matt t. wrote:

My question: Does the "normalizer" function in the masterlink dsp
section set the peaks near or at the peak of most or all commercial
recordings?

Yes, but it won't bring the average levels up to that of most commercial
recordings, and it won't limit anything.

I've noticed that sometimes in playback other cds will
redline my masterlink and even distort. Some won't. What gives?

They are so heavily limited, they have a whole bunch of consecutive FS
samples, and they are distorted. That's the current thing these days.
There is a lot of stuff out there that is squashed to the point where it
is unlistenable to me.

And if
any of you have any tricks or routines with the masterlink that help
you quickly and cheaply provide your clients with a reasonable
finished product, please share. Does my routine of peak limiting a few
db and normalizing seem like an ok one?

Do you like the way it sounds? If you like the way it sounds, go for it.

Peak limiting might buy you a lot, and it might not buy you anything depending
on the music. Stuff with horns can be limited a whole lot before it becomes
a problem. Stuff with a lot of drums can be limited a whole lot before it
becomes a problem. Flutes can't be limited much at all before it is very
audible.

(By the way, I'm not asking for a lesson in mastering, and I usually
encourage bands with label money to do it right and get to a real
mastering lab. But that's only about 10% of my work.)

Next time you have a band going to a real mastering lab, ask to come along
and watch the mastering session. Ask some questions. It's lots of fun.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."