I'd sell the Waves bundle and get a UAD rig and some room treatments or a nice converter set... :wink:

That's a lot of plugs. first thing you can do is read the pdf manuals for these plugs, waves describes what each one does and usually gives an example. the second thing you can do is try each one and see what it does. There are many ways to skin a cat, you just need to find the way you like.

Flavy wrote: Secondly, when i record acoustic guitar ... there's alot of 'boom' like a bit too much of the low end..its not EXACTLY bass...(its in the low end so there's that bass factor, yes) but i dont know how to describe it..but it feels like a 'boom'

first off, thats sub. its either from DI (without correctly adjusted processing) or from using a bass heavy mic too close to the instrument. try an acoustic processor pedal if youre doing DI and roll off some of the low (if it has a shelving EQ, use it). if youre micing, back up the mic a few inches, or try and find a better mic (a more ambience effect).

mastering. youll only need a few plugs.

its suggested that you export the song then load it into a new 'mastering' project, and import it in there. you can also use a master chain for mastering.

youll probably only use:
L2 limiter
any of the 4+ band EQs (lin phase EQ is good)
lin phase multiband compressor
spectrum analyzer (for now)

you might keep reverb handy just in case, the verb unit is good for mixing to liven up very dry tracks.

spec analyzer should be last in chain.

start with an EQ. flatten the frequency response out a little. use the spec analyzer to start with. dont do it solely on it, just use it to get an idea of where your frequencies are lying. see whats active where.

plug the multiband in. theres a great guide how to set up the waves multiband on some site (dont remember which one sorry). you can really screw stuff up with the multiband, so if you dont get it, dont worry agbout it and just use a regular compressor (set to shave a few dB off at average volume parts, set to about 1.4:1 compression, about 30 attack 100-300 release or auto if it has it, rough figures).

for the multiband. use the spec analyzer. look at where there is a lot of activity in the low end, and in the high end. those are the areas you want to capture in low and high bands (you dont need more than 3 bands). set the settings similar to how i said earlier for the regular compressor. you want each to only be shaving a few dB off at most. you want to try and equal the lows, mids, and highs out, else you will get a very strange sound (if you compress mid too much it will sound like an overscooped stereo system).

plug the limiter in.

plug spec analyzer in last.

set the limiter to fastest release possible. slide the threshold down .5db at a time. if it starts to pump or or the sound starts going out of whack, go back about a dB. overcomressed will sound more bright. best way to describe it. best to stay around -15dB RMS unless you actually know what you are doing and how to pump it to higher levels.your limiter will likely be set at -3dB to -5dB depending how hot your signals are.

with a lot of messing around youll know what needs to be what roughly, and will not need a spec analyzer for the most part. its still good to have around to check RMS even after you have frequencies down, so you know if you are overcompressing.

some general RMS levels ive seen:

about -20dB or so for quiet metal songs.
-15dB to -12dB is usual for loud music.
-10dB is highest i have ever seen, and thats on guitar/blastbeat music. usually it isnt from pumping it that high, rather than good mixing and a lot of stuff going on in the song (guitars full blast, kick blasting away, multiple vocal parts).

and keep in mind, bass can REALLY jack the RMS up. if it is, you might want to lower it a little (a 1-2dB) in the EQ.

just some generic guidelines to get you going. theres a lot more to it, but to start youll get a basic idea of whats going on.

and to pre-emptively avoid arguments, this is what I do on my mixes most of the time, and it has worked well. yeah i know RMS can be bad at -10dB, but if it sounds the same volume compared to songs of its genre and it isnt destroyed, am i not accomplishing my goal?

WOW....thanks for such a detailed answer...helped me out ALOT ... thank you soo much ... :D :D

got any before and afters? :)