Mastering Tutorial Bitwig - Master The Art Of Music Mastering
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- Today we take a look at how to master a mix with only Bitwig Studio Devices. Why should we master our mixes? We master a puzzle game music track called "Smygare". Mastering a game music mix!
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Mastering Tutorial Bitwig - Master the art of music mastering.
The song was selected because it is not a "perfect mix" in a sense so that we have to do some creative stuff with a multiband compressor to regain the balance in the final master.
I explain briefly about LUFS which stands for Loudness Units Relative To Full Scale). You can read more about it in this article that I published - Mastering for Spotify LUFS - How to prepare a master for Spotify? Read the full audio mastering article here:
bit.ly/2xJf0co
We take a look at some free third party vst plugins for mastering and metering audio;
YouLean - Loudness Meter 2, for accurate LUFS loudness metering.
Limiter 6 - a free audio plugin for gain-staging & limiting.
We use mainly Bitwig devices to achieve multiband compression, compression and final peak limiting. But I wanted to briefly show you the limiter 6 plugin in this tutorial too since I think it's a great plugin.
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You just finished mixing your latest EP and everything just sounds great and you are ready to get those songs published to the world. But there is one crucial step before you can publish the EP… The mastering stage!
It is important to have great balanced audio with correct loudness before uploading your master to the streaming service.
The streaming services measure the loudness differently but -14 LUFS is a very good starting point. At least we need some kind of reference point to set our levels, or else we are left in the dark void of space.
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Excellent video, it would be great if you could do one about the mix of a song explaining in detail as well as this video. Greetings.
Thanks, glad you liked it! 😀 Absolutely, there will be a mix video coming soon. 🔥
Mattias Holmgren I'll be waiting
This video helped me a lot for my latest track, thanks, very good video!
Hi Jason, happy to hear my videos are helpful for your music production and mastering.
Great video! I think I'll be getting Bitwig now. It seems to do everything I want, and I love the interface.
My dog is telling me the bell sound on that track is the same frequency as my doorbell. He growls every time. 😆
Haha thats awesome Sean. Yeah they really nailed the UI in Bitwig Studio. Please use my affiliate link and discount code if u plan on grabbing Bitwig. The info is in all my video descriptions. Thanks and have a pleasant sunday. (me: preparing to shoot the next Bitwig episode) 😉🥳🌞
Thank you for making this. I always wondered how the pros did it and now I know! It's incredible the difference.
Glad my mastering tutorial was helpful Christian! 🌞
@@MattiasHolmgren It really was. I had been doing it all based on hearsay I only half remembered from the 1980's or early 90's haha. Now I decided to get back into making some tunes I thought it might be a good idea how it is done these days 😀 Throwing filters, limiters and compressors around like they grow on trees! I think you used about five thousand pounds worth of gear if it had been done back then lol. Actually probably fifty thousand if you add on the spectrum analyzers.
Anyway, I tried it on a test thing I was making. The result was night and day. Thanks again!
Thank you!
Awesome, you are welcome! 👌🎉
Great video. 👍
Thanks! 🌞
Really cool tutorials you do there! :) Concerning the Bitwig spectrum analyser: you could use the sidechain input to look at the pre-mastering chain signal simultaneously. ;)
HörGräte yeah, its a useful way of viewing pre and post. :)
Extremely insightful video. Thank you.
Up until now, I've only been using the multiband comp on effects track and only ever adjusted the mix knob, but going to experiment with putting effects on the frequency splits instead
Freq splits can be really helpful. I highly encourage experimentation! Glad you found some inspiration from my mastering tutorial. Hope you enjoy my more recent content too. Welcome onboard the creative ship!
Thank you Mattias. It never occurred to me to split the frequencies.
Yeah, it's really good for all sorts of sound design tricks that Multiband splitter. I use it all the time when I add distortion to a sound in Bitwig (when not using Trash 2 of course). In with the Multiband FX-2 splitter so that only high frequencies are sent into the overdrive. Very good for splitting your bass sound up and only fiddling (adding effects) with the upper range.
legend !
👍😄🥁
It would be very cool to see a video with using a reference track when mastering in Bitwig.
Sure I'll add that to the video wishlist. Thanks for the suggestion.
enjoyed this vid, will use some of your techniques in my upcoming sketches - also didnt you say you master on headphones? and then did not even use them once in the video? :))
Sometimes when doing the videos I skip headphones because its good to relax the ears. Esp since shooting videos may take loooong time. And yes use headphones 90% of the time when mastering because my room isn’t good for the bass register. And i have a ventilation hum at 100hz which ruins up my listening. 😂💪🥁🌟
Glad u enjoyed the video.
