Get a FREE Mastered Sample of Your Song ➜ Mastering Compression Settings Overview In this video, the chapters are in no particular order, but we will be discussing various forms of compression in-depth, as well as introducing some useful techniques you can use when mastering.
Clean Vocal Chain OverviewPhase Alignment FirstCorrective Subtractive EQClean Vocal CompressionClean Vocal Compression With Free AlternativeDisharmonious Transient De-emphasisHigh-Frequency Vocal CompressionCleanest Possible Vocal SaturationFree Alternative Clean SaturationMid-Frequency Gate and Upward CompressNatural <1000Hz. Attenuation on BusNatural Studio Room ReflectionsHigh Vocal Range DelayAdditive EQ to Important Ranges
Get a FREE Mastered Sample of Your Song ➜ Make No Change Greater Than 1dB For this video, the tips will be in no particular order - we’ll cover various concepts and explain when a tip would work well, but be sure to use your best judgment when introducing some of these ideas to your mastering chain.
Get a FREE Mastered Sample of Your Song ➜ Overall Strategy for the Chain For this chain, I want to get it to a loud LUFS but retain a clean sound - or in others words, one without significant distortion, pumping, aliasing, artifacts, or anything that doesn’t augment the quality of the track.
Phase Align Before ProcessingAvoid EQ Matching, Reference InsteadAvoid True-Peak LimitingUse a Clipper Before LimitingUse 2 Compressors in SeriesAvoid Master Bus CompressionMake Lows Mono with EQ
Get a FREE Mastered Sample of Your Song ➜ LALA First is LALA by Analog Obsession, a clone of the LA2A optical compressor - it’s great for creating a smooth and full sounding vocal. To the left is an internal side chain, which can be switched to external, to the right is the output gain, peak reduction level, and wet/dry.
GateEQSootheDe-essCompressExciteGullfoss Get a FREE Mastered Sample of Your Song ➜ 1. Gate With this gate I’ll subtly attenuate the vocal whenever it falls below the threshold - with a softer knee, only a little lookahead, and a range of only about 3dB, I increase the dynamic range and reduce background noise.
Mid-Side EqualizationSplit EQ and PanningMid-Side Resonance ReductionBringing Up DetailsExciting High FrequenciesMid-Frequency Upward BusOmnipressor on OutputHard Clipping to TransientsLimiting Stage 1Limiting Stage 2
Starting with Mid-Side EQVery Subtle Resonance ReductionMaximization to Fill MixSplitEQ to Center LowsProgram-Dependent SaturationFresh Air to Brighten MixHigh-Frequency BusGullfoss EQ ShapingHard Clipping for Transients2 Limiting Stages
Subtractive EQ on MasterReducing Resonances on Side ImageMild Compression on Mid ImageAmplifying Transients and ToneSimultaneous Compression and Expansion3D Effect with SaturationSide Transient BusSubtle Gullfoss EQ2 Limiting StagesMild Hard Clipping