MIXING INTO A LIMITER - Streaky.com

[@Bloodstone_DC]

If i may add to this: if you're mixing into the limiter make sure not to mix against the limiter! I strongly recommend double checking your mix without the limiter, because the limiter will do, what it is intended to do, it will cut the peaks and if you're having an uneven mix, it will be harder to recognize, because at a certain level, if you pull up an element - the drum buss for instance - it might not get louder, but more distorted, cause the limiter will keep the level down. So you gotta compare and keep your levels in check.

[@afterparty2905]

How much headroom should one leave with the limiter enabled & when bypassed? (ie 0 enabled, -6 bypassed)

[@dulla8469]

i only mix through a limiter cause ive been mixing at home and my 80 ohms dt770s can get the volume i want to mix with when im mixing normally, and my interface isnt with me, so i put the limiter just to add volume but i wanna know what i can do to the limiter to not make the limiter give an effect and just get a transparent sound

[@MelomanTheNerd]

It’s good to check the mix with the limiter on and off. I’ve learned to not push the threshold on the limiter, just use it as a very gentle guide on the Stereo Bus and don’t drive out of it (while mixing). Recently, I’ve been not using it at all until the end when I print to go check on a different system. 3-4dB of gain reduction (at peaks, not rms) when I’m checking on other systems because that feels similar to what’s happening in the RW/post mastering. Sometimes a limiter is a good friend or a nasty enemy.

[@boristubeti6776]

My question is, if I mix into a limiter, how much gain reduction should happen? I’m liking the sound, but I’m worried about the mix being over compressed. Thank you🙌🏻

[@MrWardjacob]

Thanks! What are the best threshold settings on the limiter while Mixing into it?

[@Odihmantich]

I want to know that too!

[@tomgunn6585]

You can mix into fab filter pro products and get everything done. Depends on what you like. I actually depend on a pumped sound. I dream up the pump style before the hooks sometimes! I used mastering engineers 25 years ago...lol.

[@flamersss]

Im curious, do you add the limiter and mix through it as soon as you were ready to mix? Before EQ, compression etc? And mix until your satisfied with the vocal?

[@amberdivari8579]

Very helpful tanks a lot 🔥

[@moano3271]

I just send one without the limiter (for the mastering engineer to work on) and one where i have done a master and tell the mastering guy to beat that version 😊👌

[@marshallkairo6608]

I guess I am kind of off topic but does anyone know a good site to stream new series online?

[@bryceporter5484]

@Marshall Kairo meh I use Flixportal. just google after it:) -bryce

[@marshallkairo6608]

@Bryce Porter Thank you, signed up and it seems to work :) Appreciate it!

[@bryceporter5484]

@Marshall Kairo No problem :)

[@ARCASIAUK]

Great value again thanks Streaky!

[@cleargemproductions8467]

cheers dude great insight

[@LostInPresets]

Hey Streaky what are your thoughts on the Manley Slam Limiter?

[@jnthngrntbrln]

I run into this often with mixes from mix engineers. - However, often times the reference is totally fried tho. -4 -3 RMS. So I’m having to climb back up hill to compete with the mixer’s loudness. I’ve lost jobs because of this. “Why is it quieter than the mix?” How do we as mastering engineers approach this conversation with mixers and AnRs? Thanks! Love your channel!

[@chrisjames8045]

Wouldn't you just point out that the reference is fried/too distorted for commercial playback? Or is they simply don't care to listen to the advice of a mastering engineer?

[@jnthngrntbrln]

@Nick, Streaky touches on the difficulty of the conversation around 1:10 because AnR’s don’t understand the process. Would love to hear how streaky navigates the conversation!

[@futurebeats898]

Tell em who's the expert. Educate the fool.

[@iqi616]

Give them a turned down version of their reference (to same loudness as your version) so they can hear how shite their version would sound on Spotify?

[@icysasakimusic]

This is kinda dangerous if u are not doing the right thing. If you limit too much, gain reduction. The balance and the shape of the mix will change a lot because of the super crushed limiter. And when u send only the mix without the limiter. The elements balance is totally mess up.. so is good to know that : don’t limit as f*%#, because this can get u lost .and the mix can have serious volume and tone balance mistakes , and also your mastering engineer will not be happy and .. and will ask for a mix revision

[@kirre777]

What settings shoul you use on the limiter you're mixin in to?

[@sierra6music]

-6 db

[@mixinginthebox]

Good info, thank you.

[@luifranco1457]

Get ‘em Streaky! I often have to ask for mixes that aren’t as limited. Sometimes, the pro guys I deal with automatically send me reference mixes as well as mixes with enough headroom, but even then, sometimes even those mixes are already a bit crunched. What I see more often is mixing engineers who crunch their mixes with loads of compression/limiting/saturation and they are set on how that mix sounds. To say “hey, can you back off on how much you’ve saturated/compressed your drums a bit, ‘cus I think I can do that a bit better than you with my tools” is these days a bit offensive (plus, it’s a matter of funds if it means they have to stop whatever they’re working on to give you mixes that are less “crunched”). TL;DR: It ain’t easy being just a Mastering Engineer in 2019!! 🤣

[@tomgunn6585]

Well, everything changes. It’s all old fashioned talk otherwise. You need to find new ways of applying your brilliant ears!

[@calebovich]

Great advice Streaky!

[@joeygproducedit7863]

My mixes are dump right now

[@taks359]

I think it's ok to check the mix with a limiter from time to time to get an idea of the final result. But mixing the whole time with a limiter on can be a problem. Because in this case it becomes the glue of the mix. Once you put it off, all the mixing decisions fall apart.

[@ephjaymusic]

I once produced a track with a compressor on the master bus - high ratio, low threshold, fast attack and release. It gave the mix a certain attitude and that compressor pretty much determined the entire flavor of the mix. It came out really well! It's not something I'd do all the time, but definitely gives you a new perspective when starting a project.

[@proverbalizer]

Same with mixing in mono all the time. can hide issues like an unbalanced mix, or clipping on on side of the stereo channel one particular hits. I think it's always good to go back and forth...same with eq'ing in solo etc.

[@Y42]

sorry to say it like that, but if you think you require a unlimited version because "yOu wAnNa dO iT yOuRseLf" you are just an ego cannon, music is not about ego.

[@axoplanet6081]

You understood nothing. It is not about ego when you are mastering. If the limiter is at first in the chain, the natural dynamics of the track get squashed. That is why you should take it off when you bounce the mix for mastering. The limiter just makes it loud and in mastering stage this is something to do at the end of the mastering chain not in the beginning. It goes like this most of the times: eq-comp-stereo-limiter

[@Y42]

@@axoplanet6081 or you are putting your ego over art ;) A real pro mastering engineer doesn’t care about your limiters, he/she will make it sound better anyways! ;)

[@axoplanet6081]

@@Y42 Ok, now I really know that you don‘t know what you talking about. You should better meditate more and cuddle your cat and let mixing and mastering do the pros

[@Y42]

@@axoplanet6081 fun fact: I am a pro ;) But keep talking and feed me with your hate 😋

[@axoplanet6081]

@@Y42 A pro in cat cuddeling? Where is your studio and what is it called? I will look online after it.