Mix Album: masterin before or after?

[Giganova]

hey guys --

wassup? I want to release a "mixed album", i.e. an album where the tracks fade into each other. Very popular in dance music, for instance. Now, should I get the individual tracks mastered first, then load the mastered traxx into my sequencer (Logic) and mix them there, or the other way round: create a 70min album with tracks fading into each other, etc, and send the entire 70min track to a mastering facility?? Since the individual tracks might need "custom tweaking" during the mastering process, and the levels might not be homogeneous, I tempt to get the individual songs mastered first. However, can I just load the mastered songs into Logic, mix them, and burn the entire album onto a CD? Can such a CD serve as the "master medium" for duplication? (I have a professional external Marantz CD burner, though)

Thanks for your help!
Gig

 

[Massive Master]

Send both versions to the mastering house. Some (mine, for example) can automate and tweak to deal with the changes dynamically.

Some others can't/won't work that way. So, sending the original tracks is always good - AND an edited version so they can line everything up properly.

For example - If the project came in here, the first thing I'd do is take the edited version, as is, and throw it in the DAW. That's my template for the whole project. If after listening to it I don't think I can use automation to my advantage, I'd start working indivuidual tracks. Then, line everything up in the DAW to match YOUR edited version.

KEEP IN MIND that perhaps sending the individual tracks in a 24-bit format might help also. 70 minutes at 24-bit will take an extra disc. If sent as a PCM file instead of CD-A, you could use a DVD-R or just use ANY gap between the tunes as your split point.

 

[Giganova]

thanks for your excellent advice!

(P.S: you are my mastering house! Remember that you did a demo for me a while ago? I haven't forgotten about you, but am working hard to finalize my album. Can take a few more months.)

 

[Massive Master]

Sweet!

Ummm... I hate to say I don't remember specifically... Please don't take it personally.