It's really not a huge deal...just read the tweakheadz article I referenced above (and other articles like this one ). And make up your mind from there. Those are good articles :-) :-) I'm a girl geek who actually buys CDs. And also listens to the odd vinyl record. And plays most of my music as FLA...

Yes, fine. Smash the living crap out of it if you wish You guys are ace! Thanks for the advice :-) ...and maybe for my genre, I shouldn't be compressing/limiting in this way... [Closest similar songs (I wish!) are Luka - Suzanne Vega, Another Day - Paul McCartney] Looks like I did "smash"...

Well... I *am* still thinking about 24bit mixing for that reason... Lots of tracks...

But, my preamps are noisy, and I have to record quiet, so when boosting afterwards maybe 24bit would have helped. Still not sure...

Hmmm. That's interesting! Well, maybe I *am* getting it all wrong :-( This is what I'm doing:- Record guitars typically -18dB Individual track compression/effects so approx -6dB each track Rough mix summing approx between -9dB to -4dB, ensuring dynamics Now...I could just finish this mix, then rende...

My usb interface essentially means I record 96k/16bit, but I could technically mix and track virtual instruments in 24bit... I could also produce an initial 24bit master I suppose. Is it worth it? I definitely noticed virtual instrument sound improvements and my acoustic guitar when switching to 96k...

Oooh yes! Will try "Span"...(looks good!) Soniformer isn't free from what I can see.
Think I tried their (average) EQ once.

Thanks so much!!!

A good limiter with metering is helpful Thanks so much! I've been using "BLOCKFISH" (classic stuff, and has a compressor in series/limiter mode where it chains 2 compressors) for a long time, and also the newer Focusrite "Midnight" compressor. Both with great results. True stand...

Do I need a freeware/simpler version of this 'Digital Peak Meter Pro' from Blue Cat?
http://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Pr ... kMeterPro/

Hi Even with the "hold" on the meters, and maximised to full screen, and effective use of compressors/limiters... I think I need a better way of ensuring no clipping ("overs") in my individual track mixes, and then master bus when Mastering. Would some kind of RMS / level meter o...

oh, and to address the mid side issue... which I have in my own mixes (muddy bass/kick after using mastering/widening tools)... I'm thinking of trying some of the Voxengo VSTs, which claim to offer mid/side decode/EQ options: MidSide encoder: http://www.voxengo.com/product/msed/ Overtone GEQ (which ...

Hi Sam, all Can I (humbly) just add my own observations? (a bit late to the party!) As for kick/bass becoming muddy... I feel that the issue can relate to removing clutter from the stereo field... The iZotope Mastering essentials is *brilliant* (I love it!), and when used on the Master track (where ...

ok apologies, seems like this question got answered only just yesterday in this post...
http://forums.acoustica.com/bbs/viewtop ... f=4&t=9603
silly me...
looking forward to v6 release!

Hi I've used Mixcraft 5 (now 5.2) for quite some time (love it), but kinda now want the features (VSTs?) that are in the Pro version...tube preamp, "transient vitaliser"? Would I be better off waiting for v6 to be released? Would there then be an upgrade path for me, ie. from 5.2 -> 6, and...