From: John Mills-Cockell ()
Date: May 13, 2008
Subject:
Re: electroacoustic music - dynamic range in mastering
Excellent!
On 13-May-08, at 8:27 AM, Michael Rhoades wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> Loosely paying attention to this thread and feel inspired to
> contribute. I apologize if what I write has been covered.
>
> I just completed my 14th CD and have mastered several for
> colleagues of mine. That does not make me an expert by any means
> but I have developed an "attitude" about it. Simply put, my goal is
> to provide the widest dynamic range possible in my recordings (a
> huge compositional tool), while keeping the piece as loud as
> possible in the loudest parts.
>
> Inevitably, when looking at the graphic representation of the final
> waveform of a piece in a sound editor, there are areas where there
> are some peaks that are completely out of the range of the rest of
> the loudest material. These are usually short bursts. So right
> away I either compress them or use the pencil tool to drop them
> down to the level of the loudest material. Then I bring the overall
> amplitude up the amount I reduced the peaks. That usually allows me
> to gain 2 or 3 db without having an over. So the overall level is
> brought up without changing the dynamic range. Then I do use "some"
> compression. Just enough to allow the overall amplitude to blend
> and match the other pieces on the cd project I am working on. I
> usually do this manually. I reduce the peaks by say 2 db and then
> bring up the overall amplitude. Then, repeat as needed. It is a
> balancing act. You do not want to lose the dynamic range but you do
> want the average amplitude to match the other pieces and to be as
> loud as possible. The most important aspect of this maneuver is
> LISTENING!
>
> This is purposely not a technical explanation because I feel it is
> much more important to "listen" than to "think " about it. There
> are many times when one piece looks to be in the same dynamic range
> as another in the waveform editor but when listening to it my ears
> tell me it is not. This is in large part due to the material... the
> actual sounds being used. Although I do not use traditional
> instruments an example of this might be that a flute at -6db may
> cut through much stronger than a trombone at the same amplitude or
> vice versa.
>
> This is my two cents. I hope it is of some value in your search.
>
> Michael
> www.perceptionfactory.com
>
>