Pure gold! Please do a mixing video! One thing I didnt really hear was the difference with the limiter6 :-( Perhaps I cant hear good enough
Mastering is about subtle adjustments. Mixing video coming up!
How to master the art of music mastering in Bitwig Studio tutorial. Well, at least it's a quick and dirty look at how to do some simple mastering with just the Bitwig native devices! Neat!
Why should we master our mixes? We master a puzzle game music track called "Smygare". Mastering a game music mix makes it fun! I love this quirky track!
The song was selected because it is not a "perfect mix" in a sense so that we have to do some creative stuff with a multiband compressor to regain the balance in the final master.
I explain briefly about LUFS which stands for Loudness Units Relative To Full Scale). You can read more about it in this article that I published - Mastering for Spotify LUFS - How to prepare a master for Spotify? Read the full audio mastering article here:
bit.ly/2xJf0co
We take a look at some free third party vst plugins for mastering and metering audio;
YouLean - Loudness Meter 2, for accurate LUFS loudness metering.
Limiter 6 - a free audio plugin for gain-staging & limiting.
We use mainly Bitwig devices to achieve multiband compression, compression and final peak limiting. But I wanted to briefly show you the limiter 6 plugin in this tutorial too since I think it's a great plugin.
Great video, thanks...
Glad you like this audio mastering video Yombol! Good to see you around!
thank you for this video know I understand how to work with die multiband thing :)
Hey, awesome glad to help out! ;)
Superb explanation.
Thanks Mario. Happy to hear you enjoy this mastering video. 🌞
Very nice video, thank you :)
I have a s question ;) Why a compressor after multiband compressor ?
I cant remember in this specific case. Maybe it was to get the final limiting function of the compressor. It can be to get a specific colour / character too. All effects EQ, compressor etc does introduce a certain character when used. But generally I don't add a compressor after the multiband compressor. I do add a final limiter at the end to get that LUFS - 13b and around max peak - 0.3db. Glad u enjoy the video. Ill make an updated mastering video soon. 🌞🦊🏅
@@MattiasHolmgren Your new video it's Mastering with Bitwig native plugins like this ? It's will be nice ;)
Hello... Nice video! On mobile it'a bit hard to follow the mouse pointer... Enabling some kind of highlit around it would make it easier to see :)
Hi thanks! Yeah, it would be awesome if RUclips made a built in feature which you could activate on mobil that made an overlay on the mousepointer. It would be much better solution than burning a larger mouse pointer (or effect) into the actual video, as not everyone has a problem with that or watch on small mobile phones. Thanks for letting me know and lifting the ideas. 🌞😀
use tool and peak limiter for mastering. Amazing!!!!!
Good Bitwig tools indeed! ;D
Cool tutorial! Why SPAN and spectrum analyzer so different in measurement results?
Smygare, is released - mattiasholmgren.bandcamp.com/track/smygare
Thank you sir... 😘
You are welcome NikHil!
True Peak meter goes in red, that should be fixed. Even if there is a peak limiter, digital to analog conversion finally is giving a true peak value. Am I right?
Hi Pyc. Level does not go into red if you have an accurate Limiter, in some limiters you can activate a less accurate (faster calculation) and then you can have unpredictable results with some "red going on". But for final mixdown calculation you will often have a more accurate model.
D/A (or DAC - Digital Audio Converter) is always dependant on your audio interface so it has nothing to do about what goes on in the box (read: DAW). The output from your actual audio interface is dependant on the quality of your DAC. These days music is mostly digital in various formats until finally reaching the DAC of the consumer (ie Spotify listener or whatever.)
In mastering I often target to measure the digital true max peak at -0.3db, and a integrated LUFS at -13db (perceived loudness measurement). That's kinda standard. I know some people still use -0.5db for max true peak in order to make sure the music will not break on some analog systems.
How are all tracks bounced into one ,,
For mixing & mastering in Bitwig ???
Use the export / bounce feature. 😃 Or are you wondering how the inner workings of the export feature ”bounce” works? 🥁☕️
@@MattiasHolmgren
Yes to both your answers ???
Hi again. I tried and tried again but I still have some easy questions which should be very easy for you. Here goes:
1. When you import your mix to an audio track do you raise the fader of the track to 0db? Mine is always at -10db when I import. Should I raise the fader to 0db?
2. How do I export after having tweaked the audio with the mastering chain? The chain is on the master channel, right? So I can't bounce the audio. When I export it via the menu it sounds changed somehow. What options to choose? Master track, dither, real-time, post-fader, pre-fader?
