Questions concerning mixing levels

Yes. Higher levels on individual tracks is ok. Logic has tons of headroom for audio internally. On the master, however, staying below 0 is critical as the output will clip signals above 0when bpuncing, though you won't hear it clipped until you listen to the bounce.. And yes, the gain plugin to bring output levels down is the tool to use. I always keep my master fade at zero when mixing.

The input (when recording audio) and the output are the critical one, because these are the stages where you convert the audio signal from analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog. Based on the converter, they have a limit (0dBFS) that when you get over that you will get clipped sound (distortion).

The audio signal "inside" Logic is processed with a so-called "floating-point" system that provides a maximum level that you virtually never exceed. Therefore, no clipping on individual Channel Strips when signal goes above 0dB.

One note of caution. There is a thing called "True Peak" or "Inter-sample Peak". Something worth reading up on a little. What it means is that even if your Peak Meter shows you 0dBFS (which means you are fine), the "actual" signal level could be up to 3dB higher (which means you are not fine, the signal is clipping).

However, Logic has you covered. Just insert the Level Meter Plugin on your Output Channel Strip (as the last Plugin) and set it to "True Peak". This way, you can monitor that you definitely not going over 0dBTP.

Hope that helps

Edgar Rothermich - LogicProGEM.com

(Author of the "Graphically Enhanced Manuals")

http://DingDingMusic.com/Manuals/

'I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.'

I think there is a major disease spreading in the (semi-pro) audio community on various discussion groups and websites regarding "Mastering". Everybody is talking about this mystical-angeldust sprinkling-unicorn-being that makes your tracks sound wonderful. There are tons of (questionable) advice and suggestions floating around what to do or not to do in regards to the mastering process and your tracks.

There is only one main thing for you to consider. Your mix

Concentrate on your mix and make it sound the best to your ability. Forget about the mastering engineer, he is not mixing the track, you are. If you listen to your song and you think it needs a compressor and it sounds better with a compressor, then use it. Again the mastering is mainly fixing and adjusting things not mixing your tracks. As Data Stream pointed out, if a single track needed compression, eq or whatever, then you need to do that on that track during mixing. Mastering cannot do that on the stereo mix, it is only damage control.

Another pile of nonsense are all the recommendation at what level to mix before sending it to mastering. You don't have to follow recipes (-6dB, -18dB, -10dB). It doesn't matter. What matters is that you understand why, what you are reading on your output meter, how digital audio works, how to use True Peak Meter, etc. If you mix is at -1dBTP and your mastering engineer needs a couple of dB headroom for whatever he wants to do, then he should know how to use a Gain Plugin, or he is not a mastering engineer.

Talking about "Loudness Normalization", using LUFS meters is a total different (hot topic) that comes into the picture now that iTunes, Spotify and YouTube (SoundCloud soon to follow) follow those rules/guidelines (more or less) that affect (big time) how your track will sound once it reaches you customers/fans. If you are aware of those things, then you can have Logic's Loudness Meters on your Output Channel Strip and optimize your track accordingly during the mix (remember adjusting individual channel strips).

Hope that helps

Edgar Rothermich - LogicProGEM.com

(Author of the "Graphically Enhanced Manuals")

http://DingDingMusic.com/Manuals/

'I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.'

I use the master fader for fading out the ends of songs with automation. Aside from that, I keep it at zero. Using compression on the output bus is a complex issue. Many mix engineers like to use some subtle compression on the master out used gently to help "glue things together" and/or to add some coloration to the whole mix. I personally do not. There is a lot of discussion of this in online forums so if you're interested, try an online search for it. Try searching "compression stereo bus".

One other thought... I think it is best to NOT think about what will be done to your mix in the mastering phase other than not clipping your mix. You want to deliver your most perfect mix to your mastering house. If a little compression on the stereo bus sounds good to you, go for it! Just don't push the RMS level too high. I usually aim for an RMS level below -10 or -12. You can read RMS (average) level on Logic's level meter plugin set to RMS.

If you're using a little compression while you are making your mix decisions and then send the mix out for mastering with it bypassed, you are, essentially sending a different mix to be mastered. Personally, I would advise against this. Send the mix that sounds BEST to you. What are you using the compressor for if you don't want it on your final product? This is not a rhetorical question... Please let me know so I don't steer you wrong.

Belly up hi

Thats what I would do also,

Add compression, eq or whatever to the Stereo output, then if you ever need the tracks professionally mastered you can remove these.

Though what Data stream is saying sounds right!

So if you really need anything adding to make it sound better, shouldnt this be done to the individual tracks? Rather than the main output

No. The results are quite different. Compression on the stereo out affects the way the individual tracks interact. whatever is strongest in the mix a any given moment drives the compression and pushes down the rest of the mix. Kind of like when one sound breaths in, the others breath out.Wow... it's very hard to describe in words.

That makes sense Data! I understand.

Though I think its ok to add whatever to the stereo output for your own purposes, ie if it sounds better on a particular system you have.

Then this can be bypassed for actual mastering.

I guess this is what David was meaning.

Listen to DSS!

If one finalizes the mix using light compression or eq on the master but you do not just turn it off, your mix is tuned with those plugins functioning. DSS said if you do that you are essentially sending a different mix to be mastered.

Either mix without plugins on the master bus or use very light compression and/or eq.

If sending out for mastering I would use compression/eq on the individual tracks but leave the master/stereo bus straight through.

Ah right, its sinking in now Pancenter! thank you.

So if belly up really wanted a version of the track with whatever on the output, then he could/should make a duplicate copy of the project, then he could send the one without anything on the output for mastering.

Does this make more sense!?