I was wondering if somebody could lend a helping hand on the following issue.
So I have to leave -6dB headroom on a master, some sources state that you don´t want your elements to cross that line(slight crossing is still allowed as these spikes will be handled during mastering). Okay, got that. Working on a tune I notice a strange pattern, when my drums are not peaking over -6dB I can´t hear them in context of a mix. My other elements are perfectly below -6dB(still some spikes going thru) but my kick and snare can´t cut through(carry the mix) when they are below that headroom threshold. EQ-wise it doesn´t seem as I am not leaving enough space for kick and snare so I thought maybe wrong compression and improper layering(phasing) are contributing to the problem. Okay, I tried to take a solid drum loop from a great sample pack, made it to peak at about -6dB, some EQ and still - my drums are not there, everything else takes the power away from them.
Okay, thought maybe during DIY mastering drums will pop up. Not even close. But doing the opposite which is letting drums peak about -3dB will result in excessive limiting(given that other elements peak at max -6dB) and thus squashing them too hard. What the actual fuck? I might be doing something really wrong as I am still learning how to produce on a professional level, maybe somebody can give a solid advice? I think I am fucking up with the concept of individual elements dynamics sum up.
Many thanks
So I have to leave -6dB headroom on a master, some sources state that you don´t want your elements to cross that line(slight crossing is still allowed as these spikes will be handled during mastering). Okay, got that. Working on a tune I notice a strange pattern, when my drums are not peaking over -6dB I can´t hear them in context of a mix. My other elements are perfectly below -6dB(still some spikes going thru) but my kick and snare can´t cut through(carry the mix) when they are below that headroom threshold. EQ-wise it doesn´t seem as I am not leaving enough space for kick and snare so I thought maybe wrong compression and improper layering(phasing) are contributing to the problem. Okay, I tried to take a solid drum loop from a great sample pack, made it to peak at about -6dB, some EQ and still - my drums are not there, everything else takes the power away from them.
Okay, thought maybe during DIY mastering drums will pop up. Not even close. But doing the opposite which is letting drums peak about -3dB will result in excessive limiting(given that other elements peak at max -6dB) and thus squashing them too hard. What the actual fuck? I might be doing something really wrong as I am still learning how to produce on a professional level, maybe somebody can give a solid advice? I think I am fucking up with the concept of individual elements dynamics sum up.
Many thanks