If you need a maul-the-band compressor on the bus, find out what's wrong in the mix first.

If you/client don't have access to the original mixes, that's another story -

But in short - Do you actually *need* the MBC? Is the mix asking for it? It's a rare occasion...

Listen to John.

Maul the band is useless in mastering.

(Top ME's hardly ever use multiband)

If you must use a multiband, then use Soniformer.

Its great cause its somehow not a multiband, well it is but it diesnt mess the audio as much as other MB's.

But definitely go back to the mix and fix it.

a multiband can really suck the life out of a mix. if you are stuck on using one, then back way off of it. barely use it. tweek all of those attack and releases. it'll take awhile for your ear to key in on everything. The C4 is a phasier version. I would spend some time just using a wideband compressor until you really get the hang of compression before jumping to a MB. Most don't use MB but it's up to you.

IF the kick keeps getting buried - check your settings on your limiter.

Bear in mind - most brick wall limiters used in mastering use INCREDIBLY quick attack times. Digital brickwalls can even do a 0ms attack time thanks to buffer latency.

The sad reality of that is, the kick's sound is often derived from it's transient attack. Compressing TOO much will squash your transient and make only the thud (which is far less audible than you'd think) remain.

So, here are two options -

1 - adjust your attack time to a slower speed. This will allow the transient through but still clamp down on the remaining portion (thus bringing up the thud)

2 - Use less compression or limiting. Remember, there's a reason a good kick sounds like a good kick. That's usually because the difference between the attack and the resonance is similar to what is found in nature - not squashed to kingdom come...

In any case, good luck.

J.

hi

I am starting to look at Waves masters bundle also.
Lots of controls.
If you do not know exactly what you are doing , chances of ending with a bad master are numerous!!
Read carefully the manual!
There are easier multiband compressors out there, like TC MAster X (3+5) and MC2000.