----- Original Message ---- > From: Fons Adriaensen <fons@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On Mon, Sep 21, 2009 at 06:19:51PM -0700, carmen wrote: > > > On Mon Sep 21, 2009 at 06:17:04PM -0700, Norval Watson wrote: > > > > > I have read that it is good practice to aim for a maximum > > > level of -3.0 dB when mixing, mastering, normalizing etc. > > > in the digital domain. > > > > two mono chans at -3 should sum to 0db, afaik > > They could sum to anything between -inf and +3dB, > depending on how related they are. > > And even for decorrelated signals, where RMS > of the sum will 3dB higher than each channel > separately, the peak level will increase by > more than 3dB, up to 6dB. > > What is the 'correct' level for any recording depends > on the type of music, the context, where and how the > recording is going to be used, etc. > > If you are participating in the loudness war (see > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war) you will > try to squueze out the last fraction of a dB. > Usually with disastrous effect on the quality of > the sound or music, even if it does not clip or > distort. > > If you go for a more musically enjoyable result it > depends very much on the type of music. For anything > 'heavy' you'd want to maximise the loudness without > clipping. In that case a fast peak limiter at -1dB > or so will do wonders without affecting the sound > too much. > > For anything classical or when you want to preserve > the natural dynamics of real instruments and performers. > peak levels are less of an issue, and your decisions on > level should be based on what your ears tell you, and be > guided by a meter that does indicate both RMS and peak. > Ardour's meters are near to useless for this, jkmeter > will do a good job if you learn to use it. > > Ciao, > > -- > FA Thanks Fons ! I believe I am still thinking in terms of 4-track cassette recording where a "hot" signal is all-important to minimise the dreaded tape-hiss ... The music I am mixing is radio, iPod-friendly trip-hop with 95% synthetic instruments, and the vocals have a lot of effects as well. Norv __________________________________________________________________________________ Get more done like never before with Yahoo!7 Mail. Learn more: http://au.overview.mail.yahoo.com/ _______________________________________________ Linux-audio-user mailing list Linux-audio-user@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://lists.linuxaudio.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-audio-user
