Thanks again Johnny! Anybody else want to weigh in on achieving -4Db max on master bus:
 
The easiest way is to just turn down your master output but I guess that's not the right approach.
 
If you disable your comp/limiters on Master Buss and you're still above....what would you do (to keep your same mix)?

kawika
If you disable your comp/limiters on Master Buss and you're still above....what would you do (to keep your same mix)?

If all Master Buss Fx are removed and the buss is still peaking above 0dB then you need to go back and adjust the level of all your tracks
 
This is where using offset mode comes into it's own:
 

1. Engage Offset mode
2. Select All tracks
3. Lower all tracks simultaneously
4. Disengage Offset Mode

This can have one disadvantage. If any of your tracks are feeding sends to reverb/delay busses then you will have upset the wet/dry balance. The mix will now sound Wetter than it did before because you're still hearing the same amount of Wet signal compared to a lower amount of dry.
 
However, you can engage Offset Mode again and this time just group together any sends and reduce them by the same amount as you adjusted your faders
 
 

I've never done this,, just thinking out loud,, if your did that in offset mode but used the gain instead of the level,, wouldn't that also lower the effects send as well??????  

Possibly Johnny, I've never tried it 

kawika
Thanks again Johnny! Anybody else want to weigh in on achieving -4Db max on master bus:
 
The easiest way is to just turn down your master output but I guess that's not the right approach.
 
If you disable your comp/limiters on Master Buss and you're still above....what would you do (to keep your same mix)?

Grab all your faders and turn them down a little bit.
 

Cactus Music
I've never done this,, just thinking out loud,, if your did that in offset mode but used the gain instead of the level,, wouldn't that also lower the effects send as well??????  

Just tried this, and it doesn't work. Seems like gain isn't exposed to Offset Mode.

Dang,,could have been Andertons tip of the week....

Let me get this straight...is it being assumed that everyone is sending their songs in as Cakewalk Sonar projects, or as wave files?  Obviously, a lot of mastering houses do not utilize Sonar in their tools. Or, are they sent out as OMF files or separate wave files?  Would it be best to seek out mastering people who specialize in Sonar mastering?

I don't think that assumption is correct.
 
I would have assumed the Mastering House would be expecting a stereo wav.

Yes.. sending a Sonar CWP or ? to another studio would be for mixing, not mastering.
Mastering houses only deal in Stereo. Unless it's for a surround project.
It was not that long ago you needed to own a 2 Track R-R deck to submit for mastering ( $1,500-$10,000. Then came DAT ( $1,600- $6,000.  I remember the first stand alone CD burners ( $3,000 and later $800) . We are spoiled rotten now, everything is free. We don't even need to drive there or mail the master.
A short time ago home recording required a lot of spare cash and a heck of a lot more education just to push the record button. You had to read a few books or take courses.
 
I still think it's worth the time to start with a good read though a full course of the art of studio recording to understand the lingo and the process from start to finish. You'll get a lot more enjoyment out of the process knowing what's up.  There are many great books available. This new trend of watching home made videos has the pitfall of consuming bad advise from another amateur. I've watched some of them,, :(   A published book would still be my choice.