Request: Hot master with outboard compressor ?

Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:28 pm

Hello Sirs and Ladies,

i`ve done my masters since now complete in the box
Wavelab with UAD Precision ,Bluetubes, ...
it worked relativ nice.

I was not really happy with the compressors and so i try since one week an really nice Hardware SPL Kultube.

But my bigest problem is that i want to make hot rockmasters but my
RME says crackclisssssshhhdigitalnoise over 0db at her A/D Conversation....
But i like the power of the kulttube and i don`t get the power to the master when i turn all under 0db and boost it with the Digital Limiter inside.

I hope you understand my not so good english but i really want to know how i can catch the power of my hardware.

best regards
Thomas

Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:51 pm

I heard good things about the Kultube but I did not have a chance to try it out. That being said and despite the fact I did not hear and play with the SPL, I think part of the answer is in your post and I suggest to get a good A/D converter, some handles clipping pretty good, some offers "soft clip" and/or "soft limit" features as well.

Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:11 pm

Hello Richard

best greats to canada.

Thank you for your quick answer.

i have thougt the RME Fireface is state of art ?

How do use your outboard ?
Have you a hardware limiter at the end ?
Are you mixing digital and analog at the same time?

Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:27 pm

Hi Thomas,

I think it is a matter of several things. First, how is the mix? There are many ways to get the volume and again there is no "one fit for all" settings and gear/chain. Combinations of gear and settings versus the mix.

i have thougt the RME Fireface is state of art ?
I don't know if this state of the art for its converters and for Mastering.

How do use your outboard ?
Hmmm not sure if I understand your question, can you be more specific?

Have you a hardware limiter at the end ?
Sometimes I could use a hardware limiter but not as a Brickwall / peak limiter but more for sound shaping, for me, brickwall = I keep this to a digital one.

Are you mixing digital and analog at the same time?
Yes, I do it pretty often but not all the time.

All the best.

EDIT:<Sometimes I could use a hardware limiter but not as a Brickwall / peak limiter but more for sound shaping> I should have said Analog Limiter instead of hardware, sorry for the confusion !!

Moderator Joined: Sep 12, 2002 Posts: 1884 Location: NYC

How are you listening to the output of the compressor if you are not going through the computer? basically how are you comparing the way you like the sound of the compressor and the sound of the compressor turned down and then turned up with a limiter? I'm not sure I'm getting where your reference is.

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 1:38 am

Sorry, i`m a real bloody hardwarenewbie..

It was the loudness what have impressed me at the first time
with ignoring the digital noise of my converters .

Thats my problem when you make all in digital and make no head about
to high levels, and the work the same way with analog staff...

It was my failure to work like this and than ask at this forum...to be ashamed

Last half night i´ve put the kulttube into my chain with output under 0db (control the input with Digicheck) and let it work additionial to my existing setup and i get the increase of clarity and width that i hoped for .

"To RME"
i know that there are more specific and better converters for mastering, but the mastering what i do is a great hobby and i try to have a good affordable solution.

"How do use your outboard ?"
i mean you also have the plugins , and do you use the external gear in the same mastering chain in SAM, Seq, WL, what ever..
z.b.
1. Slot UAD
2. Slot Powercore
3. Slot External Gear
4. Slot Limiter…..

sorry again for my unqualified comments at the beginning.

best regards
thomas

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:57 pm

Aitzi wrote:

Sorry, i`m a real bloody hardwarenewbie..

It was the loudness what have impressed me at the first time
with ignoring the digital noise of my converters .

Thats my problem when you make all in digital and make no head about
to high levels, and the work the same way with analog staff...

It was my failure to work like this and than ask at this forum...to be ashamed

Last half night i´ve put the kulttube into my chain with output under 0db (control the input with Digicheck) and let it work additionial to my existing setup and i get the increase of clarity and width that i hoped for .

"To RME"
i know that there are more specific and better converters for mastering, but the mastering what i do is a great hobby and i try to have a good affordable solution.

"How do use your outboard ?"
i mean you also have the plugins , and do you use the external gear in the same mastering chain in SAM, Seq, WL, what ever..
z.b.
1. Slot UAD
2. Slot Powercore
3. Slot External Gear
4. Slot Limiter…..

sorry again for my unqualified comments at the beginning.

best regards
thomas

Hi Thomas,

No need to be sorry. So it seems that you are happy now with the result using Kultube and avoiding clipping to the converter? That is good. Now you may want to try a limiter after the SPL. To answer to the last question; yes, I also use the UAD plugs in the chain if I need it (mostly the precision limiter) at the really end of the chain.

All the best!

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