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The Grandeur + Maximizer = Lost Dynamics?

Anatoliy

Greetings,

I'm just figuring my ways in and out, so forgive me for stupid questions.

I'm producing a solo piano compositions. I can't play a piano, I put notes in Musescore, export midi, and import it in Logic. Then I add sustain automation, change note velocity to shape musical phrases, EQ to remove resonances, and bring it to -14lufs for YouTube.

Wide velocity range makes it sound more alive and less robotic. But when I listen to a "mastered" track I hear that all those dynamics I was working on are almost gone. What's the scoop with that?

I use Maximizer very gently, actually the last song I didn't push to -14lufs but to -15 . It hits the limit (-1db) just several times during the song. I thought that dynamics disappear only when peaks are limited (and brought closer to quietest notes). And expected that Maximizer will bring loudness without removing dynamics - just brings up equally all notes regardless of velocity (except when a note is over -1db). But it's not as I expected.

I do something wrong? Or my understanding it wrong?

Please advice.

Снимок экрана — 2026-05-29 в 11.23.12.png

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Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/263148#Comment_263148

The piano is one of the most dynamic instruments there is and on the best recordings I have heard - very little processing is done.

If it were me - I would simply record the most dynamic performance I could WITH with some very light compression and EQ to ensure the performance stays in it's lane (no peaks heading past 0.0 dbFS and then when mastering - my usual practice is VERY light limiting as well.

I insert a basic limiter (not something as aggressive as a Maximizer) on the master bus - and use it only to catch peaks by setting the threshold to -1.0 dbFS. This will retain almost all dynamics and prevent clipping.

However - in your case - you haven't really explained why -14dbFS and YouTube are important here. YouTube will automatically adjust your levels if they are too low and kick them down if your track is too hot.

I would pay more attention to how something sounds when completed VS trying to fit it into a box just to meet some loudness measurement that really means nothing long term.

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Vocalpoint

This plugin is a brickwall limiter and by design - aggressively removes dynamic range while drastically raising the volume - especially with that 8db of gain you have there.

With all audio - it's one or the other - but never both. You cannot have a perfect wide dynamic track with all it's original transients - and then slam it's overall volume up to -0.8 DBfs with a limiter.

You need to rethink your plugin choices for piano.

Anatoliy

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/263136#Comment_263136

Dear Vocalpoint,

Thank you for your quick response with information.

Yes, I understand that I probably do something wrong.

When I finish manual velocity assigning to notes, I played the whole track, and the volume peak is -12dbfs. I heard that for "mastering" it should be between -6db and -3 db, so in The Grandeur I increased output level (top right corner) from 0 to 5. It made the peak of the track about -7db. And then I applied Maximizer.

Could you please explain "rethink your plugin choices for piano"?

You mean I better add extra 5-6 dbfs in the Grandeur (or with Logic's stock Gain plugin) which will make tracks peak about -2dbfs and then in Maximizer will apply only 1-2 instead of 8?

Or you mean something completely different?

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/263148#Comment_263148

The piano is one of the most dynamic instruments there is and on the best recordings I have heard - very little processing is done.

I would pay more attention to how something sounds when completed VS trying to fit it into a box just to meet some loudness measurement that really means nothing long term.

Anatoliy

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/263157#Comment_263157

Thanks!

Ok, so as I don't record performance but "write" midi, I take it as to bring gain so peak would be close to -1dbfs but not higher. And then gentle limiting with a Logic stock limiter, not Maximizer. I'll try. Thanks!

Regarding -14lufs and YouTube. I make videos with sheet music of compositions I produce and upload to YouTube. Youtube is the only place where my songs play. Regarding YouTube normalizing you might be wrong. Youtube brings down to -14lufs those who louder. But it dosn't bring up those who quiter.

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