EQ finishing touches

[kdgospel]

This is where I'm at. I have a live recording that has been mixed, the songs have been put in the order we want them, and they are the same volume. I know there is no such thing as mastering at home. I've been on this board long enough to know that you can get into some real heated discussions about "home mastering" and that you need to send the stuff to a mastering house, etc. This is not an attempt in getting one of those discussions started. I would just like to know what some of you experts say about one question. At a professional mastering house is there a certain frequency of eq that they use to put the finishing touches on a recording? Or is it just what they think it needs?

 

[The Green Hornet]

Alleluia Gospel Kid:

I am thinking that if you paid for the mastering that you should be hearing a copy of what all the other copies will sound like and that you can ask to have the EQ changed or altered or dropped before all the CD's are cloned.

Your ears are not like the ears of someone doing the final mix. A friend of mine, very good musician, did a gig with a traveling singer and she had it recorded live and then professionally mixed to cassette.
The mixer left the entire band and vocalist very dry -- no ambience. I ran the tape into my 2816 and just added a bit of reverb. Naturally I could not edit each track; all I could do was add to the stereo mixdown on the cassette. Cut to the chase, the singer, a very good one, just loved the ambience she got from my ears.

So, I think if you are paying, you should be getting things about the way your ears would like them.

By the way, there are no set EQ patterns -- it's all up to the hands on the final faders.

Green Hornet

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

At a professional mastering house is there a certain frequency of eq that they use to put the finishing touches on a recording?

No...

Or is it just what they think it needs?

A proper mastering facility has the signal chain, the listening environment, and the experienced ears of the ME that allows proper and critical analysis of what (if anything) is needed to "polish" a mix.

 

[kdgospel]

Thanks a lot.
I knew I could rely on the Bear to give me a straight answer.

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Bear of Blue:

BUT, doesn't the ME have to give a copy of his/her adjusting to the client before they run the CD's?

I sure the paying talent listens to the work before giving the ok or the pay.

Correct me if I'm wrong. I don't think any of the "stars" allow their work to go to the stores unless they have approved of the mix.

Green Hornet

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Correct me if I'm wrong. I don't think any of the "stars" allow their work to go to the stores unless they have approved of the mix.

Actually, the "stars" may not hear the final product until after it's released and actually in the stores!

It's the producer and to some extent, the label mooks, that have to sign-off on the final version, generally not the artists themselves...

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Bear:

Thanks for the information. However, I can't believe that Babs Strisson [sp] would ever let some "agent" or "producer" make the final decision. Yet, alone folks like Springstein or Manilow, etc.

In my limited work in recording, if I did some stuff and had it worked and mixed by "anyone," I would reserve the right to hear the product before I paid for the 1000 cd's. Of course my only big song is titled,"The River Turned Muddy When You Turned Me Down."

I just pushed up the faders and did the mix. Great song. I should send you a copy?

Green Hornet

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Thanks for the information. However, I can't believe that Babs Strisson [sp] would ever let some "agent" or "producer" make the final decision. Yet, alone folks like Springstein or Manilow, etc.

And yet, somehow, that's exactly the way it is!

For sure, the bigger the "star" the better they are able to negotiate such terms in their contract, but a newly-signed for example, would have zero input!

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Frozen Bear:

Have to disagree with you. Money does TALK. As I look over all the ads of folks who want to burn CD's for talent out there, I can't imagine that the person who PAYS would not have the last say.

As for super stars, well, we really know that they control their money or someone steals it.

But, let me tell you a story about Mel Torme. He was doing a gig in Chicago and my good friend D. Reynolds had the band at "Don The Beachcombers" a well-know watering hole in the State Street, New Town/Old Town area, just off Chicago Avenue, a bit North I think.

Well, Mel came in after hours and gave my buddy the scores and said, "Like play them man." So, my friend sat there at 4 AM and and ran through the arrangements on piano -- his forte of course.

As told to me by my friend, "he" decided to play a bit more modern change at one point in the arrangement. Mel just sat there reading the WALL STREET JOURNAL and listening.

After my buddy finished the song, adding the modern change, Mel looked up at him and said, "Hey, kid, you play good; but, just play the changes as they are written."

Well, we all know what a hellova musician Mel Torme was, and such a great drummer when he wanted to fool around.

So, I still say, the talent chooses the final episode of the CD and not some distant attachment. Well, maybe, in some cases, a "real good musician-manager" is given the shot.

But, for all those folks out there sending stuff to a studio: GET A COPY OF YOUR CD AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE MIX, DON'T BUY IT.


Bear, you just got to hear my song:"The River Turned Muddy When She Turned Me Down."


Green Hornet

 

[mixmkr]

yo...Mr. Bee, the color of vegetation...


how about a post of that song in the mp3 clinic?

 

[The Green Hornet]

Hey & Yo Mix:

I don't have the gear to post the tune in the clinic of MP & 3.

However, I can send you a cassette tape if you like.

It's just a spoof tune that a group would use to entertain in a "relaxed" mood. Clean lyrics as only the green in vegetation would do that would make a buzz.

You want to hear the tune, post me and I'll mail you a copy -- free!

Green Hornet
PS: I could also send you a CD of the tune if the Bear would do the final mix. I trust him.

GH

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

I just pushed up the faders and did the mix. Great song. I should send you a copy?

Sure Ben, send me a copy!

 

[sonicpaint]

I think what he meant was....

Have to disagree with you. Money does TALK. As I look over all the ads of folks who want to burn CD's for talent out there, I can't imagine that the person who PAYS would not have the last say.

I think what BlueBear was trying to say is that when an artist is under contract with a big label, the label has their own professionals that deal with the production pre and post. They make the final decisions as to the standards they expect from the "Master" before going to reproduction. You said "I can't imagine that the person who PAYS would not have the last say" and your right. In this case the label foots the bill and they get the last say. I'm sure there are exceptions to this rule depending on who the artist or band is but for the most part I think this is the case.

On the other hand I would imagine that the final decision would be made by the artist or band more often in the independent scene. The reasons being that the artists are more likely to be footing the bill in this case for their projects.

Just some thoughts,
sonicpaint

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

That's exactly what I was getting at Sonic...!

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Sonic & Bear of Blue:

Thanks. Now I've got the picture about who can say what.

Green Hornet

 

[sonicpaint]

I thought that was what you meant.

BlueBear I thought that's what you meant so I tried to explain. I'm sure Bear and I were glad to help out. All the best with your tune!

sonicpaint

 

[The Green Hornet]

AHA Sonic & Bear:

I see that you both live in East Angus, near Sherbrook....[Ha]

The tune has been finished long ago Sonic. I might use it if I still did night club gigs. It's just a novelty song with some odd lyrics. English teachers are prone to odd lyrics and metaphors. [even mixed metaphors]

Happy Thanksgiving
Green Hornet