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When I was a younger audio engineer I always found myself frustrated when comparing my final mixes to commercial releases. I’d connect my iPod to different sound systems and A/B only to find my mixes pale in comparison to professionally engineered productions in terms of volume, presence and impact.
Here are several tips, and five plugins (and in some cases, their hardware counterparts) that, if used properly, can help increase the perceived loudness of your mixes.
Disclaimer: The key to making the most of these tips is thoroughly understanding the difference between Peak and RMS.
Additionally, I have recently switched from sending all tracks directly to the master bus to first through a series of sub-auxes which include drums and bass, all other instrument and vocals.
1. UAD Neve 33609
The Loudness is calculated at three different intensities, using a LUFS-target based algorithm. The targets in O9 are: Low -14 LUFS, Medium -12 LUFS, High -11 LUFS. Manual mode means that you will select your loudness intensity target which will adjust the Maximizer Threshold to reach your recommended loudness. FabFilter – Pro-L 2. Rating: 5 out of 5. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5. Who this plugin.
I recently demoed this plugin (which models the Neve classic) and found it does something that very few other plugin compressors can do. When used on the master bus, reducing only about 1.5 dB and with a fast release, it offers an overall boost in RMS without introducing pumping and other negative artifacts.
I wouldn’t call it transparent as it adds impact, a clearer sense of space and a bit of brightness to most sources, but it certainly won’t negatively alter the dynamics and balance of a mix when used correctly. Just in time for the UAD sale!
2. FabFilter Pro-L
FabFilter Pro-L has definitely become my go-to limiter for most material. It’s versatile and offers a lot of control, so the learning curve is a little steep, but once you understand all that this plugin can do, it’s hard to refrain from placing it on the master bus. It adds brightness and brings content forward, so be careful to not overdo the gain reduction.
A key feature of this is the real-time RMS readout. I can see exactly how loud my mixes are at all times, truly a great limiter for someone wanting to understand the process better.
3. Waves L3-LL Multimaximizer
The L3-LL offers a similar hype as the famous (and perhaps overused L2) but in a multiband compressor format. I’ll set my threshold so that the material is rarely subject to significant gain reduction, and use another limiter such as the FabFilter Pro-L to do the heavy lifting.
Because it’s multiband, I can use it to compress problem areas like low-mids. Or sometimes just use it on the vocal aux to gently compress the sibilant 7-9k range.
4. UAD Studer A800 and Ampex ATR-102
I consider this another masterful job from UAD modeling classic and sought-after hardware. I’ve never heard a plugin do what these do. The Studer A800 offers more of a warm, vintage tone, and I often use it on individual tracks that need to be prominently featured in the mix. You’ll also find it works well on sub-auxes and the master bus.
The ATR-102 offers a different flavor, boosting the highs, creating a more defined sense of space, and helping in raising the RMS of a mix. Be careful to not push the meters into the red as it will crush transients and introduce unwanted distortion.
5. Cytomic The Glue
The Glue is modeled after the famous SSL Master Bus Compressor but offering the key feature of a dry/wet mix knob.
With the SSL compressor I only feel comfortable reducing about 2 dB of gain before my mixes start to pump, lose bass, and feel lifeless. With this I can push a bit harder (4 dB of gain reduction) and simply turn the affected signal down with the mix knob, essentially creating parallel compression but with fewer steps.
Using a slow attack and fast release, this plugin offers exactly what its name suggests.
Video Examples
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When I was a younger audio engineer I always found myself frustrated when comparing my final mixes to commercial releases. I’d connect my iPod to different sound systems and A/B only to find my mixes pale in comparison to professionally engineered productions in terms of volume, presence and impact.
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Recommended Loudness Vst Plugin For Izotope Plugin
In this article I'm going to share with you my top 10 VST plugins I recommend for producers in 2020.
Stock plugins are awesome – I love them – and in my opinion you can get about 90% of the way to truly pro sound with them. However, using a few choice premium plugins can take you that last 10%.
NEW!Black Friday & Cyber Monday Audio Plugin Deals 2020
Here are my top 10 VST plugins for 2020 – both free and premium – and WHY I think you should get them!
Caveat 1: Don’t think a good plugin is going to make bad music sound good. It’s not. Seriously...It’s not! These plugins can help take well composed, well produced music up to that next level.
Caveat 2: These are the VST audio plugins that I personally use. They are not the only options, and plugin choice – all else being equal – comes down to how well you like the user interface and how well you get to know it.
View them as an investment – not an expense. Whats more…You can download free demos for most of these, so try them out first and see what you like:
My Top 10 VST Plugins for 2020:
A premium Synth, like Serum or Sylenth1:
There are others, of course…these are just two I use a lot. Why? Fun, fast and lots of presets available. Unique routing and modulation options. If you’re still hung about about the ethics of using presets as a starting point, get over it. A rompler like Nexus is also good (although I’ve never used it so can’t really speak from experience on that).
Sylenth1:http://bit.ly/2OOA776
Serum:http://bit.ly/2PbsGph
Nexus:http://bit.ly/2PfGhMv
Omnisphere:http://bit.ly/39JVmyjOxford Inflator (50% Off):
Inflator:http://bit.ly/2SBlJ3U
Bark of Dog:
Bark of Dog:http://bit.ly/2HyJdQP
Fabfilter Pro Q3:
FabFilter Pro Q3:http://bit.ly/2u80ahR
Here's a review by Alex Consordini: https://youtu.be/GxWeWSJ_ek8A decent limiter:
If you get none of the others – if you really want to get your music up to commercial loudness and plan to do your own mastering – this is a key plugin to invest in. The FabFilter Pro-L2 and Sonnox Limiter are great.
FabFilter Pro-L2: http://bit.ly/2sHTAgZ
Sonnox Limiter: http://bit.ly/34YQvrnValhalla Reverb:
Valhalla Reverb:http://bit.ly/2P4Nlwi
iZotope Ozone 9:
Ozone 9:http://bit.ly/2wsSNm6
A decent saturator:
Everyone needs one of these. There are some great ones out there. My favourite two that make it onto every track are Soundtoys Decapitator and House of Kush Omega.
SoundToys Decapitator:http://bit.ly/35Zd2UQ
Omega N:http://bit.ly/2rcmB45LFO Tool:
LFO Tool:http://bit.ly/325jFEp
YouLean Loudness Meter (FREE):
YouLean:http://bit.ly/2SGZ1rf
Recommended Loudness Vst Plugin For Izotope 7
For tips on mixing with plugins in 2020, click here.
Recommended Loudness Vst Plugin For Izotope Vst
Let me know in the comments below if you have any recommendations for awesome VST audio plugins for 2020! 👇