Mastering Yourself?

  • Thread starter Thread starter JG96
  • Start date Start date

Who masters your recordings?

  • Me

    Votes: 118 84.3%

  • Online Service

    Votes: 14 10.0%

  • Nearby Recording Studio

    Votes: 8 5.7%
  • Total voters
    140
i think anyone that puts "suck" and "knob" in their first post may be off to a rocky start my friend :)
 
That's just how it is on planet X......
 
I now do may mastering myself. I've used online mastering services in the past and was only really happy with one. However they gave one free sample and charged more and they have an actual studion in my city I believe. Anyway, what do you guys think of these:

46hourmasters
Channelfusemedia.com

I've used the latter the do a whole album. I'll do my next album myself.
 
You're looking at places that are charging less than $200 for an entire album and you're finding them somehow lacking...?
 
Massive Master said:
You're looking at places that are charging less than $200 for an entire album and you're finding them somehow lacking...?
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At that time, I wasn't too knowledgeable about this process. No way I would send my music to anyone now.

The place in San Diego that did a free sample changed about $500 for a full album and their sample, which they made from a not so good mix sounded really good.
 
I write and record and i definatly master all of my own recordings as well as other artist from around my way, like ive said before i learned alot from trial and error , Mastering is not mixing, mastering is the science of it all. if you need any help or need a fresh pair of ears then dont hesitate to Pm me. And that goes to everyone on here, just message me and ill see how i can help you

_________________________
How to create your own home recording studio
The best Acoustic Foam
 
Mastering is not mixing, mastering is the science of it all.
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No, "mastering" is the creation of the --- Oh, forget it...
 
while I think there may be a few folks with gifted ears who can mix and master in the same room, I think most it is a best less than possible end result.

I know after mixing a tune (or a CD's worth of tunes) I've lost my objectivity and am soooo familiar with the material that I start to hear what I want to hear (and ignore those things i don't care for because the client thinks it sounds great)*- both a result of ear and mental/emotional fatigue.

* a real good argument can be made for why producers are valuable

I think the best thing one can do is get a fresh set of ears that are unbiased and have no loyalties to anyone in the group/band, who's main offering is mastering

having said that, if it's a quick mix for a progress evaluation, or even something intended as a demo to get gigs locally, then slapping a mastering suite with the presets may work fine for what you need to get done- if you're intention is getting airplay, shopping the band/tune, selling a CD commercially, then the cost of mastering is a small portion of the overall cost of time and money to produce even a small run of CD's

I'll get down off my soapbox now and take all flaming offline...
 
stainlessbrown said:
while I think there may be a few folks with gifted ears who can mix and master in the same room, I think most it is a best less than possible end result.

I know after mixing a tune (or a CD's worth of tunes) I've lost my objectivity and am soooo familiar with the material that I start to hear what I want to hear (and ignore those things i don't care for because the client thinks it sounds great)*- both a result of ear and mental/emotional fatigue.

* a real good argument can be made for why producers are valuable

I think the best thing one can do is get a fresh set of ears that are unbiased and have no loyalties to anyone in the group/band, who's main offering is mastering

having said that, if it's a quick mix for a progress evaluation, or even something intended as a demo to get gigs locally, then slapping a mastering suite with the presets may work fine for what you need to get done- if you're intention is getting airplay, shopping the band/tune, selling a CD commercially, then the cost of mastering is a small portion of the overall cost of time and money to produce even a small run of CD's

I'll get down off my soapbox now and take all flaming offline...
Click to expand...

Well said.
 
I want to have our stuff mastered professionally, but we're wrapping up a project I never seem to have an extra grand or two lying around. I'd rather do it myself than have another amateur do it for me because I don't want to spend two or three years working on an album and then send it to somebody who is going to spend an hour on it and call it a day.
 
My AkaiDPS16 has a Mastering algorithm/effect to use when bouncing all 16 tracks to the stereo master track. Does that count as mastering?
 
This is probably not a "Mastering" related question, but my # 1 hurdle in getting the sound quality I'm looking for involves recording guitar direct. I have 3 vintage state of the art guitar preamps,Digiteck GSP2101 Artist, Peavy TransTube Fex, and a ProFEx 2, in addition to a Boss amp factory (plus variouse pedals). Now matter how I configure speaker emulation presets, overdrivin guitar still just sounds to "Brittle, Buzzy, harsh and trebly." With all that equipment I almost think I could get better recorded tone with an inexpensive Line 6 30 watt amp recorded with a Samsom Co1 condenser mike.
Any suggestions?
 
This is probably not a "Mastering" related question, but... (snip)
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Wow - You're absolutely right. I don't think you could have pulled this thread further off the mark without asking something related to density properties of hydrogen vs. helium, or bleeding brake lines or something.
 
Massive Master said:
Wow - You're absolutely right. I don't think you could have pulled this thread further off the mark without asking something related to density properties of hydrogen vs. helium, or bleeding brake lines or something.
Click to expand...
OK, so where's your spirit of adventure? :D
It's good to go off topic from time to time!! So steer me in the right direction.
 
mastering yourself FTW!!!! its an acquired skill, but not a hard one to acquire..
 
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