Mastering: DIY or Outsource...

[heartsoffire]

I want to tell of my decision to hire a good mastering engineer to master my recent mix. If you've never made this decision and follow my lead, make sure that the person you choose has a good reputation, sufficient experience, and lastly great gear.

I recently mixed a project that I ghetto mastered (using T-Racks and Pro Tools/Waves) and I then hired a mastering engineer because I wasn't happy with the sound I was getting. This particular mastering engineer was VERY reasonable and did a decent job on a mix a couple years ago. However, this time after three tries, back and forth, it just wasn't happening. So, I decided to bite the bullet and stop being cheap and have someone else that only does this kind of thing and has a good reputation-Brad Blackwood (Euphonic Masters). To be honest, I wasn't sure how good or bad the previous master was until I got Brad's back. It it easy to describe what he did with one word, "AWESOME!"

I thought that my mixes were destined to sound average and would lack that professional sound, but I was wrong! I'm sure that there are others out there that can do just as well, but if you are mastering yourself or you are really looking for a professional sound - check out Euphonic Masters.

He is a great professional and easy to work with. I now have a partner that is part of my team. Don't be fooled to believe that you can buy tools and get that excellent sound. The other mastering engineer had good gear, but Brad was able to take the record and apply just the right amount of compression, eq, and limiting without killing the dynamics.

I had just read an article that good mastering will create an openness in the mix and will not cause ear fatigue. Brad's mastering really did all of that, as opposed to what I could do with my tools or what the other guy did.

I'm not dissing the other guy (too much), but you get what you pay for - and worth every bit of it.

thanks for listening (reading)...

Disclaimer: Brad isn't paying me or is even aware of this posting.

[crowning]

So wouldn't it be a good idea to offer a link to a before/after comparision?
Maybe 1 minute of whatever song you like most, one file before and one
file after mastering.

Additionally that would be a great service for mastering-beginners to
find out if they could master your song as good (are nearly as good) as
a professional.
Most will be quite shocked when they'll find out how hard it is to get
that same professional sound with 'normal' home/mixing equipment

Tom

[masteringhouse]

Originally Posted by crowning

Most will be quite shocked when they'll find out how hard it is to get
that same professional sound with 'normal' home/mixing equipment

While equipment plays a part, ear and experience are the larger components.
All of which Brad has.

[Robert D]

Yes, please post a few seconds of before and after.

[SonicAlbert]

It would be interesting to be able to compare the original unmastered mix alongside the master you didn't like, and Brad's master that you did like.

I think professional mastering is worth it whenever a project is intended for broadcast, for sale to the public, or as a high powered demo intended to get a record deal or bring in work.

[Reggie]

Originally Posted by SonicAlbert

It would be interesting to be able to compare the original unmastered mix alongside the master you didn't like, and Brad's master that you did like.

I think professional mastering is worth it whenever a project is intended for broadcast, for sale to the public, or as a high powered demo intended to get a record deal or bring in work.

I 2nd the above^
It is almost essential. For home vanity projects for friends/family I wouldn't bother, unless I have some extra dough and really want to impress my friends.
It would be cool to post an A/B if you would. I think people need to hear it. Don't be shy.

[treymonfauntre]

i'm looking at his client list... if he mastered bear vs sharks' "right now you're in the best of hands" i will use this guy for every project i ever do.

[bblackwood]

Wow, thanks for the kind words. To be fair, the mixes were nice to begin with, I certainly didn't have to do much.

And yah, Bear vs Sharks' 'RNYitBoH' was mastered by me, glad you dig it.