Slate Digital FG-X Virtual Mastering Processor - Manual (Page 16)

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Slate"Digital"FG-X"Virtual"Mastering"Console"
When"we"say"-11"dB"RMS,"this"refers"to"the"loudest"passage"of"the"song"(typically"the"
chorus).""For"instance,"a"typical"pop"rock"song"can"start"out"at"-12"dB"RMS"for"the"verse,"
get"to"-11"dB"RMS"for"the"prechorus"as"more"instrumentation"is"brought"in,"and"then"
peak"at"an"average"of"-10"dB"RMS"for"the"chorus"as"all"the"elements"of"the"mix"are"in"
gear."""
VI.2. D IS T O R T IO N
In"the"rare"case"that"you"hear"distortion"via"the"FG"Level,"follow"these"steps"in"order:"
• Lower"the"ITP"slider.""This"will"make"the"curves"gentler"and"99%"of"the"time"will"
remove"the"distortion"without"affecting"anything"else.""If"you"find"you"like"the"
sound"of"the"ITP"slider"when"it"is"higher"on"a"particular"mix,"simply"automate"the"
slider"down"during"the"portion"of"the"mix"where"you"hear"distortion."
• Check" the" mix." " Often" times" distortion" is" caused" by" an" unbalanced" frequency"
response"within"the"mix.""Usually,"the"unbalance"is"in"the"low"end.""Ensure"that"
your" mix" doesn’t" have" sudden" bursts" of" extreme" sub" lows," or" long" low" end"
resonances" that" are" overbearing." " To" be" clear," healthy" sub" low" end" is" handled"
fine"by"the"FG"Level.""Excessive"distortion"of"your"mix"at"RMS"levels"of"-10"to"-
8.5dB" is" most" likely" an" INDICATION( THAT( YOUR( MIX( HAS( POOR( FREQUENCY(
BALANCE.""Make"sure"that"before"pushing"a"mix"louder"with"the"FG"Level"that"
you" have" properly" balanced" it" with" an" equalizer," such" as" the" upcoming" FG-Q"
mastering"equalizer."
• You’re"pushing"the"mix"too"loud.""As"powerful"as"the"FG"Level"is,"if"you"push"the"
processor"to"unruly"levels,"such"as"-5dB"RMS,"it"can"still"cause"bits"of"distortion.""
Push"the"mix"to"healthy"level"of"-10dB"RMS"to"-9dB"RMS."
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