What dB should my mixdown be?

So long as your mixes give the mastering engineer room to work, and cover your noise floor, then you’re in a good range. I recommend mixing at -23 dB LUFS, or having your peaks be between -18dB and -3dB.

Should you export mix before mastering?

When exporting a mix that you intend to have mastered, you should export it at the native resolution – in other words, the file should be the same sampling rate and bit depth as the original recording. If the mix session is 48kHz, 24-bit, export it at the same settings.

Should I use a limiter before mastering?

Like I said, limiting should really be saved for the mastering phase. So if (like me) you tend to master your own material, still take the limiter off, bounce out final mixes (in 24 bit) and then bring those into a mastering session.

How do I get better at mixing and mastering?

Top 10 Tips for Making a Good Mix

1. Keep it simple. When recording, don’t clutter – focus on the main ingredients (rhythm guitar, bass, percussion, etc.), adding additional instrumentation only as needed.
2. Keep it down.
3. Watch the gloss.
4. All together.
5. Give it a rest.
6. Listen from a distance.
7. Combine tracks.
8. Get the red out.

How much should I gain stage?

So maintaining the same concept of optimal gain staging that you use during recording is your best bet: -18dBFS is a good average level to aim for. Keeping it conservative will help you maintain proper gain structure throughout your mix.

Should I normalize audio before mastering?

A: Few mastering engineers rely entirely on the normalization function of a software DAW to adjust levels. Normalizing increases the gain of an audio file until its loudest point (or sample) is at the maximum available level of the system.

How loud should my mixes be before mastering?

How Loud Should My Track Be Before Mastering? If you want to send your mix off to get mastered, you should aim for around -6dB Peak, and anywhere from -23 dBFS RMS or LUFS to -18 dBFS RMS or LUFS average.

Why is my master not loud enough?

Most likely, your mixes are too quiet because you haven’t placed a limiter or limited properly, or your average sound level (Loudness Unites relative to Full Scale–LUFS) is too low. In order to make your mix sound louder, be sure to place a limiter at the end of your signal chain, and monitor your LUFS, and make sure.