Professional partner for approval and guidance on mastering jobs

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Hovmedia

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Hi!

I have a home studio and been creating music for approx 3 years. I am also digging into the "art of mastering". I only use software today, and mainly Ozone as mastering tool. I know there is a lot of companies that offers mastering services, but is there any companies that I can send my work to for "approval" or useful guidance? I would prefer a working relationship with a partner, so I know the person(s) have the right background.
 
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Hi there,
I don't think there's a distinction. Just find a mastering engineer who's work you like and whom you trust, and reach out to him/her.
I don't imagine many would turn you away, although I'd expect it to be a $/hr arrangement. Call it approval or guidance but it's a specialist consultancy.

You might find a kind soul who'll trow you some advice and encouragement on a track or two but long term relationship? There'd need to be something in it for the ME.

I actually in a similar boat myself.
I was recently seeking advice or feedback from a reputable ME. Not because I want to be able to master for myself, but because I want my mixes to be prepared the best they can for mastering.

I figure you're paying big bucks for mastering so why find out the hard way that the prep could have been done better.
 
Hello!

thanks for the reply and advice :). I am looking for a paid service that I can use for a period while I am working on my own skills (and decide later if I would continue mastering or hire someone to do the full job).
 
you can only learn through experience, it's always worth hiring someone for mastering in my opinion, even if you can master your own stuff, it's almost impossible to be objective because by default you will have some form of emotional connection to your own music.
 
Hovmedia said:
Hi!

I have a home studio and been creating music for approx 3 years. I am also digging into the "art of mastering". I only use software today, and mainly Ozone as mastering tool. I know there is a lot of companies that offers mastering services, but is there any companies that I can send my work to for "approval" or useful guidance? I would prefer a working relationship with a partner, so I know the person(s) have the right background.
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I think when asked, most reputable ME's would give advice and feedback. I initially assume that the mixes are as they were meant, but sometimes things like sibilance and imbalance can sneak by an engineer and it's always best to adjust that pre-mastering, so if it's glaring, I might bring it up but if someone mentions at the outset that they are looking for feedback, it's in everyone's interest to get the best outcome possible
even though the back and forth gets more time consuming. gl.
 
very interesting topic, In my case i usually have a few friends who are not expert to whom i usually send my mixes and masters for review and get their comments. However, just like they already said, i may not get the expert or detailed feedback and have to figure out myself what their comments mean.

On the other hand i Find very usefull to have reference tracks. So, if you find a reference track you like how it sounds (preferable a professionally comercial mixed song ) you can always compare to your work and see what is different or lacking in your mix/master.

But as it was already said, it all goes in experience and the way you learn how to listen to your own mixes. I find that when i listen to a song i mixed/mastered two years ago i think it was so lo quality compared to what i do now. even though i am a very DIY guy and learn by doing.
 
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