Thanks, that made it clear for me. Some people say ‘don’t mix with a limiter’ but when watching tutorials of great mixing engineers, most of them mix into a limiter.

Rapidly becoming one of my favourite channels - your descriptions are spot on. Educational, enough science explanation to explain the "why" rather than just focussing on the "how" and obviously a great ear - thanks very much! And yes - always mix into a compressor & limiter just to get a feel for what the pre-master is going to sound like and avoid those times where the delays that you think are so subtle are jumping out when you squash the mix in the master phase!!

You're really good at this dude, thanks ❤

I do mix into mastering processing, but I have a bus compressor that tells me if I’m hitting things too hard. If it’s doing more than 2 or 3db of gain reduction I know I need to fix something in the mix. My mastering chain is comprised mostly of things I learned from your most excellent mastering course!

Another great video, thank so much for covering the concepts. Another reason to gain stage and specifically watch the input levels into plugins is because quality analog emulations VSTs are designed to work at specific input levels and will distort or add too much saturation if the input is too high. I initially resisted mixing into a 2-bus compressor and limiter, but now I do, and I engage them after I get drums, bass, and a key instrument or two set with EQ and compression. A key benefit I found to this is that I can optimize the initial mix because I know the amount of gain reduction I want in my master bus compressor and limiter, so I have the thresholds already set on those. That way, when I am done mixing and ready to master, the level on my master bus is good.

I always mix into a buss compressor. Then when it is almost done I add a multi band clipper limiter etc to get like a decent mastering chain and make my final adjustments with those on. So I get a good feel for the master and know that it won’t sound so weird.

very nice explanation thank you sir

Since I first watched this I’ve been doing way more gain staging and it makes it all sound even better. I used to clip drums at the stem but not at every element like the snare or kick. I actually have a full master buss chain. I use a buss compressor with a low filter at around 120 (depends on the song) then into a linear phase multiband to keep everything in check and do the low and compression. Then a maxbass by waves. A waves center for stereo imaging. Then a ssl rack with a 12k 2db highshelf. I just like the sound of that one. And an eq. Then in post a clipper into ozone with the joey sturgis chain he showed on nail the mix. I do turn a lot of it off to check if everything still sound good without, but to have it there to be able to listen what it will actually sound like is amazing.

Wow Wow Thank you..... that was probably the single most informative and helpful video I've seen in awhile. I started mixing into a master limiter because once my mixes were done.... during mastering, as you mentioned, everything would change. I've always gain staged.... but just in terms of volume. Using it to control dynamics..... what a total "Ah ha" moment!!!! Thank you!!! You've become my new favorite channel!!!

Ein richtig gutes und wertvolles Video + super Inhalt. Nebenbei bemerkt, sehr gute Aussprache, die man als Deutscher richtig gut verstehen kann.

I'm kinda new to mixing and I tried EQ-ing instruments, sidechaining percussions, adding saturation/limiters/compressors here and there, and finally adding a parametric compressor on the master channel with gain reduction at peak frequencies. I had a very hard time getting the sound to not become too phasey as there were many instruments in unison and semi-unison, some with panning and stereo widening. It can be overwhelming in complexity learning this stuff but man is it interesting. Spectacular videos!

I definitely DO NOT mix into a limiter. I add mix bus processing about 1/2 way through. Usually a compressor first and then EQ before i do my automation. I do however, pay close attention to regulating peaks and maintaining good crest factor for all those reasons you explained. The thing I don't understand about mixing into a limiter is, what becomes of the mastering process if you already have the song limited at the mixing stage? You cant just take the limiter off, right? The mix would fall apart. So, do you just send the song off to be mastered with the limiter on? Are you even mastering a song that you mixed through a limiter?

Great video as always. So I’m wondering if you tend to setup the individual track dynamics/compressors etc first before you start properly start mixing into your mixbus compressor/limiters?

For someone who primarily uses amp sims and vsts in general, what level range would you recommend going into the mastering chain? I have been trying to keep it around -12, but after hearing you state that you should try to keep it consistent from the input throughout the chain, I am not sure what I am doing is correct. I am not clipping anywhere, but I do try to keep my input on my DI peaking at around the yellow so that I have good signal into my DAW, but then I will apply some limiting or other output adjustment to get down around -12. After listening to you, I think I may be incorrect. Thank you for the great material!

