What is everyone using for mastering compression on their master buss?
 
Which plug-ins are you using for compression in this regard?
 
What settings are you using?
 
Note that I am NOT talking about a mastering limiter for peaks, but rather a mastering compresor to add "glue" to the mix and to make the mix blend well.
 
All serious replies appreciated.

My most recent album: final mix has a gentle compressor and peaks at about -6 to -2 db. 
Then my mastering chain is: Prochannel console emulation.
D82 Sonic Maximizer
LP64 Multi Band compressor - start with Mastering (lighter) preset
LP64 EQ - gently used as needed
Limiter
TRacks Metering - push the multi-band or limiter to get peaks at -.2 and -12Db RMS.

I have used the "Classic T-RackS Compressor" many times with good results. That's the yellow one with a meter. Set the side chain HPF to about 90 - 120 hz so you don't pump the low end. Set "Input Drive" so you get about 2 or 3 dB of compression. Set the "Attack" high enough (40 to 70mS) so you don't loose any transients. It has a stereo widener that it sometimes useful. It glues the mix in a gentle way.


The PC2A may work too. If you have it try it. Use a small amount of compression: 1 to 2 dB.

I do have the PC2A - I use it on tracks, but it may be a good choice for the master buss as well.

To add "glue" to the mix, you can use the PC4K Bus Compressor, which is exactly made for this task (modeled from the SSL Bus Compressor.

I use Voxengo Elephant on the master bus, it's there from the start of composition.

At the end of composition I crank up the output gain to get around -3db max then EXPORT THAT HOT MIX!!!

Sorry couldn't remain serious throughout a whole post
 
Voxengo Elephant is nice and transparent, i.e. it's the proverbial elephant in the room.

mikedocy


I have used the "Classic T-RackS Compressor" many times with good results. That's the yellow one with a meter. Set the side chain HPF to about 90 - 120 hz so you don't pump the low end. Set "Input Drive" so you get about 2 or 3 dB of compression. Set the "Attack" high enough (40 to 70mS) so you don't loose any transients. It has a stereo widener that it sometimes useful. It glues the mix in a gentle way.


The PC2A may work too. If you have it try it. Use a small amount of compression: 1 to 2 dB.

+1


I love this compressor (The T-RackS) and it's relatively easy to set it up just right.


I usually follow it with the Brickwall Limiter, again from T-RackS which can be extremely transparent, even when pushing it a bit

I know that I'm now sounding like a Waves rep. (which I am not at all!!!)   I like the LinMB as a multi-band mastering compressor.  I also have Ozone 5 and find that it has a great master bus compressor when you don't feel like being a knob-twister.  Lots of presets to play with.

Shambler


I use Voxengo Elephant on the master bus, it's there from the start of composition. 

Voxengo Elephant is nice and transparent, i.e. it's the proverbial elephant in the room.

Voxengo Elephant is my mastering limiter - so. how many db's of reduction do you typically aim for? Or, what RMS levels do you typically aim for?
 
I get conflicting reports on how much the Elephant can limit a mix without wrecjing it. -3 db's is pretty safe - but what about -6 db's, etc.?

I use Elephant as a loudness maximizer, I don't need to limit as I don't mix too hot.


Reading your first post again, for compression I use PolySquasher but only lightly since all tracks that need compression will already have it in prochannel.