Opinions about headroom between mixing and mastering?

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silvercn
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2012/02/05 23:45:23 (permalink)

Opinions about headroom between mixing and mastering?

Just wanted to poll about how much headroom below 0db you leave on the mix/master bus- to allow for whatever processing will be done in mastering.
 
Thanks

Charles 
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https://www.reverbnation.com/charlessilverman


Charles S.
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    drewfx1
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    Re:Opinions about headroom between mixing and mastering? 2012/02/05 23:57:49 (permalink)
    If you output a mix to a 32bit floating point file (as you should) to be mastered, then it makes absolutely no difference.

    If for some reason you output to a 24bit fixed point file, then, assuming you aren't clipping or have a ridiculously low output level, it makes no difference either because the level can be adjusted during mastering anyway.

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    Jeff Evans
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    Re:Opinions about headroom between mixing and mastering? 2012/02/06 01:18:03 (permalink)
    Leave about 3 or 4 db between the highest parts of the music and 0db FS. That is what you want and need to know. No mastering engineer likes getting levels that are approaching or clipping into 0db FS. And if you are mastering yourself you need some headroom to allow for any boosting that may occur in the EQ stages etc.. Better to be under than right at or over. The music peaks could be even be 6 db lower than 0db FS.

    Levels that are low are OK because their gain can easily be made up. 24 bit files are all you need as well.
    post edited by Jeff Evans - 2012/02/06 03:36:33

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    batsbrew
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    Re:Opinions about headroom between mixing and mastering? 2012/02/06 13:02:59 (permalink)
    i typically PEAK at -6

    my RMS values are typically -22

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