Is my (mastering) website becomming a monster? Is it time to clean house a little?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Massive Master
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Massive Master

Massive Master

www.massivemastering.com
I'm a mastering guy - I dabble in graphic design, and I dabble in web design and authoring. :)

Anyone who reads my thread here knows that I am prone to rambling... :rolleyes:

Of course, when I get the chance ocassionally, I'll check out other sites and see what the "competition" is doing on the web. Most mastering sites I come across have 6, 7, maybe 9 or 10 pages.

I just trimmed mine DOWN to 32 pages. A few of these are only necessary for menu structure, but for the most part, when I look at the site, I can't see anything that I really want to remove... The whole thing was basically developed from questions asked by clients and potential clients, plus the obvious information that I need such as contact info, background, etc.

The part where I think I get in trouble is my "conversational" writing qualities. I used to write a lot of articles (I was the RecTech in the mid 90's), and one comment that was received by the publishers on several ocassions was the I wrote like I was "speaking" to the reader. They liked that. Although, this can obviously lead to RAMBLING. I just don't know if it's an asset or not on the site... I just want the reader to get a feel for what I'm about - Not just a bunch of facts or thoughts thrown around. The internet is a big place - I can find you 100 sites on mastering. Obviously, I want to give people a reason to pick MINE. :D

So, if anyone is feeling bored, drop on by and critique my site.

Does it all make sense? Is it reasonably easy to navigate? If you were looking for mastering, is the info you would want there? If you have no idea what mastering is, would you have a grasp on it after visiting?

As stated, I'm really not even certain that I want to make any major changes (if it isn't broke, don't fix it). However, I'd love to hear what anyone has to say. Feel free to comment, PM, e-mail, whatever.

See? I'm rambling again! :eek:

John Scrip - www.massivemastering.com
 
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I don;t have any problem navigating through your page... :)

although I would love to see some studio pics though....
 
John,

From my perspective (BS in Computer Science/Internet Management)

The welcome page is wordy, but definitely NOT obnoxious and it does seem appropiate.

The FAQ page shifts over to the left (different than the other pages) as well as GET A SAMPLE page and Massive Gear page.

Also do you offer Graphic Designs as a service? There was no link or mention of it.

Suggestions:

Match the FAQ, GET A SAMPLE and Massive Gear pages with the rest of the site. (centered)

Move the Audio Samples under one of the other links either Services or Clients-Stuff. (It seems kinda out there by itself)

Welcome Page: Try the moving the column on the right hand side to the left. I don't know if this will look any better but try it and see what you think.


John, overall a very well designed site. Easy to navigate, informative and very profressional looking. Good use of colors (easy on the eyes.) Good job.

larry
 
I've seen all 100 of those sites John. I think yours is among some of the more informational ones. Some are so cryptic that the site itself makes me wonder even though they have decent credits. Roger Nichols site is pretty tough but very educational and the same with Bob Katz site. Gear pics are essential with website for musicians, especially younger or inexperienced ones because it instills a sense of accomplishment and ability. Someone who has invested something obviously. I would like to see pics of where you used to worked prior to downsizing. I remember when Glen Meadows left Masterphonics and the pics of that place left a real impression since he obviously had to go into lesser facilites. I like pics...can ya tell :)

SoMm
 
other than the lagging nav bar at the top (which happens alot, could be my end), I'd say you did a pretty good job with the info you had to get in...

skip intro took me a sec to find...
 
Thanks for all these responses -

Leeking - You're right - I've got to get some more shots in here... Old AND new (gotta see if I can find any "old" ones, gotta get someone with some cool shooting gear in here to get the new ones).

Gatorhaus - Thanks for stating the "obvious" that I was "oblivious" to - I always have my browser fixed at around 800 wide. I never would have noticed that the layouts on those pages weren't centered. I'm using Net Objects Fusion - It's a pretty decent program, and it does a lot of "thinking" for me (much easier than hacking out HTML like 5 years ago). Of course, it doesn't think enough sometimes. Those pages you mentioned are the newest additions to the site. For some reason, when you tell a layout type to be centered, you still have to center the layout on individual pages. I think they're fixing that in the next release. Until then, I'll have to be more viligant. On the graphic & web stuff - I do a few album covers here and there - Same with web sites. Normally, it'll be a client who doesn't have a resource otherwise. It's one of those "just because I have PhotoShop, it doesn't make me a pro graphic designer" things. I get by with it, and I do most of my own artwork, but I really don't have the time to invest in it anymore - I used to have it on previous incarnations of the site, but since the mastering (the actual reason for the site in the first place) portion of the program started taking off like it has, I've tried to shy away from it a bit except for certain clients who I've been doing graphics for since way back when.

Son of Mixerman - Good points there also (see Leeking above). One of those little regrets I suppose - Studio shots would be good. Studio shots with guys who (still) pack arenas are even better... "A sense of accomplishment and ability" = customer confidence. Very true. I should make some phone calls to former co-workers...

mpayne0 - I've noticed that on the nav bar also - Almost seems to depend on the mood at the moment. Sometimes it's very smooth, other times it jerky. I suppose as long as it works... I'll see if I can't make the "Skip Intro" a bit bigger also... If nothing else, it's a fairly short intro that automatically forwards after it's finished (15 seconds or so).

I guess it's just like writing songs... You just never feel like your own are up to snuff... I'm just happy about the lack of "your site kinda sucks and it's very confusing" responses.

