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Author Topic: Headroom  (Read 14399 times)

m-crane

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Headroom
« on: January 20, 2016, 06:28:04 pm »
Hi, when you produce with headroom, do you lower the master channel 4 db when starting a project or do you start a project where the master channel is at 0 db and all the individual tracks is -4 db? What is the best to do when you think forward to mastering etc.?
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Midge

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Re: Headroom
« Reply #1 on: January 20, 2016, 06:31:32 pm »
I like to mix and master my own stuff. Generally keep the master peaking at around -6db on my mix...sometimes going as high as -4db or as low as -10db....a lot of the time I know what I'm gonna be doing with my master so its not to important where I peak but I generally stick around the -6 mark.
Most mastering services advise you to leave at least 6db of headroom.

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Schematic

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Re: Headroom
« Reply #2 on: January 20, 2016, 06:34:20 pm »
Individual tracks.

Or the way I do it is I have a template with subgroups from the start, and each subgroup buss is dropped to -10dB. The main reason I do it like this is they all output on their own channels and I sum them to master in analog, but it can be very beneficial if you're working 100% in-the-box too.

IMO leave the master track volume at 0 unless you're noticing some overs at the end, use individual track volumes to get things sitting at a good spot in the beginning.
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Babasmas

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Re: Headroom
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2016, 06:36:20 pm »
Quote from: m-crane on January 20, 2016, 06:28:04 pm
Hi, when you produce with headroom, do you lower the master channel 4 db when starting a project or do you start a project where the master channel is at 0 db and all the individual tracks is -4 db? What is the best to do when you think forward to mastering etc.?
The easiest way to have -6 dB of Headroom is try using volume know for everything in the track. (Kick, Snare, Synth 1, Synth 2, etc..)
Each instrument should have it's own insert.
It would be better that when everything is playing, you have -6dB of headroom, instead of lowering the main master channel of 6dB
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Gabe D

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Re: Headroom
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2016, 07:01:00 pm »
When I start a new project my master channel is at 0db. It never moves.
I start all my tracks or midi lines at -10db.

I use Voxengo Elephant to monitor my waveform. If it goes above -6db, I correct each track or the track that is making it go over the -6dbs.
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bryan

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Re: Headroom
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2016, 07:34:35 pm »
Quote from: gd4223 on January 20, 2016, 07:01:00 pm
When I start a new project my master channel is at 0db. It never moves.
I start all my tracks or midi lines at -10db.

I use Voxengo Elephant to monitor my waveform. If it goes above -6db, I correct each track or the track that is making it go over the -6dbs.

The same here, except I do -9db.  Never had any problem with clipping, especially if you mix based off of your kick's level.
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Xan

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Re: Headroom
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2016, 07:37:09 pm »
Quote from: gd4223 on January 20, 2016, 07:01:00 pm
When I start a new project my master channel is at 0db. It never moves.
I start all my tracks or midi lines at -10db.

I use Voxengo Elephant to monitor my waveform. If it goes above -6db, I correct each track or the track that is making it go over the -6dbs.

I'm with this guy. I start at -10db.
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Aerithos

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Re: Headroom
« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2016, 01:58:31 pm »
I leave Limitless on the master, and only adjust channel volume for balance purposes.

So 0db, I give myself 0db of headroom.

It's a horrible practice, but trying to keep everything mixed with headroom during composition distracts me from actually doing any composition. I can always re-work everything's volume after composition and arrangement are completed.
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Marrow Machines

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Re: Headroom
« Reply #8 on: February 25, 2016, 03:12:11 pm »
I'd start off small and then gradually work your way up.

You might want to consider using your volume knob on your interface to compensate for the lower volumes when mixing or creating initially.

You can always go over it and start making it bang at lower levels of the interface later, when you've had more time to decide on the music and the mix.

saves for headache and hearing fatigue.
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iBow3

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Re: Headroom
« Reply #9 on: February 25, 2016, 07:09:41 pm »
Leave the master at 0db. After processing each individual tracks/group tracks, make sure all of them are at like -18db-ish or lower, and adjust as needed. I keep my kick at -12db, and my snare at -15db, cus I want those to be the loudest. Whenever I do this, I find that my headroom on the master is exactly -6db or lower, which is a nice amount of headroom for mastering!

Yep, that's what I do on Ableton
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ZAU

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Re: Headroom
« Reply #10 on: February 25, 2016, 11:18:36 pm »
Quote from: gd4223 on January 20, 2016, 07:01:00 pm
When I start a new project my master channel is at 0db. It never moves.
I start all my tracks or midi lines at -10db.
Quote from: Xan on February 24, 2016, 07:37:09 pm
I'm with this guy. I start at -10db.

Me three with the -10db thing but just for the kick. Everything but that and the Lead instrument/vocals will be lower, like -12 or lower. And my Master Fader doesn't move at all either, it stays at 0db. Pulling the Master Fader down aways bothered me. I'm also really into Gain Staging everything and adjusting everything from the source (the synth's Main Volume/Ouput, adjusting the Gain of audio files, stuff like that).
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RAVÉN

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Re: Headroom
« Reply #11 on: February 26, 2016, 08:46:53 am »
I like to keep my tracks at around -16dB to -24dB, I learnt that from my cert 3 tech production teacher.
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movementmachina

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Re: Headroom
« Reply #12 on: February 29, 2016, 10:55:08 pm »
I always have the Brainworx bx_meter sitting on the master bus, calibrated to K-20 - by the mixing stage at the latest. Headroom problems are literally non-existent, as the average levels dance around -20 on the digital scale, leaving more than enough headroom for random peaks
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ZAU

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Re: Headroom
« Reply #13 on: March 01, 2016, 01:15:01 am »
Quote from: movementmachina on February 29, 2016, 10:55:08 pm
I always have the Brainworx bx_meter sitting on the master bus, calibrated to K-20 - by the mixing stage at the latest.
At the latest what?

I use Bitwig Studio as my (main) DAW and there is an option for K-20 metering built in. Your post makes me want to try it out! :)
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movementmachina

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Re: Headroom
« Reply #14 on: March 01, 2016, 09:38:47 am »
Quote from: ZAU on March 01, 2016, 01:15:01 am
At the latest what?

It always sits on the master bus, but I'll calibrate it when I start mixing, if not earlier. I don't really care about levels when creating and producing - just make sure nothing's clipping.
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