Sorry, I'm lost 😓
Hi, 1. You can select in the main menu (Bitwig Dashboard -> SETTINGS -> BEHAVIOUR -> Defaults New Track Volume) what the general volume for a new added channel should be. I think you can set it to 0db or -6db or maybe even now to a custom number. 2. First I always make a looped region select for the track length I want to export. Press ShFT + CMD + B = Bounce Export All. Now press "Loop Region" to make the export know that it's that track part you want to export ie. the whole song. Only acticate dither and adjust bitdepth to 16 bit (since you are probably going to convert your song into an mp3 later). You can disable dither only if you have a mastering plugin (Ozone?) that does the dithering down to 16 bit. Hope the info helps.
A low track volume like -10db is good if you are creating a track and add tons of new samples etc. Then you don't have to manually drag down the volume of every track to get your master below 0db. ( not spiking into red). So it's actually a good thing. But annoying maybe in your case. =) Generally it's just good to have the faders a bit down. Leaves headroom... But it's a quick fix to go into the menu and just make it default to 0db for all new tracks created.
@@MattiasHolmgren I know headroom is good. When I finish the mix I have one file for the whole song at -6db.
I put that file on an audio track. Since the file is -6db, can I raise the track fader to 0db?
I have your mastering chain on the master channel, right? When I am finished with mastering and everything looks fine in the Youlean Meter, how can I export the file so it sounds like on the master channel?
I appreciate your time to help me but I didn't fully get what you wrote..
Absolutely, if you import the masterfile (which is maxing at -6db) into a brand new Bitwig session make sure the track fader is at 0db. Or at least do some gainstaging on the master channel so you get it maxing at -0.3db tops) you lean should read around -14db for the short term LUFS. The master channel fader should only be automates to fade down at the end of the track. Never go above 0db with the master fader in Bitwig.
If you now export the track the .wav master should be exactly as played back in the DAW.
Good stuff chap, is there a possibility that you might do a mastering video for FL studio users please sir?
Thanks. Possibly! FL Studio is also close to heart so as mastering tutorial in FL is definitely something I'll add to the todo list! Appreciate the feedback and suggestion my friend! Cheers! 🌞👑
@@MattiasHolmgren good maybe I can finally get an accurate Maximus tutorial. Thanks again
Yeah, Maximus is an excellent processor for mastering. Powerful, yet a bit hard to get your head around. Thanks for asking!
Are you using Alt-spacebar (or Mac equivalent) to return to playing from start? If so I'm wondering why your playback sounds nearly seamless while when I use that short cut there is a huge gap in sound continuity.
Also, how does a Peak Limiter differ from a Limiter?
Hi Quantum, I don't need to do any special command to play from start in Bitwig Studio. If you press the mouse at your requested starting point in the timeline a small blue "playhead arrow" will appear. If you press spacebar to play, the playhead will always start from this blue arrow...every time you press play. ;)
So this is all I do. I select my starting point once and then I can start and stop and start again...and know that playhead will always start from that small blue arrow starting point I set. Very convenient.
Peak Limiter
The Peak Limiter in Bitwig is just a straightforward simple limiter. It's just named Peak Limiter because this is exactly what a limiter does. It limits the audio peaks so no audio can exceed this point. I often use the maximum of -0.3 db when I limit my masters.
Peak Limiter with Soft Clip
Unfortunately the Bitwig limiter does not have a Soft Clip switch. A limiter with a Soft Clip gives a more rounded peaks and more "warm" result. So if you want a smooth drive / soft clip you can use the Amp device in Bitwig. Just make sure to deactivate all EQ and the Cabinet emulation in the Amp device. Just run the signal through it and adjust drive as you want it with the Smooth Drive setting.
Personally I use a few Peak limiters like:
1. The Glue compressor / limiter (Cytomic)
2. Neutron / iZotope
3. Limiter No.6 (FREE)
Thanks for writing!
Did this answer your questions?
Cheers,
Mattias
great video!
i see that your peak limiter is set at -0.3 dB
aren't we supposed to go no higher than -1.0 dB True Peak when we submit our songs to Soundcloud, RUclips and others to allow for the conversion to MP3?
Its ok to have true peak between -0.3 to -1.0, even when converting to mp3 (no problem). As long as you have a great weighted master with LUFS above -13.5db.
You can go higher with the integrated LuFS if you are working in dubstep, or metal genres etc. It gives a more crushed sound. Its guidelines. But keep close to the guidelines and you are safe. Also, always use your ears.
Soundcloud is that a thing anymore 😄🥁
@@MattiasHolmgren i see.
i like around 15 LUFS top for the type of music i do.
i feel 14 LUFS is a little more too compressed for my taste...
@@moontan91 yeah, a mix changes character when its pushed harder and harder.
