Too much limiting! i need a mastering tutorial!

Question

i'm finishing up mixes for what will be a cd release.
i've listened to it on various speakers, from studio monitors to my car, etc. and it sounds pretty good.
however... i've fallen into the trap of putting a limiter on just about every track, sub and even the stereo sum.
unsurprisingly, the whole mix isn't very, well... dynamic.
can anyone give me any suggestions as to how i can get a punchy, loud mix without limiting everything?
by the way, i'm going for an old-school 1970s power pop/rock sound, a la cheap trick and sweet.

Answer 1

The trick too, that relates to what NoEQ was saying, is not to over do the compression in you're recording & mixing process.
Try not to add any more than 3-6dB of gain reduction, when you do compress, you're compression meter should tell you how much you are compressing.
Add a little while, tracking(recording) a little in mixing if needed, redirect the entire drum kit to a Buss, and compress the Kit in it's entirety, Still only a little at a time. You may want to do the same with your guitars & bass, or assign the bass to the Drum Buss so you can gel it together better with the kick.
Also consider your EQ, try to keep a wide Q or bandwidth, try to filter the dodgy bits a little, maybe enhance the good bits a touch... Any more than a boost in 3dB EQ and it'll start introducing phase issues, and smear the attack transients a bit, so they're not as sharp. But if you're boosting more than 3dB and it's not for some real creative purpose, then something must be wrong. It could be the mic or it's placement when it was recorded, it could be the instrument, (always try to solve the problem at the source first) it could be too much compression.
I say use a wide Q of about 0.7, becaue EQs in the 70s weren't capable of doing what we are doing now with them. If you can, try and get your hands on some vintage gear, or emulations, because that will also help you to achieve the sound you're after.
The reason, why I got into talking about the mix and EQ, is because that IS the critical stage before mastering. Over do it and no amount of mastering will get the sound you want, under do it and it could sound dull, or thin, or lifeless. Getting the balance right, is mega important for the mastering stage. Like wise if you have a bad recording to begin with, then no amount of mixing or mastering is going to help.
And the other tip to consider, especially if things are too much on top of each other, or sounding thin.... Is arrangement. Have the guitars play different inversions, or different phrases, choose different amp sounds. Throw some cymbal crashes in if it needs it, have the drums play more dynamically, instead of thrashing them start to end.
These are just all ideas and places that if you pay some attention to, it can REALLY help you master.
When you do master, try using vintage stuff, if you're after that vintage sound, following the above tips. Or think or a Multiband Compressor, use the Limiter so you don't exceed 0dB, that is VERY IMPORTANT in mastering. Some limiters will allow you to drive it more, getting a more energetic sound, but the tendacy here is to over do it. Respect the song's dynamics so soft parts sound soft, it doesn't have to be too soft, and your masters will go a long way.
Also if you're working on a release, try to work at having all songs sound simular as far as tone and dynamics. Constantly compare them, and tweek the EQ, Compressor or Limiter when ever they need it.
Sorry for the essay, but I hope it helps expand your insight a bit better.
Good luck & have fun.