get things up to "CD volume", thinking that I had missed some crucial step. If anyone would like to take a listen, here's a soundcloud link:
http://soundcloud.com/stephenwitkowski/city/s-aSlTw.

Any feedback about the end product would be appreciated. Thanks again.

[RegenerationMix]

can you put up your original mix and make it downloadable? I will give it a try mastering it. Or make the mastered track you have there downloadable.


Chris

[smrpg99]

Originally Posted by RegenerationMix

can you put up your original mix and make it downloadable? I will give it a try mastering it. Or make the mastered track you have there downloadable.


Chris

I am a little antsy about that. Are you looking to do it just for practice? I'm trying to keep my music close to my chest as I'd like to put together an album at some point.