In space, no one can hear your screen (or something like that). If it needs 10db, it needs 10db. If it needs to be brighter in the mix, make it brighter. You just need to get the confidence to not worry about it. It's a big thing, and it really wasn't all that long ago that I figured it out. (Despite the fact that CLA basically shouts this out in all his videos, and interviews, and his waves presets, etc, with his 8k boosts, etc) I think that's when my mixes started getting a little bit better. I like to eq into compression, but of course if you can't get it bright enough because of the compressor, then for me that answers the question of whether to eq before or after compression, because the answer then is obviously both.
Quick edit to add that it's suprising how bright you have to make some things to get them right in the mix.
Quick edit to add that it's suprising how bright you have to make some things to get them right in the mix.
Just uploaded a mix/master? Waiting for comments? Why not give back and critique a mix/master, or two!