Might be a bit off topic, but when gain staging and reducing volume to -18 dBFS to get 0 dBVU to get the best performance out of analog modelled plugins, the VU meter I'm using doesn't always show 0 dBVU when audio at -18 dBFS is fed into it even though it is calibrated to -18 dBFS = 0 dBVU. I can't find any reason for this as -18 dBFS is supposed to be equal to 0 dBVU. Is this something you have come across before and know an explanation for?
Hi thanks for the info . Just a question if you would be kind.? Which channel do I insert the loudness meter . Is it on the master channel in the mixer or the indivisual channel channel of the wav. Also can you add this while your doing your project realtime. Pls help
when i play profressional trask they always seem waayy above all i see is red damn near. the peak is usually always well above 0.0 as well. the LUF i heard was suppposed to sit at about 14.0 4 radio purposes but most tracks be all over tha place it feel like
I downloaded the loudness meter I'm using a different software how to I access the loudness meter now that I downloaded it ? it is a plugin so I'm guessing i would have to use the same software you are using ?
Should we even limit at all anymore? If platforms are all normalizing to -14 or -16 LUFS as a standard, doesn't that mean the loudness war is, in effect, over? That we can just mix and master for the quality of the piece and not for its loudness? (For example: Grab your reference track, normalize it to -14 LUFS, and mix/master with the goal of -14 LUFS)?
Limiter are made to limit peak which can go way above the integrated LUFS (or even the momentary) value obtained in a track so limiter will always be useful to make sure you don't have peak that might create clipping or unwanted distortion. Even if you normalize having a peak meter is always something that you need when you are producing music.
If you already know your music will be normalized than you shuld go easy with the limiter and avoid ruining the dynamics. If it will also be played live however, as there's no normalization involved, it will sound super quiet compared with other tracks. I think there are two options then: making two different masters (one for normalized streaming and one for beatport and the other not normalized platforms); or making just one with enuogh dynamics to sound pleasant, but without those very high peaks that, in not normalized circumstances, would prevent you from compensating the low loudness level with a volume knob. Either way limiters and compressors will remain a must. (I hope it makes sense, pardon my english).
There is a sonic reason to use a limiter other than just the ability to make it sound louder, which as you point out is less important. I usually prefer my mixes after some subtle limiting has been done usually around 3dB of GR even when keeping it a constant LUFS level.
How about a limiter or compressor? Can you use that for a precise matching? :)) With FL Limiter you can see when is limiting... and you can turn the volum down.... to *_match_* ... tracks...
+Geto Dacian If I'm understanding you right, that would only match the peak level. And the peak level is not a reliable representation of perceived loudness.
***** Sometimes peak level and RMS is a pain in our ass. Even if it doesn*t sound loud, the RMS is eating the space. Some kicks looks fine as a peak level and very loud on RMS, but doesn*t sound that loud compared to ohter samples that looks equal as a peak, and lower on RMS. I found this in old kicks samples and I don*t know how to fix this... to make it feels louder but lower on RMS.
Do you know of anywhere that I can read about how loudness units are calculated? I can't find info on that anywhere except for some people saying it's just like RMS (not true).
These two links have good information on it: www.itu.int/dms_pubrec/itu-r/rec/bs/R-REC-BS.1770-2-201103-S!!PDF-E.pdf tech.ebu.ch/docs/tech/tech3341.pdf
I know this is a year old.. but how do you match a kick volume level, with the bass volume level? Like how do you clone a kicks volume/peak level/rms level to accurately match your bass? Or is this a bad idea?
Steven Mastriano No. I would gain stage your ref mix down so that you can focus on the goal is mixing which is balance. Then mastering will bring it up to its loudness potential. Not every song is supposed to be as loud as another
Very good and informative video! But please try to use a script when you narrate. Haven't heard any of your other stuff but in this video you speak like my grandma :) - setting up anticipation for a punchline but then keep on talking for another two or three minutes. Please just get to the point that you set up in a sentence, as quickly as possible. Thank you and keep doing videos!
so... to recap... u have 2 tracks one mastered n one not... u run the un-mastered one to find its around -18 then u ran the mastered one...it was TOO loud before, so u turned it down so as to not overload.. then u wanted to lower it MORE to match the unmaster one? i thought u would want to up the unmastered one to match the mastered one since u want yours to be jus as loud as the mastered one in the end..Goal being to get it to the same level then do the eq thing....im all kinda backwards now...unless i misunderstood.
It depends on why you're matching the levels. If you want to compare sound quality, it's better to lower the level of the louder track, because increasing the level of the softer track could cause it to be clipped/limited. If you want to master your track to be as loud as the reference, then you should increase its level into some kind of soft clipping/compression/limiting chain.
SIR LOTS OF RESPECT FROM PUNJAB,INDIA
cool. Never heard of LUFS before. Thanks
thanks, have had do this by ear many times getting the loudness right is not easy
Good explanations , greets!
Might be a bit off topic, but when gain staging and reducing volume to -18 dBFS to get 0 dBVU to get the best performance out of analog modelled plugins, the VU meter I'm using doesn't always show 0 dBVU when audio at -18 dBFS is fed into it even though it is calibrated to -18 dBFS = 0 dBVU.
I can't find any reason for this as -18 dBFS is supposed to be equal to 0 dBVU. Is this something you have come across before and know an explanation for?
Hi thanks for the info . Just a question if you would be kind.? Which channel do I insert the loudness meter . Is it on the master channel in the mixer or the indivisual channel channel of the wav.
Also can you add this while your doing your project realtime. Pls help
wtf does "over" means
I love the track used in this video. I can't find it using Shazam. Has it been released? Where can I get it?
