DIY Mastering Clinic #2

  • Thread starter Thread starter mshilarious
  • Start date Start date
Thanks. It's kind of my first attempt at doing a master

off the top of my head...

-applied some very slight limiting

-i added some eq around 125hz to make the bass a little clearer, little boost 2k for the crunch of the guitars and added a bit to the 9-12k region to bring up the cymbals.

-used a multiband compressor across everything focussing mostly around 4k to control the slap of the kick. i also used this to bring up the bottom end and cymbal range

-used the waves maxbass plugin to add a bit more rumble to the mix

-finished it with an L2 compressor to get some extra volume out of it.


thats all. like i said, i've never really done any mastering stuff before so i just went with what i thought i'd need to do and what sounded good to my ears. any suggestions on ways to improve on my technique would be greatly appreciated
 
I cant believe how much this sounds like Chevelle....I love the song...I know this is a month or so old but I will still post my shot at it in a day or so....
 
WindyM said:
Thanks punkin, I am in the process of setting up a home studio again.
I just wanted to see if I could still cut the mustard.
Its been a long time, my gear is as nackered as I am, but we dont give up :)
Rob.
Click to expand...

The mustard cuttin' is fine...it's the cheese I'm worried about :p
 
I think thajeremy's is my favorite out of this latest batch. My ears might be tricking me, but I might be hearing your compression working. Maybe longer release? And could use some more mids or something.
Windy - maybe my monitors are broken....but yours sound pretty thin and odd to me? Perhaps too much processing?
Foobu - yours is not too bad, but sounds a little dull to me. Might could use some brightening or shelving down the lows.

My too sense.
 
Reggie said:
I think thajeremy's is my favorite out of this latest batch. My ears might be tricking me, but I might be hearing your compression working. Maybe longer release? And could use some more mids or something.
Click to expand...


thanks for the comments man...it is adjusted according to your suggestions....

about a girl - mastered(2)
The previous link still points to my first version incase anyone wants to A/B them....
any more comments????
 
Reggie said:
I think thajeremy's is my favorite out of this latest batch. My ears might be tricking me, but I might be hearing your compression working. Maybe longer release? And could use some more mids or something.
Windy - maybe my monitors are broken....but yours sound pretty thin and odd to me? Perhaps too much processing?
Foobu - yours is not too bad, but sounds a little dull to me. Might could use some brightening or shelving down the lows.

My too sense.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your comments Reggie, the chances are it is my monitors.
I didnt do much to the processing, so it was not over processed.
It indicates to me that I need alot more practice, I havn't done any mixing for a long time. I find your comments very useful as if you hadnt said anything I would have carried on thinking everything was ok. Thanks again Reggie.
Rob.
 
Glad I could help/inspire improvement

Pretty thick Jeremy. Cool

Windy - There seems to be something weird going on, like maybe the L and R have gotten processed really differently? Did you use the reverb as an insert or something? Maybe you could go through your process in mastering this. I'm curious what is going on.

Whatever happened to Ms. Hilarious's version? I think she wussed out on us. Come on chicken; post it! :D
 
Reggie said:
Whatever happened to Ms. Hilarious's version? I think she wussed out on us. Come on chicken; post it! :D
Click to expand...

He wussed out! ms. hilarious is my wife. Long story . . .

Anyway, yeah I kinda wussed out. While I was kicking it around, some plugs I was demo'ing expired. I have bought them now, but in the process I reinstalled XP and lost my presets (annoying Wavelab problem, don't ask).

So now I need to start from scratch, but I haven't had time to even listen to everybody's masters, and I'm out for the next two days . . .

So, basically, I'm a wuss :(
 
Ah hahaha!! I knew that would draw her out. Don't you know that homerec comes before all other priorities? teehee
 
Reggie said:
I think thajeremy's is my favorite out of this latest batch. My ears might be tricking me, but I might be hearing your compression working. Maybe longer release? And could use some more mids or something.
Windy - maybe my monitors are broken....but yours sound pretty thin and odd to me? Perhaps too much processing?
Foobu - yours is not too bad, but sounds a little dull to me. Might could use some brightening or shelving down the lows.

My too sense.
Click to expand...

If you get time would you listen to this mix ?
I cant figure out what went wrong, its either my monitors or I maybe sent the wrong mix. Thanks.
Rob.
http://media.putfile.com/boutagirl2amp3
 
First time attempt...

Hey everyone, what a cool thread! I've also been lurking here for a while and thought I'd try it out - please comment and critique 'cause it's the only way we'll learn...


bout a girl-m


Thanks again!
 
I hate to be hoggin all the critique action, but here goes:

Windy: Yeah that one is better; the whackness is gone whatever it was. Only thing though - there is a lot of mud in this one. Might need some low mids carved out.

Witka: Pretty cool; loud as tits. On the verge of irritating though, so be careful with that. Don't know if it is too much 3k or pushing the limiter too hard into distortion or what. Cool though
 
Reggie said:
I hate to be hoggin all the critique action, but here goes:

Windy: Yeah that one is better; the whackness is gone whatever it was. Only thing though - there is a lot of mud in this one. Might need some low mids carved out.

Witka: Pretty cool; loud as tits. On the verge of irritating though, so be careful with that. Don't know if it is too much 3k or pushing the limiter too hard into distortion or what. Cool though
Click to expand...

Keep hoggin Reggie, we appreciate it believe me. Now all I have to worry about is cutting some mids. :) at least its not the mustard. :)
Rob.
 
Witka and thajeremy, these both sound very cool!

Can somebody explain to me, is what these two did what this genre is supposed to sound like? Honestly I don't know what I'm shooting for here, can somebody post a reference? (Sorry to be so dense, I just want to join in the fun!) :D

FWIW, one more shot but I'm really grasping in the dark....great thread though, and thanks again NL5 for hosting!
http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?fid=3760


J.J.
 
Yes....

Reggie said:
I hate to be hoggin all the critique action, but here goes:

Witka: Pretty cool; loud as tits. On the verge of irritating though, so be careful with that. Don't know if it is too much 3k or pushing the limiter too hard into distortion or what. Cool though
Click to expand...

You're right on that, it's pretty close to distorting, I'm going to check the 3k and repost it sometime tomorrow...sure was fun though :)
 
gatorjj said:
Witka and thajeremy, these both sound very cool!

Can somebody explain to me, is what these two did what this genre is supposed to sound like? Honestly I don't know what I'm shooting for here, can somebody post a reference? (Sorry to be so dense, I just want to join in the fun!) :D

FWIW, one more shot but I'm really grasping in the dark....great thread though, and thanks again NL5 for hosting!
http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?fid=3760


J.J.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the kind words! As to the genre, well that kind of in-your-face hard rock/metal seems to have super loud production these days. I was just trying to get the guitars nice and chunky...

PS Sorry for the double post....
 
Last edited:
gatorjj said:
Witka and thajeremy, these both sound very cool!

Can somebody explain to me, is what these two did what this genre is supposed to sound like? Honestly I don't know what I'm shooting for here, can somebody post a reference? (Sorry to be so dense, I just want to join in the fun!) :D

J.J.
Click to expand...

Like someone mentioned earlier, Chevelle would be a pretty good reference for this kind of genre. Check them out on the web or get a CD or something.
 
Reggie said:
Like someone mentioned earlier, Chevelle would be a pretty good reference for this kind of genre. Check them out on the web or get a CD or something.
Click to expand...
yea...to me, it sounds JUST like Chevelle in places....especially when he is screaming...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top