gain reduction p-lim

[will]

how much gain reduction is a good idea? im working on fairly acoustic rock songs. in broad gereral terms how much is ok.
also, ive always thought to mix down my tracks and then use the p-limiter eq ect, but ive noticed how the reverb for instance get louder in the mix when i use p-lim, which means i should mix and limit at the same time to compansate. perhaps im limiting to much. any ideas on that?


thank


will

 

[MASSIVE Mastering]

You shouldn't be limiting the mix buss at all until the mastering phase - Even if you're doing it yourself (but that's for another thread). And then, how much is \"okay\" is entire dependent on what you think works well with it.

A dB or 3 of GR (again, probably without limiting) on the individual tracks that need it is probably what you're looking for.

And don't forget to mute that verb once in a while... If the verb is eeking up under light limiting, are you using too much in the first place?

 

[cAPSLOCK]

I agree with John but will depart to say that when I am working with folks who want to take home a current but unfinished mix and have complained that the mix is 'quiet' in the past. I explain the reason and if they want louder I will often put a limiter on the main bus just to get it within a mile of what they hear when they turn on the radio volume wise. I do not try to do anything more than make it a little bit louder.

Once I am done with the scratch mixes the limiter goes off for the final mixdown.

And truthfully, the mix almost always sounds better unlimited and just turned up anyway. I imagine this would be true with much of overlimitedcommercialpopproduct.

As to limiting making the reverb more present... hmm... it can, but not usually a whole lot. What WILL really pump up spacial effects like reverb and delay is any M/S or 'stereo-widening' type things you do. John is right, if your mix is showing more reverb after limiting you might be using too much. Obviously this, like almost all of it, is a taste thing.

cAPS

 

[will]

thanks for the replies. i just got the p-lim so im just playing
around with it.
ive been pressing the peddle a little too hard to the floor it seems.
i can make my mixes alot louder(quiet transparently)with just a db or 2 gain reduction tops.
isnt the p-lim designed to boost the vol during mastering
uad states the p-lim is designed for program material(mastering)
seems you guys have a adversion to it in that context
yes i can see how its too easy to over limit but when i but in a cd
of mine and compare it to a commercal product theres a significant
differance in loudess.shurely theres a happy medium to get my levels
up relative to other cds without overlimiting.
as for overlimitedcommercalradiopopproduct doesnt radio ably extra limiting because most people are listening in a car with background noise
and generaly want a in your face sound quality

 

[MASSIVE Mastering]

I'm not normally one to use limiters as anything other than a safety net to catch \"the ones that got away\" from my chain.

But a little bit of boost isn't going to kill you - some of the time...

It just comes down to the number of ways to get volume. A limiter is one of them.