Mastering?

general questions, comments and ideas about recording, audio, music, etc.
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texlop
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Mastering?

Post by texlop » Wed Oct 06, 2004 11:21 pm

In addition to the other post what is Mastering?
I have some recording books and none really talk about them.
When I have customers I just tell them the mastering guy will add the fades, set the time in between songs and bring the volume up.
Is this correct?

Does anyone have any links to what mastering is, any knowledge will do thanks guys.
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Rivers
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Re: Mastering?

Post by Rivers » Wed Oct 06, 2004 11:31 pm

Think of mastering as the last step before replication.
The last chance to tweak the 2 mix before it goes off.

You've hit on the main points...fades,sequence of songs,overall level etc but also levels between songs and Eq adjustments usually on a song by song basis.
A good Mastering job will tend to even out a lot of the level and eq discrepencies.It can "glue" together a bunch of seemingly unrelated tracks into a more cohesive whole.

The best thing about having a project mastered is that someone with a good and objective set of ears gets to listen to your stuff.
You can really learn alot about the way you work and what you hear by going to a mastering session.
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Re: Mastering?

Post by joel hamilton » Thu Oct 07, 2004 5:09 am

If you make a statue, the mastering person shines it.

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andyg666
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Re: Mastering?

Post by andyg666 » Thu Oct 07, 2004 5:50 am

if you think the stuff sounds like a B+, mastering will make it into an A-. or a really really good job will make it into an A. so if it sounds like a C... you get the idea...

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Mark Alan Miller
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Re: Mastering?

Post by Mark Alan Miller » Thu Oct 07, 2004 6:39 am

Just beware the many who claim to be able to 'master' 'cause they 'have the plug-ins.' Goos mastering generally is done by folks with a lot of experience, on specialised gear, and in well-designed rooms. I sey generally because once in a while there is someone out there who can do it well, for cheap. Be sure to listen, like with any studio choice, to the sound of their work.
he took a duck in the face at two and hundred fifty knots.

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Re: Mastering?

Post by brew » Thu Oct 07, 2004 7:44 am


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Re: Mastering?

Post by @?,*???&? » Thu Oct 07, 2004 8:14 am

Not only does the mastering engineer 'shine' the statue, but he (or she) also creates the indelible mold (the PMCD) that all subsequent copies of that statue will be made from- with the highest integrity possible. The manufacturing plant will actually make the stamp, but it will be made from the most true version of the master- post mastering with exceptional accuracy.

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Re: Mastering?

Post by mfedderman » Thu Oct 07, 2004 9:18 am

"The things that come to those who wait, may be the things left over by those who got there first!"

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MichaelAlan
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Re: Mastering?

Post by MichaelAlan » Thu Oct 07, 2004 9:26 am

Mastering is something everyone claims to do, but don't really know how. I tell people to get thier stuff mastered by a mastering studio after tracking with me. They rarely listen.

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MASSIVE Mastering
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Re: Mastering?

Post by MASSIVE Mastering » Thu Oct 07, 2004 11:19 am

Core Recording wrote:Mastering is something everyone claims to do, but don't really know how. I tell people to get thier stuff mastered by a mastering studio after tracking with me. They rarely listen.
I still freak people (noobs) out when I tell them that I refuse to master my own mixes. Not that I mix much anymore, but it happens...

They don't get it. I try, and I try, but they just don't get it.

Thank God there's coffee...
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Mark Alan Miller
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Re: Mastering?

Post by Mark Alan Miller » Fri Oct 08, 2004 9:50 am

I really discourage my clients from having me 'master' mixes I've done - but there are times when I'll agree to do it out of fear that if I don't, some hack will do a worse job than me. (And I'm pretty good I'm told - used to work as a freelance ME for a local 'mastering/duplication' company...)

No, mastering your own mixes is a situation with little to no objectivity, really.
he took a duck in the face at two and hundred fifty knots.

http://www.radio-valkyrie.com/ao/aoindex.htm - download the new record (free is an option!) or get it on CD.

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Re: Mastering?

Post by MichaelAlan » Sat Oct 09, 2004 5:47 pm

cowtrax wrote:I really discourage my clients from having me 'master' mixes I've done - but there are times when I'll agree to do it out of fear that if I don't, some hack will do a worse job than me. (And I'm pretty good I'm told - used to work as a freelance ME for a local 'mastering/duplication' company...)

No, mastering your own mixes is a situation with little to no objectivity, really.
Dude... I had a band who took thier album to be "Re-mastered" by God only knows what kind of retard. It sounded like someone just slammed it with a cheap limiter, and CRANKED all the bass. It seriously ruined my mix. Which I might ad was a friggin miracle in the making. I saved the life of a dead snare head which the drummer refused to change (They LIKE it to sound that way). And that's how they repay me.

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Re: Mastering?

Post by vernier » Sat Oct 09, 2004 9:11 pm

Mastering (as we know it) didn't come on the scene 'til the 70's. :?

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nacho459
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Re: Mastering?

Post by nacho459 » Sun Oct 10, 2004 3:00 pm

cowtrax wrote:I really discourage my clients from having me 'master' mixes I've done - but there are times when I'll agree to do it out of fear that if I don't, some hack will do a worse job than me.
Only when it's just a demo that someone is going to burn on CD-R's or post as Mp3's on their web page do I try and master my own recordings. If it's for a label I, and usually the label, insist it gets mastered by a pro. If it's something they're going to press themselves I always try to encourage them to take it to a real mastering place. Many times they come back with a "We don't have the cash." So that's why I built a couple DIY Pultecs. Who needs a Massive Passive?

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Re: Mastering?

Post by gravy boat » Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:07 pm

We just had our new record mastered by Jim Wilson at Yes Mastering. the differnce is STAGGERING! We recorded with Spot and it sounded pretty good. Jim was able to make it bigger, clearer, and more even. Light compression and subtractive EQ and it sounds like we spent way more on it than we did. Good mastering is the difference between pretty good and great.
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