Is there a way to MIX a track(song) without fader automation in bitwig? I mean, that all the mixer faders stay at the same level, but I could still automate individual channel(track) volume, then being able to make little tweaks in the mix balance using the mixer faders?....sorry if I did a poor job in formulating my question 😅
Yes you can use a Tool device and it will act as your volume / gain levelling device. Use a tool device on each track = never touch the track volume fader…and just use track fader to adjust minor dbs. I use tool device to adjust overall levels all the time. Its awesome and can also control stereo width of the audio signal. Win! 👌🍿☀️
Then just automate the tool volume / gain.
A very useful video so thank you for that. What I want to ask you is that do you bounce down each stem in the track seperately and then bring all these stems in a different session so that you can master your song by applying all these chains you pointed out in your video or do you mixdown the whole track into one master track and then you bring this master track into a new session and then apply mastering to the whole track? Which way do you do it?
Hi Ali, I usually make the master chain directly in the song project because I do the whole mix / master process myself. In the past I did have separate mastering session projects but it became too much work if a game- or film- client wanted to make adjustments after delivery. I guess its my background in film and game Scoring shining through here. But I see no point in splitting the work around too much. We are all different and some like to master all the songs for a album in One big project as the final stage. But these days its singel releases all over so its often master chain slammed into the song project for a Quick delivery. 😋 Hope it helps. Thanks and glad you enjoy my content.
@@MattiasHolmgren Thanks for your prompt reply. I only recently started to use Bitwig as I have now switched from Ableton due to the fact that it not only crashes a lot but it is also a very PC hungry software, which leaves me very frustrated as well. Add to this the heavy pressure that the max for live devices (sometimes I need to use them) introduce to the scene as they also crash very often. No, this is way too much for me. Bitwig does not crash like Ableton do and it is quicker to load it. It has everything as a perfect DAW. I will use your valuable expert suggestions you advised me in the future. Keep well and stay safe.. Regards from Ali..
Mr. Holmgren, can you see Bitwig replacing Logic Pro in an overall sense. I’m a home-based writer, composer, wannabe producer, etc (like all the million others) who wants to escape the walled garden of Apple. Their computers are way overpriced these days.
I would say you can already use Bitwig instead of Logic without problem. I just use whatever because I know so many of them and prefer to do certain tasks / music in each of them.
What you might miss in Bitwig is flex pitch but you could use melodyne for that. Also video is not supported in Bitwig, but if u dont do scoring to picture its no biggie.
Bitwig is overall a great music tool and actually wins in its drag n drop functionality over Logic…. And the modulators of Bitwig makes it a killer! 👌🎉😄
Oh and note sheets / sheet music editing is obviously not possible in Bitwig, but not maky use that these days anyway…. Except if you’re working with orchestras.
@@MattiasHolmgren Thanks much for the details. Makes my decision easier. So if scoring for video is important, I guess Cubase / Studio One is a better option. That is my next choice anyway.
@accentontheoff yeah, for scoring picture i would suggest Studio One, Ableton or Cubase…or even FL Studio, which has also grown a ton.
Ableton is a good alternative to Bitwig. Very similar daws. 🥳
I think I need to do another episode talking about selecting music production DAW. With some tips n hints what’s optimal for what IMO.
@@MattiasHolmgren Got it thanks!
what makes the multiband fx 3 dope..you can put any effect on 3 bands..i never seen no multiband that can do it
Yeah the real beauty of Bitwig. Create your imagination!
Mattias Holmgren...could the new Bitwig vocoder with its 80 bands do mastering?
Brilliant upload as usual. You’re a legend Mattias. Thank you for these tutorials.
+ add any modulator and modulate any available parameter...
Great stuff! Do you know of any Linux native alternatives to Youlean?
Maybe try the K-Meter - www.mzuther.de/en/software/kmeter/ I'm not on Linux so I don't really have a good eye for plugins available on that platform, sorry. 😁
@@MattiasHolmgren Thanks! Sorry for not responding before, youtube's notification system clearly doesn't work.
Animae yeah, tell me about it, it’s very hard to navigate in comments. Should be multiple ways to sort so you easily can find the new comments. And not just most recent in top level comments. Comments on second level and beyond in a dialogue / correspondance are hard to look up. I want to be able to respond to everyone, but its like finding needles in a haystack sometimes. Did you find any satisfactory metering tool for Linux?
spectrum analyzer doesnt come with bitwig does it, hows this tutorial on bitwig about an effect thats not in bitwig? I'm confused
I show plugins which are FREE to use for mastering, they work within Bitwig or whatever DAW of choice. You can also use Bitwigs native spectrum analyzer…or even EQ+ as a spectrum analyzer. They all work for the purpose of visualizing the frequency spectrum. Cheers.
@@MattiasHolmgren Thank you for your kind reply
Hi Folks, there's a follow up to this video available - Exporting Masters with the best settings in Bitwig: ruclips.net/video/kUu3sAn4hys/видео.html