Anyone ever use The Gate for mastering?

[Vurt]

I've been looking at this place on-and-off for a long time now and am wondering if anyone has any experience with them. Also, can someone explain to me the major differences I could expect between their Standard, Minor, and Major packages?

http://www.gatemedia.com/html/post-production.html

And another thing...
When I've had things mastered in the past, I've always been instructed not to use ANY compression. Problem is I just got a couple RNC's and I WANT TO! I know this is a question for the mastering house, but can't they just keep their damned compression to themselves?

 

[sjoko2]

I had a look at that website. To me, and I believe I'd speak for any other mastering engineer, its sad and crazy.

How on earth can you master a project and base what needs doing on the amount of money someone pays????????
Mastering requires listening to each track in detail, notating everything that needs attention, then designing "fixes" for each problem or required improvement, which might differ for each song, and finally ensoring all songs sound like a cohesive, coherent product. A time consuming process which takes skill, experience and specialist equipment.

That place is NOT a mastering house, its a CD and DVD manufacturing plant trying to get more business by offering additional services.
What they mean by mastering is pulling your music through a computer program - and thats it.

I don't understand the second part of your question. You have been instructed not to use any compression? On what? On your final mixes? But you want to?

I would definately ask clients not to put compression on their final mixes to be mastered - UNLESS you want a certain kind of compression as an effect on the overall mix.
The reason is simple, good mastering houses will have very good, high quality compressors, sometimes even a choice of different ones which they will choose depending on what is most suited to the project in hand. As an example, over here we have a good number of software compressors, as well as an all tube 2 channel stereo mastering compressor which costs as much as a not-to-small car. So - if you apply compression, we might have to apply compression on your compression, which will enhance the artifacts your compression has brought to the table.
I could put it another way. Why would you do what you pay a mastering house to do if 1, you pay them to do it and 2, they can very likely do it better?

 

[atomictoyz]

Use the RNC's for tracking if and when needed, never compress during mixdown, it depletes the dynamic range of the music. If your clipping the meters, ride the faders if you have to, but if you used the tools in the proper part of the process you shouldn't have to use compression. Its asking for trouble IMO, its in the same category as too much verb and echo. I was taught if you can hear the compresser working you've gone too far. If you don't believe sjoko2 try browsing the Mastering Engineers weboard for a second opinion.

http://www.nthelp/mastering/welcome.htm

Have fun, learn lots and be musical :0)

Peace,
Dennis

 

[Vurt]

I thought they were suggesting no compression whatsoever, not just over the entire mix. That's fine, as long as I can use it during tracking, which is what I intended.

Thanks for help!