Post Processing?

After mixdown from multitrack to waveform...does anyone perform any post processing before labeling a project "finished"? I've been taught to use the Dynamics Processor under Amplify and choose the "Gate That Compressor" pre-set. Is this a bad choice?

I'm sure that many do some degree of processing on the final mix.  What I would take issue with is - what seems to be - a 'one size fits all' approach that you are using.

Every mix is unique, I would expect a unique approach to each track, not the use of a pre-set, just because it's there.

Thanks. I'm mainly doing radio station imaging so I have processed them all the same for the sake of uniformity. Where can I learn more about post processing and when/where it's necessary etc... I've been doing imaging for 10 years now without any formal training on ANYTHING.

Thanks!

So you want to do a secondary post processing of an initial post processing...
When I ever do "Secondary post processing" (processing after mixdown), it is only very slight changes, like small eq adjustments, slight limiting, usually, as garfield1211 stated, for uniformity with other tracks.

I guess where I am confused is what sort of post processing you do, when and why...i.e, where do you use a limiter and what in the finished project let you know that you needed to limit it? Like I said, I have had ZERO formal training. I taught myself to use cooledit and do imaging.

Thanks for the help.

I guess where I am confused is what sort of post processing you do, when and why...i.e, where do you use a limiter and what in the finished project let you know that you needed to limit it? Like I said, I have had ZERO formal training. I taught myself to use cooledit and do imaging.

Thanks for the help.

I had overlooked that you were the original poster, so my last post probably sounded a bit funny.  I have not had any formal training, and I'm sure others that have can offer more help, but ill add another comment, FWIW.

I rarely find the need to add much at all to a final mixdown, because I usually do all the post-processing (mastering/compression/limiting, effects and EQ) in the multitrack view.  I use nothing but my ears in deciding what to do with a mix.

Limiting after mixdown is useful to make a mix "hotter", especially for radio play, by squashing dynamics, resulting in a more "in your face" sound.

Thanks for the help. Maybe I should take my ass to the library and do some reading on this or try to get into a professional studio around here and learn from studio engineers. Maybe Dr. Dre will let me sit in on a session with him and Eminem.

To paraphrase what others have said, during the mix you make the individual track as near perfect as you can as a stand-alone item.

After the mix, any post processing you do is to make your perfect mix "sit" properly wherever it's final use might be.  This might be extra compression for radio distribution in your case (though often the station will compress it AGAIN so caution here), or playing with levels so a sequence of tracks sound right together on a CD.

Alas, quite often these days the mastering process (which, in essence is what you're calling post processing) is all about playing the "percieved loudness" game...but that's another discussion!

Bob