unless he's looking for an insanely loud master keep it at 3dB gain reduction at most..... remember it has already been limited.... so if he applied 3dB it will sum up to 6dB!! :shock:

and use the L2 instead.... the reason most people like multiband comp or limiting is the "eq" they get.... you should be able to get a better sound with singleband comp/limiting and some eq....

RubenO wrote: For people using the L3 here, how far do you push It before noticing artifacts. I Set mine for "Hi Res CD Master" and Set the Threshold to -7.0 and the Atten. usually ends up being around 6.5 - 7.0. Can I push it More, or should I not? He is looking for a Hot Master.

There is absolutely no way to suggest any setting for it without actually hearing it. It's totally dependent on what it sounds like "as-is" before any additional processing. There may be artifacts from before already. As far as when new artifacts start, it may be just from putting it on the track.

That all being said, I'm sorry you have to work with people who are overly concerned with "hot masters." And I'm sorry you have to use the L3. As much as I can't stand the L2, I'd use it instead if you have it available.

I don't mean to sound bitter - I've been basically forced to trash several great sounding mixes this week. Thankfully, two of them will be released with NO mastering engineer credited (I told them flat out that I didn't want my name on them). They really didn't sound that bad... But bad enough. (Sorry, just venting... *Sigh*)

And expect to have a very difficult time - Mixes that were already "squished" can be incredibly dificult to work with. If you have the original mixes available, use them. If the studio didn't supply the client with them... Well... They should have.

Massive Mastering wrote: I've been basically forced to trash several great sounding mixes this week. Thankfully, two of them will be released with NO mastering engineer credited (I told them flat out that I didn't want my name on them).

That is sad and so true... this happened to me twice in last June. Worked so hard, they have paid $$ and still, I did not want any credit on these. Man, they are bad (cd's) and they do not really sound better than before, slightly different but certainly not better. :(

RubenO wrote: Set the Threshold to -7.0 and the Atten. usually ends up being around 6.5 - 7.0.

It's already been maxxed, and you're still doing 7dB limiting ?

That seems like a Hell of a lot ... I never use more than 3dB.

Listen carefully to the result and make sure you aren't damaging the sound. 8)

Thanks for all the Tips guys. I usually do audio restoration work to old soul records and don't really do hip Hop music mastering much. The guy was fine with the EQing of the songs straight out the Studio and the Mixes are good. He just wanted a louder master. But I will just use my ears and do the best I can :)

7 db is a lot of limiting to a mix that has already been limited, even to a mix that hasn't been limited.

RubenO wrote:
I am using an L3 to Level out and Boost all his Songs and I always wondered if it is safe to re-Maximize a master that has already been slightly maximized.

For people using the L3 here, how far do you push It before noticing artifacts. I Set mine for "Hi Res CD Master" and Set the Threshold to -7.0 and the Atten. usually ends up being around 6.5 - 7.0. Can I push it More, or should I not? He is looking for a Hot Master.

No, it's not safe to "re-Maximize" a master. It's like cooking food that has already been cooked.

Well how does it sound?
If it sounds ok and compressed enough you could just clip the fader in your DAW until you hear something you can't stand. If it does not sound compressed enough then apply some compressing/limiting before you clip.

I will warn you though, compressing/limiting in the DAW will change the masters width/depth and definition to the lesser and so will clipping.

If you have another option then do that instead!

Best Regards
Henrik