If there was a newbie mastering/mixing section, I would post these questions there...
I record and mix in Sonar and then edit my wave files in wavelab (for intro and outro and fades...)
I have been exporting just normal 16 bit 44.1 wav files from sonar. Would it be better to export higher quality files and knock them down to CD quality files in wavelab?
What should my peak level be at or around when I first open up a file from Sonar in wavelab? Sometimes I have 0.000, I assume that means I blew it in sonar, then I go back and either take the main faders down, or start taking down individual tracks until my exported file comes in under -0.1. AGAIN, this question is what should I be aiming for out of sonar?
Once I have files in wavelab what should I look to have the peak at prior to exporting them? (remember, I am just trying to get a good mix CD, I am not doing any mastering. what I want is songs somewhere close to the same level so I can listen to them thoughout the mixing process, I am not compressing or EQing here, just cutting fronts and backs off, adding fade-outs, and leveling the levels.)
Do any of the answers to the questions above change when I am getting ready to send my final disk out for mastering?
Thanks for taking time to answer these questions.
Jim
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Just work in 24 bits, export in 24 bits, and as long as you aren
Just work in 24 bits, export in 24 bits, and as long as you aren't falling below like -30dB RMS in the final mix, you should be okay. Typical SNRs are about 100dB, and can be represented with 17-18 bits, giving you a generous margin even if you mix at lower levels. Your monitoring levels should be right to combat Fletcher-Munson, though.
Originally posted by jdier: What should my peak level be at
I wanted to clarify... In the past I have been going out of sonar as hot as possible... My real question here is what would be the minimum acceptable peak level when exporting from primary mixing application? Can it be too low?
Thanks,
Jim