Volume.

We've talked about the loudness war before. However, this goes for the new engineers that should at least participate at least once in the loudness war. Why? People like loud music. (Still keep your dynamics!) There are a few tricks to getting a loud record. I will share a few.

1. Master fader plugin chain: When you're done with the mixing process, and you're ready for export, you add a strategic selections of plugins to the master fader. One of which, should me a maximizer (there are many kinds, find which works best for you) that should come at the very end of the master fader chain. Before that, could be something I like to use which is: One knob volume from Waves Audio. Another, which is free but ver good is: Blue Cat's Gain. Increase the knob on those plugins and boom! Loudness. Just don't over board.

2. Clip Gain the exported file. This goes into the mastering process, but you can do it too! Make sure you're using a limiter on the file, and clip gain the song. But the trick to this; is to have a professionally mixed track as a reference for you to match the volume.

3. Using a Mastering compressor. I typically don't use this technique but i know some that do. Compressors used CORRECTLY at the end of the mixing chain can "glue" your track together and also give you volume. The Waves SSL G-Master Bus can help out with that.

#HappyMixing