Ivied used the waves version wlm plus but couldn't get it to work as well as yours I liked your plug in but I'm using a Mac , nice video though
Thank you!
Nice tutorial dude! How much headroom do you leave for mastering your tracks? Do you have any mastering tutorial? Regards :)
You said you mix your tracks with headphones
Which ones you use?
I use the 40's
when i play profressional trask they always seem waayy above all i see is red damn near. the peak is usually always well above 0.0 as well. the LUF i heard was suppposed to sit at about 14.0 4 radio purposes but most tracks be all over tha place it feel like
I downloaded the loudness meter I'm using a different software how to I access the loudness meter now that I downloaded it ? it is a plugin so I'm guessing i would have to use the same software you are using ?
Should we even limit at all anymore? If platforms are all normalizing to -14 or -16 LUFS as a standard, doesn't that mean the loudness war is, in effect, over? That we can just mix and master for the quality of the piece and not for its loudness?
(For example: Grab your reference track, normalize it to -14 LUFS, and mix/master with the goal of -14 LUFS)?
Limiter are made to limit peak which can go way above the integrated LUFS (or even the momentary) value obtained in a track so limiter will always be useful to make sure you don't have peak that might create clipping or unwanted distortion. Even if you normalize having a peak meter is always something that you need when you are producing music.
If you already know your music will be normalized than you shuld go easy with the limiter and avoid ruining the dynamics. If it will also be played live however, as there's no normalization involved, it will sound super quiet compared with other tracks.
I think there are two options then: making two different masters (one for normalized streaming and one for beatport and the other not normalized platforms); or making just one with enuogh dynamics to sound pleasant, but without those very high peaks that, in not normalized circumstances, would prevent you from compensating the low loudness level with a volume knob.
Either way limiters and compressors will remain a must.
(I hope it makes sense, pardon my english).
There is a sonic reason to use a limiter other than just the ability to make it sound louder, which as you point out is less important. I usually prefer my mixes after some subtle limiting has been done usually around 3dB of GR even when keeping it a constant LUFS level.
How about a limiter or compressor? Can you use that for a precise matching? :))
With FL Limiter you can see when is limiting... and you can turn the volum down.... to *_match_* ... tracks...
+Geto Dacian If I'm understanding you right, that would only match the peak level. And the peak level is not a reliable representation of perceived loudness.
***** Thanks, you should try to be sure 100%.
Use LUFS and check with a limiter or use a limiter and check with LUFS.
I will try for sure.
***** Sometimes peak level and RMS is a pain in our ass. Even if it doesn*t sound loud, the RMS is eating the space.
Some kicks looks fine as a peak level and very loud on RMS, but doesn*t sound that loud compared to ohter samples that looks equal as a peak, and lower on RMS.
I found this in old kicks samples and I don*t know how to fix this... to make it feels louder but lower on RMS.
What do you mean by bring your track down minus 11?
Do you know of anywhere that I can read about how loudness units are calculated? I can't find info on that anywhere except for some people saying it's just like RMS (not true).
These two links have good information on it:
www.itu.int/dms_pubrec/itu-r/rec/bs/R-REC-BS.1770-2-201103-S!!PDF-E.pdf
tech.ebu.ch/docs/tech/tech3341.pdf
Checking them out. Thank you!
I know this is a year old.. but how do you match a kick volume level, with the bass volume level? Like how do you clone a kicks volume/peak level/rms level to accurately match your bass? Or is this a bad idea?
I match RMS but not peaks. Because different sounds have different dynamic range.
I'm confused do I compare my mix to an already mastered track and try to make my mix match the loudness of the mastered track by adjusting my mix?
Steven Mastriano No. I would gain stage your ref mix down so that you can focus on the goal is mixing which is balance. Then mastering will bring it up to its loudness potential. Not every song is supposed to be as loud as another
When ever I reference other mastered tracks, it says Over in the peak & rms read. Why is that?
KmanBeatz True Peak / Intersample peaking
I used the same VST, but its showing OVER and the values doesnt seem to change.. kindly help
OVER means the input is too high, so lower the volume of the reference track if possible
@@IVTheFourth its barely audible, i had reduced the master volume -45.0
Very good and informative video! But please try to use a script when you narrate. Haven't heard any of your other stuff but in this video you speak like my grandma :) - setting up anticipation for a punchline but then keep on talking for another two or three minutes. Please just get to the point that you set up in a sentence, as quickly as possible. Thank you and keep doing videos!
dude dope song and video, how have u been dude?
+theycallmeQUINCY Hey man, sorry I missed this comment before! Send me a pm, we should get back in touch
so... to recap...
u have 2 tracks one mastered n one not...
u run the un-mastered one to find its around -18
then u ran the mastered one...it was TOO loud before, so u turned it down so as to not overload..
then u wanted to lower it MORE to match the unmaster one?
i thought u would want to up the unmastered one to match the mastered one since u want yours to be jus as loud as the mastered one in the end..Goal being to get it to the same level then do the eq thing....im all kinda backwards now...unless i misunderstood.
It depends on why you're matching the levels. If you want to compare sound quality, it's better to lower the level of the louder track, because increasing the level of the softer track could cause it to be clipped/limited. If you want to master your track to be as loud as the reference, then you should increase its level into some kind of soft clipping/compression/limiting chain.
I thought I was the only one who got lost there🤔..still lost..
That's not the whole picture. How about the formula btw the gain and the output to begin with. Honestly.
step 1 : pay a professional to do it .....lololol
done
I love the track used in this video. I can't find it using Shazam. Has it been released? Where can I get it?
It's not officially released but is available on my Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/iv-the-fourth
Xlnt. Following. Many thanks for your reply.