Help with a couple mastering questions please

[67mike]

I am just wondering if some of the recording experts here can help me out with a question or two:

I have finally got my Daughter's song to the point that I want to export it out to a stereo wav file and then I will import that back into my DAW (samplitude x3 pro) I am planning on using Izotope Ozone Elements on that stereo wav to get it up to loudness and tweak the eq etc.....

My Questions:

1) When I export my multitrack to the stereo wav file......WHAT LEVEL do I shoot for??? Should I try to get close to 0db?

2) Then on the stereo wav file that I import back into my DAW.....Do I set the level at -6 to -12dB AND THEN apply ozone to it?????

Thanks for the help!

[VTM]

Where is your daughter's file right now? Is it on a standalone digital multitrack recorder, like a Tascam or Zoom?

Either way, I would get the file into your DAW and listen to it and look at the levels its putting out. If it's going over 0 back it off a bit and apply Ozone. I assume Ozone has presets that you can use as a starting point. If it's clipping with Ozone lower the levels on your original stereo track until it's not clipping and the overall level is similar to other clips posted on here.

For example, when I drag and drop a drum jam clip into my DAW, I usually keep the level on the drum track at 0 or if it's already been limited and compressed quite a bit I might back it down to -1 or -2 at the most on the DAW. After I finish my guitar and bass tracks I apply the mastering track and adjust levels on my original tracks from there if it's clipping/going into the red on the master.

Occasionally I will import a sample that has a really low volume and I will raise it up to +1 or +2 in the DAW, but that is pretty rare. I'm much more likely to cut volume rather that raise it on my individual tracks, especially after applying the mastering track.

[67mike]

Thanks.