HOW TO GET A LOUD MASTER | Quick Tip Cubase 11

Introduction

This tutorial provides a quick and effective guide on how to achieve a loud master in Cubase 11. A loud master is essential for making your tracks competitive in today's music industry. By following these steps, you will enhance your mixing and mastering skills, resulting in a polished and powerful sound.

Step 1: Set Up Your Project

• Open Cubase 11 and create a new project.
• Import your audio tracks that you want to master.
• Ensure your mix is balanced and all elements are clearly audible before proceeding to mastering.

Step 2: Use a Limiter

• Insert a limiter on your master output channel.
• Adjust the threshold to catch peaks without distorting the overall sound.
• A common starting point is to set the ceiling to -0.1 dB to avoid clipping.

Step 3: Adjust Gain and Output Level

• Increase the gain on your limiter to raise the overall volume of the track.
• Aim for a loudness level around -6 dB to -3 dB on the meter to maintain headroom.
• Monitor the output level and make sure the sound remains clean and punchy.

Step 4: Apply EQ

• Insert an equalizer on the master channel.
• Gently boost frequencies that enhance the clarity of your track (e.g., 3-5 kHz for vocals).
• Cut any problematic frequencies that may cause muddiness (e.g., low mids around 200-400 Hz).

Step 5: Use Compression

• Add a mastering compressor to control dynamics without squashing the track.
• Set a low ratio (around 2:1) and a fast attack time to catch transients.
• Adjust the release time to let the music breathe, ensuring it feels dynamic.

Step 6: Finalize with a Metering Plugin

• Use a metering plugin to analyze the loudness and dynamic range of your track.
• Aim for a target loudness level that fits your genre (e.g., -14 LUFS for streaming).
• Make any final adjustments to the limiter and EQ based on the metering results.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can achieve a loud and professional-sounding master in Cubase 11. Remember to always trust your ears and make adjustments based on the specific needs of your track. As you become more comfortable with these techniques, feel free to experiment with different settings and plugins to find your unique sound. Happy mastering!