ABSTRACT
More usually, though—and in contrast to its temporary use—master buss compression is employed to help bind the individual components of a mix together, providing a more cohesive, aggressive, and unified whole, with the processing therefore retained for the final mix. Despite these benefits, there are significant risks with the master buss “sonic glue” tactic. For master buss compression purposes, wide knee settings are generally preferable, delivering nominal gain reduction as a signal approaches the threshold. A master buss compressor reacts very differently to individual elements than an entire mix, resulting in a lack of equivalence when summing separately compressed stems. Due to the fast-acting nature of a limiter, a master buss application is far more likely to darken and flatten a stereo mix’s transient energy than a compressor. Nevertheless, a temporary application of master buss limiting can be valuable for providing band members/management with a “pre-mastering preview,” with improved level-equivalence to other productions allowing for more objective comparisons.
