Please FIX Your Master Bus Chain...

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Do you tend to throw too many plugins on your master bus chain?
Do you use settings on your bus compressor that might be working against all of the hard work that you put into your mix?
Are you maybe skipping over a very important step (that requires NO extra plugins) that the pros use...that you maybe aren't even aware of?
​How you treat your master bus is extremely important and I want to set you up for success by sharing the information provided in this video.
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[@FrightboxRecording]

►► {FREE TRAINING} 4 Dead-Simple Ways To Improve Your Recordings & Mixes: frightboxrecordingacademy.com/free-training/

[@RealHomeRecording]

7:40 I would venture to say that there are a lot of amateur sounding masters coming from mainstream music. These engineers just can't help themselves! The brick wall limiters got better but they just continued to abuse them even more. The loudness War rages on and unfortunately high Fidelity music is being lost because of it.

[@IamAbdulAhadShahzad]

I just admire this dude a lot. One of the best teachers out there. Keep up the good work man.

[@vargerkron]

I prefer using matching eq to my favourite references of the same key to ensure, that I maintain the right spectral balance, I also use multiband compressor to make the tone consistent throughout the song. Also a little bit of studio reverb kinda helps glue all of the elements together. That works for me

[@WarMachine_Studios]

More sage advice as usual from the man! Bobby, i've been a long time subscriber, i believe i was on maybe your 3rd or 4th viewer mix submission videos lol. You've helped SO much brother, it's unreal! For anyone new to this channel, please, come in with an open mind as if it were a clean slate, forget what you've "learned" on YT and TAKE IN ALL THE TIPS THIS MAN BRINGS US!!!! It will WITHOUT a doubt make all your mixing improve. I really need to send you a few track soon to show you how much you've helped me out bro, you're the best! - Matt

[@synapticschism]

I'm a big fan of simplicity and since I only use virtual instruments I have the luxury of having even smaller chains than all of you awesome people that deal with live instruments. This is the first video of yours that when I finished it I gave myself a tap in the back because I already do all of these things.

[@flamen89]

absolutely love this channel:) bobby got the best information delivery style

[@DerSilvano]

There is still a lot of work to do on this rough mix but you get there. Nice video btw

[@AJoylessEon]

I'm usually a minimalist when it comes to mixing.. but.. my master track consists of 8 plugins at the moment and my mixes have improved and sounding better. 1. SSL comp - only doing 2 to 3 dB of gain reduction for that glue. 2. Pro Q 4 - only doing -2 dB cut at 160hz with a narrow Q, 1 dB boost on the side channels at 2500hz with a broad Q and 10000hz high shelf dip of -1dB. 3. Bloom - used very subtly. 4. PTEq-X - again very subtle for that pultec charm. 5. JST heat - for multiband saturation. 6. Soothe 2 - only doing 1 to 2 dB of resonance suppression. 7. NovaClip - to shave off any stray peaks before pushing the mix into my last and final plugin. 8. Pro L 2 - limiter to bring my mix up in volume. Mind you I have only started using this chain two weeks ago.. but can't wait to try it out on my next album. Obviously don't copy what I do coz what works for one song/mix may not work for another. Bobby is the man.. I've learnt a hell of alot since stumbling upon his channel about 3 years ago. Total mix legend and his knowledge helped me immensely.

[@officialWWM]

That automation thing sounds awesome. I’m going to start doing it!

[@FrightboxRecording]

It will 100% take your mixes to the next level.

[@AsPestisRecords]

I work mainly in the box with plugins solutions and man... your channel is just so simple, straight forward and damn f*cking useful...!! Acing it each and every single time ! Keep it up!

[@80s_kid]

I agree, there's no need to overcomplicate the master bus. Although I always use the final, refining EQ before the compressor. (~95% of the EQing is done on the group channels + the individual channels.)

[@abunai.j]

Man, I've learned so much from this channel over the last few years. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Another cool trick I've discovered to punch up a chorus/breakdown/etc section - if you're using NDSP guitar plugins - is to automate the doubler to kick in when you want a little extra oomph without it being super obvious, and shut off when you want that high dynamic gone.

[@recordingwhiz]

Thank you for preaching 100% truth . There are no magic bullets, only good solid techniques and experience.

