Mastering Questions - Please help!!

[Simsy]

Hi

I have read a lot of threads on here!!! But would just really like someone to answer these few questions

1) If I put a stereo imager on each instrument, to narrow it's width, do I then pan inside the imager and/or the pan control on the channel?


2) Do I put a reverb on a) each instrument and then set its stage position in altiverb
or b) each section - strings, WW, Brass, perc
or c) Have 4 stage depths and then pan the sends on each
instrument channel?

3) Do people put compression on each instrument or section or master channel?

I would really appreciate some experienced users here to help me out, my orchestrations sound ok, but they are just lacking that polished sound and I know that if I could set up my DAW properly it would really help!!!

Thanks,
Simon

[mathis]

1) Both is OK.

2) I usually go for sections.

3) I don't. But some do.

[Simsy]

Thanks mathis or your reply. Do you use compression at all then?


I was wandering how other people work?

I would be espescially interested in Dietz, peter roos, cm, Beat and the other very experienced peoples views.

Thanks,
Simon

[Dietz]

Hi Simon,

@Another User said:

3) Do people put compression on each instrument or section or master channel?
[...]

It depends. Sometimes neither the one nor the other, sometimes both. In general, I have a "master-chain" with a good EQ and some smooth compression, and individual compression (or even saturation) on selected instruments / ensembles asking for some additional punch or colour, e.g. a timpany, large horn-sections, or whatever.

HTH!

[bluejay]

This is an interesting discussion and an area I'm currently focusing heavily on.

I'm interested about using send effects on reverb as I been under the impression that Altiverb was generally used as an insert (and balanced with the wet/dry mix). Is there any advantage to either technique (send or insert)?

[Holgmeister]

I was experimenting a lot recently and since I bought a TC powercore [:D]

As always: It is really about listening and trying. There are so many possibilities, so that there is no "One Rule to Fit All".

Since PC/DAW make it possible to put everything everywhere (Effects on Tracks/Master vs the old limitation of outboard and analog gear) a lot of combinations are possible that have not been tried before. Plus, that companies like Voxengo come up with some great new approaches for mastering plugins. .

As for compression: I use it in recording mostly for something like my "Epic Horns" since they blow it all away. I definitely use it on the master mix. But it is a lot of experimenting. Less is more and a little tick on a dial can change it all.

As for reverb: This is something, where you have to ask yourself: What do I want to accomplish? Imagine a listener in the target audience and his position: Where are the early reflections, direct reflection etx. And as Dietz said: Use it on tracks only if you want to expose an instrument, since reverb is always related to room experience, (I,e, if you hear a "clear" cello, it is usually closer to you or in a brighter room position etc)

As an extreme example, it makes no sense to give a singer tons of reverb and have everyone else left in the dry room, this makes no sense for the listener, who will listen to the record.

As for IR/ Altiverb : I use it at the end, in a specific chain I did in Plogue.
(great tool for experimenting with VST Mix/Master Chains)
It should sit toward the end of the chain, since it will give (at least in classical setups) the final "Room" to everything.
But I find myself also in one specific mix. where the "Room" was to big and needed compression at the end again, so I reverted everything.

But it is an endless story and probably will keep everyone experimenting forever.