Well... I shouldn't count my chickens - This has only been up for a day or so... :eek:

John -
 
John,
I found it easy to navagate, informative, color coordinated enough to be able to read and simple.

Thanks, great site.
:D
D
 
Looks tidy and professional. Inspires confidence that you know what you're doing. Not very 'arty' more of a 'business' site. But I guess that's OK for what you are doing (ie providing a service to artists).

I liked the before and after comparisons and i listened to the metal band samples. Was a little disapointed with the choices of styles of music, no HipHop/RnB, no idie rock, or acoustic singer songwriter stuff, etc, so maybe you could included some of these genres samples in future?
 
You're right on the money - I put up the samples quite a while ago. It's pretty much what I had lying around that I had rights to use.

I really have to go through again and find other stuff.

It's on my list. When I get time... Oh God... Time...
 
glynb said:
I liked the before and after comparisons and i listened to the metal band samples. Was a little disapointed with the choices of styles of music, no HipHop/RnB, no idie rock, or acoustic singer songwriter stuff, etc, so maybe you could included some of these genres samples in future?
Click to expand...

Done. Thanks for the "push" - I've been putting that off for far too long... Waiting for permission from labels and artists for even more...

JS
 
I like it, except every site I go to has an intro, I always skip em, cause I want to see the real deal, not the intro lol.

It seems like you address each question someone might have on it's own page, and you really don't take advantage of the full space of the page, maybe make the font a size or 2 smaller, and try to take advantage of the entire space.

Otherwise, I like it.
 
As a graphically inclined student of mastering myself, I really like your site. It sells your service well, and also helps to educate people like me who are constantly looking for more new information on the industry. I like your marketing angle (doing more with less for less) and I think that with the influx of home recording studios, people like you are going to do well as the technology progresses.

The blue on black design is a really simple way of creating a deep, nearly spacey effect. You do it well. Maybe include a sharp, colour picture of your studio on the welcome page, or the splash page if you decide you need one. The studio looks nice and a picture of it might break up the "blue on black" design cliche that you're riding the line of.

Also, on the welcome page, the column on the right is pretty crowded and I've usually just avoided it until now. There's some good info in there... maybe find a way to break it up a bit and mix it into the main body text. Or, if the links are more permanent (not just "news"), make a graphic for them and put them down the side. The guide to mixing, etc... that would work well as a graphic and would draw more attention to it, establishing your cred a little bit more.

You're right though... the site is MASSIVE. I believe the info on your site probably helps sell your service. You talk a lot, but it's all accurate. So... it builds trust. I like it.
 
Well, that was a clear and detailed response, Ryan. I gotta get me some new shots up there soon... :rolleyes:

At least I got some new audio files... I'm workin' on it! :D

John -
 
Just thanking everyone again for the comments - I think I took almost everything into account and changed a bunch of stuff. Mostly subtle, but it's all in the details, right (just like mastering - I see a parallel here...)? Just uploaded the final cut.

Still working on some new room shots - Normally it's such a mess in here - Too many projects open at one time lately and a decent but non-wonderful camera (except for the rack-shot on the gear page... That's some catalog stuff there - and it was lit with an LCD flashlight!).

Gotta bug some of my photographer buddies...

JS -
 
I found the site very informative and easy to navigate. Didn't care for the flash intro but then I don't like them anyway. :)
 
Here's my two cents (coming courtesy of the north side, Kimball and Montrose ;))

Cut the flash intro between the "falling" of the blue reel image and when you start your pitch phrase, "when you want it to sound BIG."

I watched the intro film twice and, while I like how you've maneuvered the words to visually represent their meanings, IT'S TOO LONG!

It's not essential, right? It's fluff. Let's compare it to, "It really whips the llama's ass!" catchphrase. That's fluffy and annoying but it lasts 1.5 seconds and it works as a branding technique because you already know I'm referring to WinAmp's audio sample.

Like my old songwriting teacher used to say, "Just because it's a good idea, doesn't mean you should use it," and also, "sometimes you have to kill your favorite babies to make everyone happy." My songwriting teacher was a weird lady. :D

Miles
 
stonepiano said:
...start your pitch phrase, "when you want it to sound BIG." ...while I like how you've maneuvered the words to visually represent their meanings, IT'S TOO LONG!
Click to expand...
I have to agree. When I checked the site before, I hit "skip intro." I almost always do. After watching it all the way through, I think the last part would be enough of an intro.

..."sometimes you have to kill your favorite babies to make everyone happy."...
Click to expand...
<*shudder*> ...weird.
 
I don't really care about touchy-feely stuff, the impression of experience, nor do I care much about audio samples on line, because they don't tell me much. I want to see the gear, and I want a complete list of every piece of hardware and software of any consequence that's used. Do you do tracking also, or just mastering? Mostly for mastering, I want to know what compressors, what kind of EQ, what monitors, and I want to see the room. I might be able to find that on your site, but I'd need to wade through to find it. It is a nice site, though. So just show me the rack up close and personal.-Richie
 
Hey Massive.

I like your site. As everyone has stated it's easy to navigate and has lots of info. It's a site that I have bookmarked to go back for more reading.

Just a minor thing and I'm sure it's just me, but I find it hard reading sites that are done with a dark background color. It's a shock for my eyes whenever I go to look at something else..

Great site !
 
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