DIY Mastering Clinic #2

  • Thread starter Thread starter mshilarious
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Glad to!

I like it... the vocals are very very in your face and clear. I had a tough time achieving that. Nice work there. I would like to hear a little more bass. The cymbals have a lot of sizzle to them. The toms and kick have a got nice
'thwat"/"bapp" sound but the tone is a little hollow. I suspect that happened at the recording stage though. I never could get that out...you might put a little boost in the 80Hz, 800Hz and cut a touch in the 300Hz and 400Hz...just a touch.

Over all,...it's a keeper. How did you work it out...what are you working with?
 
punkin said:
Glad to!

I like it... the vocals are very very in your face and clear. I had a tough time achieving that. Nice work there. I would like to hear a little more bass. The cymbals have a lot of sizzle to them. The toms and kick have a got nice
'thwat"/"bapp" sound but the tone is a little hollow. I suspect that happened at the recording stage though. I never could get that out...you might put a little boost in the 80Hz, 800Hz and cut a touch in the 300Hz and 400Hz...just a touch.

Over all,...it's a keeper. How did you work it out...what are you working with?
Click to expand...

I used a software compressor in Adobe Audition :)
 
Here's my second try... I personally think that my first one is better. This one might be too bassy. If I could find a medium between the two, it'd be good :)

boutagirl second try
 
Heh, I actually like your first attempt, I do think this one has too much bass - but I was listening to it on a system with a cheap sub, so I'm obviously going to get more bass then I should. The vocals sound great though....
 
Am I the only one hearing really odd compressor pumping on both of these? Too fast release? :confused:
 
pump it up a nooooooaaaaahtch (or sometheing like that)

First of all, great forum and really cool thread too!
Couldn't let this one pass me by without taking a shot at it myself.
This is my first mastering attempt .. for what's it worth...

So here's what I TRIED to fix (based on what I like to hear in metal songs):
- the snare and the bass guitar where kinda burried under
- give the kickdrum a bit more *thump*
- make the whole thing louder whithout messing up the rest.
- pumped the-'pumpit up a notch'-parts up a notch, the ones where he screams @ 820/1020Hz for a while. Duplicated the track with all freqs cut but these, volume automation so only those parts would be sent to a bus with delay+reverb inserted.
- desperately tried to bring the vox more to front (in vain)

So let me know what you think... Really liked jndietz's second attempt, what did you exactly for the vocals? Sound much more upfront than mine.

(Lightningmp3 doesn't seem to work for me (for now at least) so I used ultrashare) So here it is:
http://ultrashare.net/hosting/fl/31b1232024/

regards
 
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Nice...I've got to tell ya, I'm getting a little worked over by this tune so, I'm not listening as closely as when this thread started.

The vocals are very clear and cutting. Speaking of veins...I can see it popping out on his neck and forhead. The snare pops out. The bass is something I just don't like...not cuz of your work...I just don't like the way it was laid down and I'm getting a little tired of hearing it.

The kick does have quite a bit more "bapp" to it while the guitars just rubb the sandpaper into your face.

Nicely done.
 
Thanks for the listen punkin.. yeah, I can imagine getting worked over by this one after a while ...and I occasionally listen to metal.
Gotta admit, was excpecting to hear more stuff I did wrong, but I guess it's not as bad as I imagine it to be, having no frame of reference at all (since being a complete beginner)
Either way I'm definitely gonna try redoing this one at least to get clearer vocals and get it a tad ...well ... louder.

punkin said:
Speaking of veins...I can see it popping out on his neck and forhead.
Click to expand...
Hah, can't believe let that little sucker pass me by, gonna go ahead and edit that one, cause it just looks silly.
 
S.Clause said:
Thanks for the listen punkin.. yeah, I can imagine getting worked over by this one after a while ...and I occasionally listen to metal.
Gotta admit, was excpecting to hear more stuff I did wrong, but I guess it's not as bad as I imagine it to be, having no frame of reference at all (since being a complete beginner)
Either way I'm definitely gonna try redoing this one at least to get clearer vocals and get it a tad ...well ... louder.

Hah, can't believe let that little sucker pass me by, gonna go ahead and edit that one, cause it just looks silly.
Click to expand...

Got an idea for you to put reference back into the picture...listen to the other submissions. That's what I did...and to tell ya the truth, mastering is something I stay way clear of. Listening to the other's versions gave me ideas for goals. My first couple attempts sucked big, but in the end, I was pretty happy with the last one but each time, I went back and listened to the other's attempts which changed my approach.

What'cha workin' with?
 
punkin said:
Got an idea for you to put reference back into the picture...listen to the other submissions. That's what I did...and to tell ya the truth, mastering is something I stay way clear of. Listening to the other's versions gave me ideas for goals. My first couple attempts sucked big, but in the end, I was pretty happy with the last one but each time, I went back and listened to the other's attempts which changed my approach.

What'cha workin' with?
Click to expand...

You're right, I'll do that.
I used cubase se with the included plugins.
 
http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?fid=3885
well heres my sad atempt....i tried to get it to the vocals to sound a little more seperated from the instruments but not to much just enough to make them stand out a little bit..also tried to make the symbols stand out a little more since they play a huge part in the song......first attempt at mastering anything really...used 20 dollar headphones since i cant really have anything loud goin in my apartment at 9 in the morning so sorry if it sucks
 
Wow I hope I am not too late for the party. I have listened to so many of the mastered versions. I will get mine in a day or two.
 
punkin said:
The bass is something I just don't like...not cuz of your work...I just don't like the way it was laid down and I'm getting a little tired of hearing it.
Click to expand...


Yep, the bass track pretty well sucked, but the bass player quit in the middle of the project, so the singer/guitar player laid the tracks. He did OK for never really playing bass, but not nearly the same. BTW - the old bass player kicked ass too...... :(

edit - Just wanted to add - I will listen to the masters as soon as my CR is back up - should be just a few more days.......
 
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ikon said:
http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?fid=3885
well heres my sad atempt....i tried to get it to the vocals to sound a little more seperated from the instruments but not to much just enough to make them stand out a little bit..also tried to make the symbols stand out a little more since they play a huge part in the song......first attempt at mastering anything really...used 20 dollar headphones since i cant really have anything loud goin in my apartment at 9 in the morning so sorry if it sucks
Click to expand...

Hmm, to me the vocals still sound muffled, the crash and the HH (at least I think it's a loose HH) on the onther hand do sound crisp. Crispier than on mine version.
 
Ok, I did several versions last night and here is the one I feel was the best. Enjoy and let me know what you all think of it.

 
Here is my "Runner-Up" choice. It is not as much "in your face" as the other one.

 
Fishmed_Returns said:
Ok, I did several versions last night and here is the one I feel was the best. Enjoy and let me know what you all think of it.

Click to expand...

I really like that one... I thought I did OK with my second try, but after hearing yours it looks like there's still alot of room for improvement. Can you share your EQs and MBC settings? I really would like to know how you managed to get the vox so "in your face" without dragging the guitar along.

Your second attempt seems a bit harsh to me though.
 
S.Clause said:
I really like that one... I thought I did OK with my second try, but after hearing yours it looks like there's still alot of room for improvement. Can you share your EQs and MBC settings? I really would like to know how you managed to get the vox so "in your face" without dragging the guitar along.

Your second attempt seems a bit harsh to me though.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the support.

I used Cakewalk's Tape Simulator using 30ips with light saturation. After that I applied some light limiting to the mix to minimize extreme dynamics.

The second file I used an exciter and light limiting. I like the width it gave it, but I agree, the eq was just not there.
 
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