Apple Logic Pro /LogicExpress Discussion

Andy,

     The standard "mastering" method is to bounce your mix down to a stereo track aif. or .wav, with the peak level being between -3 and -6 dB.    One way to achieve this by selecting all faders in your Mixer window (click-drag to highlight all except the master fader, leave that at 0), then adjust the faders.   Play your mix at the loudest section, and watch the master fader meter, make sure it stays in the black, around 3-6 dB.   

       The other way to bounce your mix and keep it with some headroom (the -3 tpo -6 dB) is to put your adaptive limiter plugin on the master channel strip, which is probably a better idea for more minor adjustments in overall peak level.    On the plugin, I think the bottom knob sets the max limit of dB, set that to your desired peak level.  

       Once you've bounced your track, to either two mono aif/wav files (left and right) or stereo interleaved.   You can try your hand at mastering, in the free Waveburner application that you got with your Logic purchase (Applications/Waveburner).    

        Or you can pass this file off to your mastering engineer. 

        An interesting blindfold study was done as a part of the "Shane Wilson's Guide to Mixing"  where they took their Pro Tools mix, and used different methods, analog/digital to convert that multi-track mix into the two track stereo mix.    His preferred method was to send four stereo stems (drums, bass/guitar, vocals, keys) to a Trident analog mixer, and then to half inch tape.    Then he'd record the tape back into Pro Tools for his digital .wav version.     Of all the methods for summing to the stereo track, the "in the box Pro Tools" seemed by far the weakest to me, even when you discount the inherent problems on creating a fair blindfold test of this nature.   

     I hope this helps,

      Pete

--- In Logic_Cafe@yahoogroups.com, "Man Parrish" <realnyc@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Andy..
> 
> I'm not sure what you mean by "bouncing" your tracks first.
> Of you mean recording all of your virtual instrument tracks before you mix down to master, then that is a good idea, and mostly depends on the strength of your computer. I always do a "save-as" mysong/mix so I don't mess with the original in case of changes or mess ups,  etc
> 
> By mixing virtual tracks down, you free up your processor to use some of the more powerful mix down tools (like additive compressors and 3rd party mastering suites)
> 
> You also record them to disc, so at a later time, you don't have to remember your virtual instrument or sampler settings. And the tracks are ready to go, if you send your tracks elsewhere for a remix.
> 
> I reciently had a problem, where I needed to fix a mix. I bought an 8 core mac and everything else (like my sample drives) stayed the same. But when I switched machines, my Kontact sampler couldn't find the sample locations that were from my old mac. Stupidly I didn't write the sample tracks to disk, Pr the names of the samples, so I lost a key sample to a remix I did..  Fustrating after 2 days of searching my drives!!
> 
> Hope this helps, if you were referring to something else, please let me know and maybe I can help!
> 
> Best of luck!
> 
> - Man Parrish
>   
> 
> 
> --- In Logic_Cafe@yahoogroups.com, Andy Brook <bbgrove@> wrote:
> >
> > I'm learning so much from the macProVideo tutorials - thank you for  
> > recommending them. I'm on mastering at the moment and the tutorials  
> > use a single stereo track. This is probably a stupid question, but do  
> > I first bounce the various tracks in my song before mastering?
> > 
> > I'm sure that's what I should do, its just that I haven't actually  
> > been told to do that so maybe there is another way of doing it.
> > 
> > thanks in advance
> > 
> > Andy B
> >
>