Maximizing loudness in a mix begins at the sound stage rather than the mastering one. By using the full potential loudness of individual elements, the producer gives the mastering total control to drive the limiter at a higher threshold without distortion. Electronic Dance Music artists are constantly trying to find ways to get their mixes sounding louder without scarifying dynamics, for example. And experts offer some great processing tips regarding this.
Maximizing Loudness: People’s Enjoyment
As a general fact, people enjoy music. Several studies suggest that audiences are more likely to enjoy melodies at higher volumes. When these results came about, many sound engineers tried to find ways to achieve the loudest audio levels possible within their own software and hardware restrictions. After many attempts, they realized that the only way to accomplish this was to sacrifice dynamics. This loudness war gave birth to the art form of getting a specific mix to sound loudest without distorting. In order to achieve this you’ll need various effects, such as saturation, compression, limiting, and equalization.
Saturation
Firstly, saturation makes a sound louder because it can create a denser waveform with a wider area under the curve. The additional harmonics make sounds feel fuller without increasing the overall level. Digital saturators mimic the effect of running tape too hot, so when sound engineers recorded and mixed on tape, running too much audio signal into the tape would add harmonics and compress the dynamic range.
Maximizing Loudness Through Compressors
Compressors are devices that reduce the dynamic range of an audio signal by diminishing the gain as the input signal crosses the specific threshold. The ratio determines the strength of this reduction. Also, time parameters, such as attack and release, determine the speed at which the compressor activates once the audio signal has passed through the threshold. By compressing the audio signal, the user controls the sound fluctuations without decreasing the loudness of the mix. As a result, these sudden peaks don’t have an important impact over the total sound volume.
Limiting
Limiting is an audio effect that achieves full potential out of a specific sound. Limiters stop an audio signal from passing a certain threshold. When you push the limiter too hard, the sounds distort. In order to avoid this negative consequence, it is essential to compress the signal beforehand. You can avoid distorting peaks by feeding a stable signal into the limiter.
