Preparing for mastering

[DavidK]

I have an album in the can ready for mastering. Last time I was kinda disappointed so I want to make sure I do it right:

I have the tunes in Sonar. I export to 24bit .wav. What kind of levels should I have??? How much should I leave the ME?

 

[Massive Master]

As long as the mixes don't clip "naturally" (without limiting) you're in good shape. A dB or two is fine also... As is 10 or 12. The big deal is to not limit or excessively (for the sake of volume) compress it.

 

[DavidK]

As long as the mixes don't clip "naturally" (without limiting) you're in good shape. A dB or two is fine also... As is 10 or 12. The big deal is to not limit or excessively (for the sake of volume) compress it.

Thanks for responding. Here is the deal:

Last time I had an album mastered, the levels were WAY too low. I left too much room. It was assumedly a rush job by the ME, who ultimately didnt charge the label. He publicly said to the label that he didnt like "that shit". Umm, "that shit" being my album.

Anyhoo, I am trying to avoid a repeat of that. It will be a different ME and its a different label this time. Still, I am trying to turn in each track around -3, will that be fine?

Is there anything else I should be concerned with? I use just a little compression on a few tracks, no limiting.

 

[chazba]

I recommend John at Massive Mastering...He did a great job for me at reasonable cost.
PM w/your address and I will send you a copy.
chazba

 

[DavidK]

I recommend John at Massive Mastering...He did a great job for me at reasonable cost.
PM w/your address and I will send you a copy.
chazba

I would certainly consider that but I dont think I have a say in the matter, the label works with a set mastering house. I shall see.

 

[masteringhouse]

I have an album in the can ready for mastering. Last time I was kinda disappointed so I want to make sure I do it right:

I have the tunes in Sonar. I export to 24bit .wav. What kind of levels should I have??? How much should I leave the ME?

As John said as long as there is no clipping you should be fine, more so than peak levels is the crest factor (headroom between rms and peak). An ME can always lower the level as needed with little damage, however if something is overcompressed it's not easily undone.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

the label works with a set mastering house.

That's probably who you should be asking these questions to, Dave. Not only to determine exactly what they want/need, but to get them to like you and treat you well. Developing a little friendly respect with the ME so that he thinks more of you and your work than "that shit" is probably step #1 to getting a good mastering job .

G.

 

[DavidK]

That's probably who you should be asking these questions to, Dave. Not only to determine exactly what they want/need, but to get them to like you and treat you well. Developing a little friendly respect with the ME so that he thinks more of you and your work than "that shit" is probably step #1 to getting a good mastering job .

G.

I don't think I will be given that opportunity, which is why I am asking now. I don't own the product, the label does. My communication with them has been and is extremely limited. In one way that's a good thing, they pretty much left me alone during the whole thing and said "make an album for us". I am expecting to just turn it in and let them do the rest.

If I get the opportunity, of COURSE I will ask every and all questions I can think of, but it's not looking that way so I am on my own.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

I don't think I will be given that opportunity, which is why I am asking now. I don't own the product, the label does. My communication with them has been and is extremely limited. In one way that's a good thing, they pretty much left me alone during the whole thing and said "make an album for us". I am expecting to just turn it in and let them do the rest.

Ugh; kind of like giving your musical baby up for adoption and not being able to pick the parents, eh?

I think the best you can do is just given them what you want sound-wise (not loudness-wise) in 24-bit and cross your fingers that they won't mess it up.

G.

 

[DavidK]

Ugh; kind of like giving your musical baby up for adoption and not being able to pick the parents, eh?

I think the best you can do is just given them what you want sound-wise (not loudness-wise) in 24-bit and cross your fingers that they won't mess it up.

G.

Yup. They seem to do a lot of big stuff, then again so did the last guy and the levels were stupidly low. This is the place http://www.sterling-sound.com/

 

[MCI2424]

Yup. They seem to do a lot of big stuff, then again so did the last guy and the levels were stupidly low. This is the place http://www.sterling-sound.com/

Jeez, They are about the toppest of the top when it comes to mastering everything on planet earth. If they do a bad mastering job on anything, "they" are clearly out to get you.

Kidding, of coarse..

 

[TexRoadkill]

I can't imagine there is anything you could do to the mixes to make things better if you are going with a good mastering facility. If there is something wrong just blame the mixing engineer and have him fix it.

 

[Farview]

Just don't do anything to the master buss and don't worry about the level (as long as it's not clipping).

Last time you didn't get low master levels because you gave him low mix levels. You just ended up with an ME that refused to do his job on "that shit".

I routinely hand in master mixes that sit a -22dbfs RMS and peak around -6dbfs, I've never had a problem getting a loud master. (normally around -9dbfs RMS)

The last guy was having a bad day.

 

[danny.guitar]

I'd leave a good 6-10db of headroom to work with, but I guess as long as it's not clipping, the ME can just lower/raise the volume if they need to.

I know you don't have a choice in the matter, but um, I certainly wouldn't want an ME who "rushes the job because he personally doesn't like this shit" working with my music.

Maybe he should find himself another job.

 

[DavidK]

Just don't do anything to the master buss and don't worry about the level (as long as it's not clipping).

Last time you didn't get low master levels because you gave him low mix levels. You just ended up with an ME that refused to do his job on "that shit".

.

Correct. I guess one can understand my paranoia in not wanting a repeat of that, hence this thread.

I have some of the first albums tracks peaking at -11. Some of these tracks made the radio, and when I heard them the disparity between them and other peoples stuff was absurd.

My stuff is fairly dynamic. This new album is much less classical than the first, but its more dynamic than a typical rock album. I think I will turn it in with peaks at -4. Thanks for all the responses fellas.

 

[rayc]

If the ME owned up to his bias & didn't why didn't the label get it done properly? But then again time frames, probable fessing up after the fact etc.
I still love your 1st album though David.

 

[DavidK]

If the ME owned up to his bias & didn't why didn't the label get it done properly? But then again time frames, probable fessing up after the fact etc.
.

Time. We were approaching a deadline. He never charged the label. Actually, he was very busy at the time and the label slipped this in.

I still love your 1st album though David.

Thanks Ray. The second is sounding very good, its a different style and more commercial.

 

[TexRoadkill]

Your input peak level should be irrelevant to the final output level. If the ME is paying attention he just needs to bring up the input level or output gain. If an ME can't figure out that the most basic practice of mastering then he's in the wrong business.

 

[bigtoe]

Yup. They seem to do a lot of big stuff, then again so did the last guy and the levels were stupidly low. This is the place http://www.sterling-sound.com/

if you're dealing with this caliber i'd ask your label how they are dealing with the mastering guy...or if they are making requests on the level...

for example: i had a neat record come out that really didn't get the volume it needed as the artist asked for it not to be loud as he had had stuff smashed in the past...the ME was just kinda following instructions...

anyway - like everyone else says...the level you give him is irrelevant.

your experience sounds really shady. i worked with a "name" guy whose customer service skills were only slightly worse than his ears. he sucked AND was a pain in the ass the whole time as well...it was unreal.

anyway - good luck. i hate to hear bad mastering stories...because there are a lot of good one's out there for not much bread. i use mastermind whenever possible.

Mike

 

[pipelineaudio]

J
Last time you didn't get low master levels because you gave him low mix levels. You just ended up with an ME that refused to do his job on "that shit".

I was gonna say