Mixing/Mastering Example

[MaxB]

Can anyone post an example of a song pre and after mastering?

 

[shackrock]

agreed. except, i've heard a lot of "ametuers"...i'd like to hear a PRO song pre/post mastered.

oh wait, come to think of it - my friend's hardcore band is on Indecision records - they just recorded up in Detroit, and I have their final mix...pre master.

i assume i can post the post master once the CD is released! haha.

but still, it interests me.

 

[masteringhouse]

Every song has it’s own series of challenges and idiosyncrasies, so I don’t know that there can be one representative sample of pre/post mastering. I put up a sample of a project that I just completed work on however. I would recommend burning the wav samples to a CD and listening on a good system rather than computer speakers to hear subtleties (particularly sub-harmonic components in this sample) rather than just comparing MP3 files. I included both however for people with less patience for downloading.

This sample really didn’t need much in regards to an increase in level that you will hear on other samples, but needed a bit of clean up in frequency balance IMHO. Volume was just increased by about 1 db. The mix was done by Shelly Yakus.

Curious to hear any feedback …

See:
http://www.masteringhouse.com/demos/

 

[MaxB]

Thank you Masteringhouse for the post...

Am I the only one can't hear any evident difference between the two files?? (to be honest I must say I've downloaded only the mp3 versions...)

I'm curious to know (excuse me for my ignorance) if mastering it's a process born after the diffusion of CDs or not...

Is it mastering something that can be avoided?

 

[masteringhouse]

Thank you Masteringhouse for the post...

Am I the only one can't hear any evident difference between the two files?? (to be honest I must say I've downloaded only the mp3 versions...)

I'm curious to know (excuse me for my ignorance) if mastering it's a process born after the diffusion of CDs or not...

Is it mastering something that can be avoided?

I admit this is a more subtle example, but on a good pair of speakers you should be able to hear a difference in clarity.

One of the reasons that I included this sample was to demonstrate that mastering is also knowing when not to touch something as well as when to process. Just throwing on an L2 and making things as loud as possible is NOT mastering. The original mix was very good (Shelly is a great engineer). The more professional recordings usually require less processing than less professional ones, as a result they sound better.

As engineers, we should always strive to create the best product from start to finish, not "fix it in the mix" or "fix it in mastering".

Mastering is not a new process with the advent of CDs, but was required with vinyl to ensure that grooves were created correctly in order to prevent records from skipping, as well as providing EQ curves for proper playback.

Sure, you can avoid mastering. But I wouldn't recommend it if you want a professional sounding product. Mastering provides an objective ear. Someone once made the analogy that a mastering engineer is similar to an editor for a book. If you try to edit your own work it's probably not going to acomplish much since it's not adding another dimension and point of view. With mastering it's similar in that you are having a professional review your work, make corrections in frequency balance, levels, etc., using pro gear in an environment dedicated to the process.

I will try to include a more dramatic example on the site in the near future. Maybe one with an issue in regard to levels.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

I checked the MP3s and heard the difference, but yes - it was subtle -- more like a slight veil was lifted.

 

[tjohnston]

Damn, Im trying to hear the difference. Let me listen a few more times.

 

[masteringhouse]

Damn, Im trying to hear the difference. Let me listen a few more times.

The responses here are really interesting to me. I find the difference quite apparent.

I'm sure that some of the issues have to do with listening on computer speakers. I would suggest headphones if you don't burn the CDs since much of the bass content and high frequency response is missing on computer speakers. Also MP3s filter out frequencies above 18k so even more of the subtlety is lost there.

I think we'll separate some of the audio veterans here ...

 

[Son of Mixerman]

Monitoring.

Like Blue Bear and other have said before, monitors and the room your in can mask huge amounts of clarity. Its really an eye opener for an inexperienced engineer to attend the mastering session and hear the raw mix in a great room and set of monitors to match. Who cleaned the fog off the windows dude Im at work with no ability to hear anything so I can't comment on what I hear. Music on PC speakers encoded with mp3 is pretty much reading a letter that went through wash

Sometimes I wish you had to license yourself as a L2 user like purchasing a gun or something. The Audioslave is still killing me.

SoMm

 

[Alanfc]

I think what really shines for me is the lead vocal. In the mastered version I can really hear the vibrations and the air through the vocal chords , like she was right close to me. The backing seemed a tiny bit thinner to me, but clearer..

 

[MaxB]

I think what really shines for me is the lead vocal. In the mastered version I can really hear the vibrations and the air through the vocal chords , like she was right close to me. The backing seemed a tiny bit thinner to me, but clearer..

Yes, I fully agree with Alan. In the mastered version the voice it's a little bit more clean, but I think that only mastering engeeners can benefit of this

Well what I want to say is that a lot of people hear mp3 music directly from their computer or in self-burned cds... You know what I'm talking about... The mp3 quality it's a kick in the ass for a sound engeener, but they like it!

Currently I'm in love with some old Queen recordings not perfect at all... But I like it.

Another question... About classical music: during recording is it good to use compression and in the final stage mastering?

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

For classical music, I think minimum signal path along with high-end components is the normal course... (ie, high-end mics into high-end pres, then direct to recorder)

Generally, outboard, if any, tends to be extremely sparse.