Ahh. Very good point.
Like in my case, with this particular track, I recorded in
PreSonus StudioOne, and used the "Project (Mastering)" mode to "finish" the project, using the plugins provided the best I could with my limited understanding of what needed to be done. Not ideal, but I was under the gun a bit and had made promises ...blah blah blah. . . had to be done. So this track was technically already "mastered" (poorly) by me, which was my plan all along anyway (with this project).
Tangent: I am really just now getting into recording other peoples projects for payment, and I am seeing that the Mastering process and options will need to be spelled out at the beginning of a project, since I really shouldn't be trying to master things myself. It's not that I wouldn't love to learn how to do a right proper job, just that I know it's good to have a fresh set of ears listen and know what needs to be done. Better that than just assume "OK, multi-band compressor? Check!, Brick wall limiter? Check! Lo-cut? On!" like you said, just applying things because that's what I've read you "do".
How do you guys handle that? Is it spelled out up front that mastering is not included? Do you even master stuff yourself?
I think my preference toward Mastering Options should go in this order:
- Send the work out to a professional 3rd party Mastering Engineer, (or have the client find their own)
- Learn how to master properly, and then have the results checked out by ears I can trust.( maybe on an online forum or something?)
- Something Else
- Some other option I haven't thought of yet
- Use an Online Service like Landr
So who's next? Who will send in an "un-Mastered" mix and then post it here with the 3rd party "Professionally Mastered" (or self mastered) version for comparison/critique? Let's go.