Ben,

Moker's right. These days, "Radio Ready" refers more to the redbook standards.

Lately I've been doing "retro" mixes and mastering. My ears have gotten completely tired of the "hot all the time" masters that the industry has been cranking out. One of the things I love about music is the dynamic quality. I love songs that start softly and build to a peak. I love snare drums that aren't slammed to the zero on every hit. Funny thing is, I've been fighting an uphill battle with this, and have gotten crits on other music boards compared with "hot all the time" mixes. Look on this forum for the thread about dynamics or volume (can't remember the subject name, and I've got to run for a session or I'd search it for you)

Now, a mix with variable dynamics can still fit the redbook standards and still be "radio ready." Heck, some of the biggest hits of all time had variable loudness. When I do this, I try to keep the "floor," the lowest volume, still easily heard. Depending on the tracks, it's usually over -10 db, but different frequencies have different "perceived loudness."

I encourage people (literally, have courage) to use dynamics in their recordings. Like vocal tuning, I believe slammed to the wall dynamics will be looked on as "dated" by future generations. I think the vocal where long notes sound like a keyboard sampler, and the dynamics that are all slammed to the wall will make folks say, "Listen to that dinosaur music."

You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash

It's only music.
-niteshift

Mike Dunbar Music