My Old .mp3 Needs a Kick in the LUFS. How to do it?

[ConnollyMusicCreates]

I'm pretty new to mixing but I have an old .mp3 that sounds decent (but not the stems unfortunately). Any tricks or tips for getting one file beefed up? I've done some light compressing/eq on the Master Bus bus but that alone, using the Loudness Penalty Analyzer, would show Spotify adding 5.7 dbs and Pandora 9.3 to reach their commercial loudness. Would a standard move here be to copy the track, adding volume, then limit them both? Or maybe add a Send with some heavy compression? I know this is something where everyone could have a different answer. I'm just trying to get the most out of this track and have it play at a contemporary loudness level. Thanks

[cactus-head]

Hi,

If the MP3 is dynamically set - meaning all of the louds and softs in the original file are as you want them, you might want to avoid things like compressors or anything that normalizes the amplitude. I might suggest upping the gain a bit as that would make the signal hotter but keep the relationship between the dynamics uniform. Unfortunately, the volume standards of streaming content force everyone to only be able to work within a certain dynamic range - so in contradiction to what I just said, you might have to compress the sh** out of it just to compete with other streamed content.

The algorithm calculating the required LUFs for a specific streaming service might average the amplitude of a given wave and therefore if you have louds and softs in your file, it will report a lower LUFS even though your peaks hit the requirement.

The short answer: maybe a combination of a bit of added gain, and a limiter to a)control your peaks, b)slightly normalize and keep a better dynamic range than a compressor.

[ppayne]

Hi,

If I can't change anything in the mix, then that's my approach:

1. Multiband compressor from Toneboosters v4. You can use it for free. Here I can preserve dynamic in desired areas and compress other areas to bring the gain up.

2. Toneboosters Barricade v4 as limiter and overall compression. Also free to use.

3. I check my result from LUFS and dynamics with true:level from Sonible at the end of the effect chain.

I try to keep maximum of dynamics. But as you say, many paths lead to the goal

Patrick

[ConnollyMusicCreates]

I'll try the Gain idea first. Hadn't thought of that.

Patrick, how do you get the new TB for free? All I see is the 29 on the website.

[ppayne]

I'll try the Gain idea first. Hadn't thought of that.

Patrick, how do you get the new TB for free? All I see is the 29 on the website.

Hi,

You can use all Toneboosters v4 plugins as a demo. The only limitation is that you cannot save a preset in the plugin itself. But that doesn't matter because Mixcraft saves the preset.

I think that's part of the sales strategy. Toneboosters knows that the plugins are very good and still pretty cheap. And in the end you buy the plugins simply because they are good, cheap and you want them to be further developed. I ended up buying them too

Patrick

[TrevsAudio]

Further, each time you use them, you'll get a prompt. But just select 'use demo'.

On Morphit 4, I was able to save my Sennheiser HD600's as a preset.

[ConnollyMusicCreates]

Didn't know about their demos. Thanks