When I am working on something, I print my mixes to a limiter and I use sonible’s pure:limit. I do it more to get a “quick and dirty” volume boost because I tend to mix quiet (my loudest sections tend to hover around -6dB). When I do my mastering prep, the limiter is bypassed.

you'r mic is sounding bad in the video. I watch this on Krk's and there is a crackle in the high area. You'r tips are great

This only works in the box? How would you so this with all analog hardware and console?

So it would make sense to make the first gainstage and dynamic shaping completely with limiter on the master turned off and then after finishing this step adding the limiter to see which elements are hitting to hard into the limiter for example?

Ray- Your videos have helped me tremendously in mixing the last couple of weeks. However, one thing I’m getting stuck on is the actual quality of my music. What am I doing wrong that my metal music doesn’t sound physically high quality? I have a lot of good gear but listening to songs by bands like Bring Me The Horizon (a huge MIXING inspiration for me) and the quality of the music there but it sounds 75% done. How can I make it crispier?

let me ask you why you didn’t show the Trigger2 windows? I’m guessing you’re adding some parallel samples cause else what would be the point

When your done with the song do you remove the limiter to do mastering

not able to receive the guide....

I never understood why people send their mixes out to be mastered. A finished mix should be your master. If not, what's the point of mixing ? Bill P.

I hate using Limiters, I use Compressors for sure

I just don't get it. Why would you want to be hearing the sound of a mastered track when you're mixing it. Just make the best mix you can without top loading it. The mastering will take care of the rest. Have some faith! 🙄

mastering engineers HATE this 1 SIMPLE TRICK.

this is just bad advise bra ^^

Mixing into a compressor is cart before the horse stupid and only suggested by know nothings

Sorry but all compressor just so the song can loud and you use 9 compress to compress or prevent the sounds, suffovating the groove. to me this bad and horrible, a loud hard rock where everything is similar bang through might be fine, but never for a real music. Your videos are usually good but this is a disaster. Many people dont know that their masters or mix sound way WORSE than how they started, because they dont COMPARE. Wester people are obsessed with doing too many things or think that much is better. Anyone reading this. I bet you to try this and you will ever be thankful to me. master or mix your song as lovely as you can, then compare the neutral version to the mastered. use a plugin like ADPTR or anything to compare track side by side. make you sure raise the volume of the neutral one, the one with less plugins raise its volume so that its same as your mastered one. I bet you, the mastered one sound worse, you realize you feel like nodding or vibing to the normal and you feel nothing about the processed one. I wish I could make a video about this. The western world education influences how they think and do everything. unless you have never program a complex groovy drum beat or funky groove mute guitar, you will never know the beauty and dynamics and keeping the dynamics as untouched. I prefer the dynamic one than the loud one. And I have learnt to run away from limiters and compressors, or use them veru very carefully while keeping my mind on the feel of the hats, the groovy elements of a track. I discover a way to get a sound loud while almost nothing is touched with dynamics. That Plugin is all you need. OXFORD INFLATOR gets your track loud while leaving your dynamics and rhythmic feel intact. This is something people never say, they love the scientific sides and compltely ignore or dont even remember this is music we are dealing with science. Did you know the feel of your song would be why a song is a hit and another not so much. And the dynamics plays a huge role. THE FEEL OF THE MUSIC vs Loud in ya face punch etc. You choose. These scientist dont get it. this is why black people usually are more talented or pioneeed almost everything art or sports. You know why, black real ones dont over think things like children just do little and trust. Like a scientist who spent 40 years researching God and finally used DNA to see evidence for a designer, when simple things can tell you the same result without wasting time and energy. BEWARE OF LIMITERS AND COMPRESSORS. Their are ways to get a track loud with fighting dynamics and transient. its not rocket science but people love anything that goes through so many processes. I learnt this the hard ward. An engineer might not care, just mak the song loud and clear and the client can go and then to the next client. Comparing is the single greatest keys to mixing mastering you dont compare you dont make a perfect mix that moves peoples soul. THE FEEL THE GROOVE THE VIBE or loud punchy clear and leveled, your choice. shzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz