Hey guys,
I have a question regarding Master Bus level.

• Is -12 a good level when I prepare my tracks for Mixing ?
• Should I compose the whole track keeping Master Bus on this level ?
• Individual tracks should be on 0db ?
• (This may be stupid question) Can I use limiter -12 on Master buss instead of master bus at -12 ?

Thanks

 

the -12 db relates to the level of the audio, not of the fader, you'll have to look in the mixer view and check the vu-meters. but this is only needed for mastering, also you never use a limiter when you mixdown you master for mastering, that's best left to the mastering engineer and will likely limit what he can do with you mixdown/master

 

Thanks... Good Info... I downloaded free TB audio VU meter. You think this should work ? Ref for this meter is default set on -18

 

Set master to unity gain (0dB). Then use common gain-staging to achieve a mix that has a few dBFS of headroom (which will then be mastered).

Learn gain-staging if you haven't already.

 

If I got it right Ableton's mixer shows peak and rms values. If you plan to export at 16 or 24bit you need to avoid peak level close to 0dB (or even above) in the master IN. If you plan to export with 32bit FP (floating point) values above 0dB don't matter for the channels and the master but could matter for some plugins.

You'll need a VU meter only for analogue value gain staging, not for digital.

 

32 bit float and forget about clipping. Then loading of clipped floating point wav can be simply unclipped with gain/fader set down.

 

This new Ableton 10 does not show number in db in master bus.

 

Oh, I didn't know, I only googled it and found this. It's not correct?

 

It just shows the peak value,the number below is the position of the fader.

 

Ohh... Then I think there is a trouble with my install of Ableton 10... this doesn't show numbers. I ts Blank !

 

I see no space for numbers, maybe just increase it (expand the view)?

 

Nope... i did every thing. I expanded in ful & I move up-down but no number shown

 

What about Reaper??? No offense.

 

I just did clean install & every thing back to normal. May be it was some glitch. Using third party VU meter for level is more comfortable

 

That does appear to be a strange glitch, the master fader in session view should definitely have numbers. I usually work in Arrange view where it doesn't have them. It really seems like this 32 floating is a great way to keep your sounds in tact, also feels very limiting in terms of plugins however... I'm trying to figure out the 64bit equivalent, might start trying 88k on a new session but some of the internet says 96. Just a theory since I"m not sure if my computer can handle though.

 

You have to increase the height...right there where the red arrow points you can increase the height. But you said you did this, so no idea...

 

I reinstalled... And everything is back to normal. Thanks though