Mixing/Mastering process noob question

[famous beagle]

Ok, so you record a song in ... let's say .. Reaper (or whatever), and you want to mix it down.

And you want to master it too. I know a lot of people will say, "you should pay someone else to master it," and that's cool and all. But let's say that:

A) You can't afford to pay anyone else right now, and/or
B) You'd like to learn how to master yourself, so you have to start somewhere.

Keep in mind I'm talking about just a single song, so the other aspects of mastering, like making the sound consistent between songs, sequencing the songs, etc., don't really apply here.

What's the process most people use?

Do you mix the song down (i.e. render or export or whatever) with no effects/EQ/dynamics processing on the master buss and get it to sound the best you can? And then do you bring that stereo mix file into a mastering program (or back into your DAW) and then apply the dynamics processing/EQ/etc.?

Or do you, while you still have the multi-track mix going, apply all the mastering EQ/dynamics/etc. to the master buss and take care of it all in one fell swoop?

Is there a difference, sonically, between the two methods?

Thanks!

[Mo Facta]

Ok, so you record a song in ... let's say .. Reaper (or whatever), and you want to mix it down.

And you want to master it too. I know a lot of people will say, "you should pay someone else to master it," and that's cool and all. But let's say that:

A) You can't afford to pay anyone else right now, and/or
B) You'd like to learn how to master yourself, so you have to start somewhere.

Keep in mind I'm talking about just a single song, so the other aspects of mastering, like making the sound consistent between songs, sequencing the songs, etc., don't really apply here.

What's the process most people use?

Do you mix the song down (i.e. render or export or whatever) with no effects/EQ/dynamics processing on the master buss and get it to sound the best you can? And then do you bring that stereo mix file into a mastering program (or back into your DAW) and then apply the dynamics processing/EQ/etc.?

Or do you, while you still have the multi-track mix going, apply all the mastering EQ/dynamics/etc. to the master buss and take care of it all in one fell swoop?

Is there a difference, sonically, between the two methods?

Thanks!

See, the thing is, there are no real answers to your questions for the simple fact that there are no rules to this. A seasoned mix engineer will use whatever tools are necessary to produce the mix he wants to hear, and this includes processing on the master bus. In the case of dynamics, it is common practice to put a favorite bus compressor on the MB at the beginning of the mix and then to mix "into" it. The bottom line is that there are tools at our disposal to use for either corrective or creative purposes and they should be used on a case-by-case scenario.

In terms of mixing down with no processing or effects, IMO, this is something propagated by mastering engineers who routinely get mixes from "engineers" who don't know why they're processing and end up screwing up the mix because of it. It's the "safe" option, which I understand. However, as you get more experience you will begin to know what results to expect from your processors and you will gain confidence to use them as YOU see fit. This only comes with time. The other problem is that mixing with a master bus compressor affects your balancing decisions at the track level. That is why when the processing is bypassed, the mix sort of falls apart because the compressor has become part of the "glue" that keeps the tracks sounding balanced.

The other thing is that mastering processing most often has a completely different goal than processing during mixing. Mastering aims to smooth out spectral problems and correct micro- and/or macro-dynamics so that the song translates better to a wider variety of systems. Mixing is often more aesthetic and processing in that domain serves to supply a "sound", which is generally more of a creative process. Not to say there is no corrective processing in mixing, because we all know that's a part of it. It's just that these problems are usually addressed at the track level and master bus processing is usually left for wide tonal considerations and to help "glue" the mix together.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

[jaynm26]

My advice beagle get with a local mastering eng in your area and try to learn some basics. I mean to answer your ? tho if you think you can master a complete song with just plugins no exp you are sadly mistaken my friend.See in mastering every song is diff, EVERY SONG, so the mastering setup would be diff EVERY time. So it would be idiotic for us to give you a run dow on how to master we couldn't because every song is situational. Thas why Mastering eng with years of exp is the bets thing you can go with. But you asked for it so here it goes

-Yes mixdown into one stereo file, you can add FX on your mixbus if you know what your doing. Mastering eng ask most people not to cause like Mo Facto said young "eng" were fucking them up.
- Then place in a mastering software or DAW
-EQ, eq the freq
-Comp - Compress the song
- stereo, create or set stereo field
- limiter, the limiter sets how loud the song should be
DON NOT TAKE THESE STEPS AND APPLY THEM TO YOUR MIXES IN HOPES THEY WORK PERFECTLY CUAS ETHEY WONT
Just because you have the "basic steps" you still dont have the equipment to master a song, you need the equipment. #1 thing is your room treated???!! That first & foremost. You get that still dosent matter you know no baiscs, or techniques, and no exp. Save a little more money and acquire a mastering eng on line im sure they will work with you.

[famous beagle]

Thanks so much for the responses y'all. I understand it was a broad, non-specific question, and I really appreciate you doing the best you can in answering it.

Jaynm26: My studio is in my office at home, but yes, I've done my very best to treat the room with the info I've gained mostly from this site. I've built absorptive panels, bass traps, and diffusers to try to get the room to sound the best I can.

