Mastering Mystery

[bpoco]

I've been home recording for about 8 years now - but, pretty much in isolation (no pun intended). Everything I know, I've picked up through trial and error. I've only recently started reading BBS for views and advice.

I have yet to create a song having that "mastered" sound you hear on a professionally created CD. I've listened to other people's tunes (from this BBS) and I've yet to find one that has that "mastered" quality (see PS below). I can't put my finger on what the difference is - but there is a difference!! What gives? What's the secret to mastering that gives that professional sound? Obviously, there is some magic, because most CD's are mastered by an outside house. I'm sure part of it is related to the mixing engineer "not being able to see the forest for the trees" kind of thing. You know .... you need another set of unbiased ears. But that can't be all of it.

Thanks - BPOCO

PS: The one exception to this is when a song is limited to one/two instruments and a vocal. I have heard tunes on this BBS that sound as good as any professional CD .... but they all were sparse in their arrangement.

 

[Tukkis]

Mostly has to do with the equipment a mastering engineer has and the room he is in. He has the best of the best in everything plus also years and years of experience.

For home recording a decent mastering job can be acheived with some plugins, namely the Waves Pack.

http://www.waves.com/htmls/prods/indi/native_gold_bundle.html

Tukkis

 

[blipndub]

"I've listened to other people's tunes (from this BBS) and I've yet to find one that has that "mastered" quality (see PS below). I can't put my finger on what the difference is - but there is a difference"

I'm going to stick my neck out and say, THANK GOD! Listening to the majority of recordings that use the $4000 software bundles and perfect rooms, mics, boards etc, sound like what they are, over compressed, forumulaic, radio oriented, fillers between advertisements.

The music created here and on hundreds of independent lables is rich in texture and subtelty, carefully crafted and meticiously mixed to make an expressive and unique artistist statement (as I'm sure you can relate to with all you time making recordings).

The recordings that are NOT the glassy professional numbers sound like they were made by HUMAN BEINGS.

 

[knownuttin]

The most important ingredient is the experienced ears of the mastering engineer. There's no magic. Ears are trained the same way hands and voices are: gradually over time with practice and repetition, trial and error.

That and a perfectly tuned room, plus D/A conversion and a playback system that cost more than Bill Gates garage, and you're on your way.

What I do I call "mastering".
-kent

 

[ecs113]

I have yet to create a song having that "mastered" sound you hear on a professionally created CD.

The sound you are hearing is not necessarily the mastering process, but may be a part. You could be hearing excellent musicianship, quality gear, talented mixing, and yes pro mastering. Or you could be hearing corporate garbage filtered through a pultec and slammed into an L2. Not sure what you are hearing....