[@stevewills735]

I find Bobby using the old school plugins is awesome, !Who cares if they are old, THEY DO THE JOB!!! cheers

[@guinganfg]

Hello my friend! Nice video as usual! I have a question, youve mentioned to mix thru the tape saturator at the later part of the mixing stage.. Does this applies to the other plugins in the master chain? Or you apply them thru specific stages? Thanks and congrats on the great content!! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@animusdenproductions]

Its me. I put reverb on the master lol stopped after a bit tho. What Bobby says is correct lol

[@BittenHand19]

I love that the PSP Vintage Warmer is actually vintage now

[@FrightboxRecording]

😂

[@DEADLINETV]

Great tips!

[@EricPellegrini]

I like to stack EQs & comps but otherwise I keep it simple. I do like a widener though. It seems to place everything where I want it so I keep it on.

[@jkrunch2166]

My current master bus chain is one eq, barely doing anything but minor correctional work, one SSL style compressor, and a tape emulator. That's it. And the mix sounds almost the same when I bypass it.

[@Reakerboy]

It's the same as mine! Although I do notice a difference, the bus compressor adds some cohesion and the tape emulator adds some warm soft saturation, I can certainly hear the difference. 🤟🏻

[@jkrunch2166]

@@Reakerboy Oh I definitely hear a difference, but the mix doesn't fall apart or sound radically different without it. Engaging it just "enhances" the mix. I do also sometimes use gulfoss, but I'm still 50/50 on it.

[@officialWWM]

What’s the point then?

[@jkrunch2166]

@@officialWWM As I said, it enhances the mix. But the master bus isn't the place to make radical alteration. Even Nolly, the guy who popularized this method, stated he no longer does eq changes on the master bus - his entire master bus chain is gulfoss, a tape saturator, and limiter he disables before mastering.

[@EmperorKamikaze]

This is the way.

[@theriffdjenerator2213]

Eq, comp, clipper, limiter Done

[@Silvabulletproduction8337]

Good stuff

[@constantinranis]

True, I have tried a lot of mixbus chains from big names in the business, the one that worked for me and kept and still haven't changed is clipper/console saturation/EQ/SSL compressor/tape/limiter, I still experimenting with Multiband compression on the master chain but sometimes I get good results sometimes not, this is something I'm still trying to get a feeling for, maybe it would be a good topic for a tutorial? XD

[@jrfoster1980]

Hey Bobby - great video as always. Your master bus automation is pre-FX (i.e. running hotter into master bus chain) or post-FX (i.e. the actual volume is higher)? I assume pre-FX, but would be good to clarify. Cheers.

[@FrightboxRecording]

Pre FX...this is the only way we can do it in Pro Tools 😂

[@jrfoster1980]

@@FrightboxRecording Ok great, thought so - thanks! I took the plunge and changed to Mac, you can ditch ProTools for Reaper full time ;-)

[@rubievale]

My master bus usually has an instance of Black Box HG-2 and some type of bus compression, and that's it. I've never used a limiter on it.

[@SurvivorMetalMan]

In what order do you put the plugins in? Or does it matter?

[@dylanjastle]

For compression on the master bus, how slow is a slow attack? What general genre of compressor do you use? I think an 1176 might be too fast (about 1ms attack when set to all the way slow), but is an LA2A fast enough?

[@harrydarling4180]

I've always used volume automation and it always felt like I was doing something illegal, but it worked so I kept doing it 😂

[@FrightboxRecording]

Keep up the good work!!

[@mfchuckbeats]

I just blast everything into a soft clipper like those FL Studio kids

[@thesoundresidence]

Are you saying Master Bus when you really talk about your Mix Bus (as in mixing, NOT mastering)? Or has this became equally interchangeable like "stems vs tracks"?

[@FrightboxRecording]

Great question! Stems vs. Tracks is a somewhat new thing...which causes a lot of confusion. "Master Bus" has been used for decades. As a matter of fact, the mix bus is called "Master Track" inside of Pro Tools.

[@samwinn2774]

What is a 2 bus?

[@FrightboxRecording]

Master Bus/Mix Bus

[@EmperorKamikaze]

It's one less than a 3 Bus

[@hvacpro4215]

If i use AI mastering do i even need a master bus ?

[@FrightboxRecording]

Yes, everything goes through the mix bus before mastering.

[@hvacpro4215]

@ sorry , i meant a master bus with anything on it