I'm not talking about mastering a song for professional, radio-ready purposes. I was just talking about wanting to learn some basics and experiment. I have certainly heard time and time again that there is no "one-size-fits-all" mastering process because every song/album is different. And I completely understand that.

I just thought that, at the very least, there might be some kind of standard with regards to when the mixing ends and where the mastering begins. That's really what I was trying to ask.

Jay .. I'm guessing that you're a mastering engineer (forgive me if I'm wrong). But you weren't always. There was a time when you didn't know much at all about it, and you had to start somewhere. That's where I am now. Granted, I don't have aspirations about becoming a professional mastering engineer; my passion lies more in writing, performing, and recording. But I do like the make my mixes sound the best they can during this time where I don't have extra cash to spend on things like getting songs professionally mastered. So I try to learn what I can.

Thanks again for your responses y'all. They helped a lot.

[gecko zzed]

I do my own mastering.

My process is to work on the mix tirelessly until it is as good as I can get it.

Having done that, the mastering becomes relatively straightforward. This is because there is virtually nothing left for me to do in it that I wouldn't have already done in the mixing process.

A third party doing the mastering (specially a professional one) has the benefit of fresh ears and a better acoustic environment, and may hear, and be able to fix, things that I don't (or can't).

So my mastering consists mainly of cleaning up the entries and exits of songs, and of making level adjustments (through compression and so on), so that a set of songs sound consistent with each other.

[famous beagle]

I do my own mastering.

My process is to work on the mix tirelessly until it is as good as I can get it.

Having done that, the mastering becomes relatively straightforward. This is because there is virtually nothing left for me to do in it that I wouldn't have already done in the mixing process.

A third party doing the mastering (specially a professional one) has the benefit of fresh ears and a better acoustic environment, and may hear, and be able to fix, things that I don't (or can't).

So my mastering consists mainly of cleaning up the entries and exits of songs, and of making level adjustments (through compression and so on), so that a set of songs sound consistent with each other.

Thanks for the response. So, if I understand correctly, you apply all your "mastering" type processing (eq, multi-band compression, limiting, etc.) to your L/R buss as you mix the song, right?

[CoolCat]

I do my own mastering.

My process is to work on the mix tirelessly until it is as good as I can get it.

Having done that, the mastering becomes relatively straightforward. This is because there is virtually nothing left for me to do in it that I wouldn't have already done in the mixing process.

A third party doing the mastering (specially a professional one) has the benefit of fresh ears and a better acoustic environment, and may hear, and be able to fix, things that I don't (or can't).

So my mastering consists mainly of cleaning up the entries and exits of songs, and of making level adjustments (through compression and so on), so that a set of songs sound consistent with each other.

Did you learn by just trial and error or books...?

"mix tirelessly"... thats one thing of HR land, its easy to get tired of the tune.

[jaynm26]

Jay .. I'm guessing that you're a mastering engineer (forgive me if I'm wrong). But you weren't always. There was a time when you didn't know much at all about it, and you had to start somewhere. That's where I am now. Granted, I don't have aspirations about becoming a professional mastering engineer; my passion lies more in writing, performing, and recording. But I do like the make my mixes sound the best they can during this time where I don't have extra cash to spend on things like getting songs professionally mastered. So I try to learn what I can. Thanks again for your responses y'all. They helped a lot.

I really dont consider my self a mastering eng, I know how to master, but I don't master. I acquire a mastering eng my self cause you have to have a 2nd ear (another step in mastering). Plus I dont have all the equipment to master so I dont even attempt because I understand how detailed and rigorous the process is and I know this because I learned from a mastering eng and experiencing that environment and seeing how a professional mastering session runs I Never lol, never thought of attempting. I never had the exp then and now I do have the exp I dont have the equipment and I am "STILL" a student of the art. You will see my asking questions all the time.

Since you not looking for commercial use then learning basics is ok. Learning is always ok. Just i care bout people music like I care bout my own best to have it done the best and right.

[gecko zzed]

Thanks for the response. So, if I understand correctly, you apply all your "mastering" type processing (eq, multi-band compression, limiting, etc.) to your L/R buss as you mix the song, right?

I have learned that, for me, getting a good result is achieved by keeping things as simple as possible. It is easy to get distracted by options, and find yourself in an endless spiral in seeking unattainable perfection. So, no . . I don't have anything on the output buss, multiband compression, limiting or anything else. In fact, I don't use multiband compression at all. If I hear a problem that MB compression might help, I fix it during mixing by dealing with specific tracks.

Having said that, in the mastering process, I do use compression and limiting to manipulate the levels of songs to get a reasonable listening level out of them.

[jaynm26]

MB compression is "fixer tool" like some restoration plugins you may see. On my masters I do not use MBC because I balance my mix in the mix phase. So me 5, do not use MBC in the master. I use MBC on others peoples masters tho if I feel the balance is off. I also actually use MBC on vocals more than any mix or master. I like the idea of compressing certain parts of the vocal than jus compressing the whole thing.