Master Buss Question

Johnbee58
So, now I have collected three new plugins for the master buss to try to make my mixes better and louder.  They are:
 
ARC 2.5 Room correction tool
Waves SSL Mix Buss Compressor
Waves L3 Multimaximizer for getting my mixes louder.
 
My question is would it be advisable to run all three of these on the master buss at the same time?
I realize that the ARC would not be rendered on the mixdown, but would having both a limiter and compressor on that buss at the same time serve my purpose well?  Also, in what order should they be on the chain?  They say the ARC must be the last on the buss, but that's also true of the L3.
Should I perhaps wait to run the L3 on the rendered full mix wave file instead of running it in the project?
 
Thanks
John B.

ARC should always be the last on the buss, with the L3 immediately before it. The L3 is maximising the whole mix, and ARC then taking the output of the L3 and making your speakers accurately represent what it's done.
 
Personally, I'd leave the L3 out of the equation (or at least switched off) until you're ready to master. I wouldn't mix into it, as it may "fight" with (i.e. undo) other tweaks earlier in the mix chain.
 
The same can be said for the Mix Buss Compressor to some extent (especially with regard to it being on the master buss, rather than some other buss). Although it does depend on how hard you're pushing it. If you're just "kissing" the compressor, it'll be fine. Just be aware that volume changes on individual tracks may be tamed somewhat by the buss compressor.
 
But for the L3, better to get your mix well balanced without it (even if it's at a lower volume), then enage the L3 once you're ready to master.
 
That being said, there's no "rules" here really. If it works for you and sounds good, keep the L3 on all the time.
 

I approach it a little different.
I send the MASTER buss to the ARC buss and ARC out to the monitors.
When I export the final Mix/master, it is taken from the MASTER buss.
That way I never export the ARCed mix/master.
I also have my "phones" send on the MASTER; don't want that accidentally "ARCed"!
I always Mix/master into my final "mastering" chain; these days Ozone 8.
Always have the Pro Channel comp in the chain as well; just a bit of light "glue".
I can't remember a time when there was not a comp on the 2-buss in the tape days;
but of course, at age 66, maybe my memory is a touch "hazy"? It was the 70's.
I'm NOT a "mastering" engineer, but as none of my work will be a "major label" release...
I like to "hear" the final product as I work.
Flame away....
 
T

DeeringAmps
I approach it a little different.
I send the MASTER buss to the ARC buss and ARC out to the monitors.
When I export the final Mix/master, it is taken from the MASTER buss.
That way I never export the ARCed mix/master.
I also have my "phones" send on the MASTER; don't want that accidentally "ARCed"!
I always Mix/master into my final "mastering" chain; these days Ozone 8.
Always have the Pro Channel comp in the chain as well; just a bit of light "glue".
I can't remember a time when there was not a comp on the 2-buss in the tape days;
but of course, at age 66, maybe my memory is a touch "hazy"? It was the 70's.
I'm NOT a "mastering" engineer, but as none of my work will be a "major label" release...
I like to "hear" the final product as I work.
Flame away....
 
T

Wow!  I thought all you guys on this forum were youngsters!!
You got 3 years on me, Tom!!
 
Thanks all
JB
 
 

Having an extra ARC bus at then end of the chain is a good call.