New Mastering Contest

  • Thread starter Thread starter Yareek
  • Start date Start date
mshilarious said:
Yareek, if you don't mind, how about this: I'll host the contest. 7string, bendbones, send me a link to your tracks via PM and I'll pick one. You will need to supply .wav files for the contest, but mp3s will do for now.

I'll put up one of my mics as a prize, probably my Shure 330. I'll chip in something for a second prize too. I will need some volunteer judges (how about Yareek, 7string, and bendbones?).

I'll have a look at the rating system and tweak it for mastering. I will probably enter the contest myself, but be ineligible for the prize. I will ask NL5 to host the premaster files.

Once I have it all together, I'll start the thread on the clinic, called "New Mastering Contest #1".

Objections? Suggestions?
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MS, I like your initiative. I can send you a little Paypal love for the prizes (since I started all this mess...but I emphasize "little").

As for me being a volunteer judge...well, I can't really say that I feel qualified. I'm just a home rec'er with a decent pair of ears. Don't even know if I could tell an "over" from regular distortion. But I can take a stab at it if you like.

I'd also like to submit a master and exclude myself from the prize (once again, because I started this mess). Mainly to hear how I differ from other entrants (is that a word?) and to improve.

Oh, and when it comes to anonymous entries, has that been a problem in the past? Seems like the judges have been fairly good about things. I wouldn't be opposed to having an impartial (i.e. non-participant) person renaming the files once the final submissions are done. Nothing wrong with that.
 
Yareek said:
Oh, and when it comes to anonymous entries, has that been a problem in the past? Seems like the judges have been fairly good about things. I wouldn't be opposed to having an impartial (i.e. non-participant) person renaming the files once the final submissions are done. Nothing wrong with that.
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Hasn't been a problem. Anyway, a judge could pretty easily figure out whose was whose even if anonymized--the links are public on the thread.

Well, lemme know if you'd like to be a judge. I don't think you need anything special to judge. To judge a mix you'd need a decent pair of monitors in a good room, but the consumer is the ultimate judge of a master. In fact I know I'm going to have a Translation category, so I'd expect the judges to listen in their car, or maybe home stereo, or boombox, basically try out some different systems in addition to their monitors.
 
masteringhouse said:
As an instructor at two colleges I just don't see the point. I don't have students competing against one another in a class. If more than one student does a great job they all get "A"s, not a prize for what I may think is the best. When they listen to one another's work everyone learns and improves. It's healthy, not some experience where the "losers" go away feeling inferior or cheated.
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This is where our methods differ. In my classes, everyone gets a fair opportunity. But those who don't perform get roundly and publically criticized.

My grading system is as follows: "A" stands for "a good start." B stands for "better get to work." C stands for "crap," and D is for "dog shit." I don't give E's because anyone deserving of an E gets kicked out of class immediately. If I did give E's, they would stand for "Effin' disgraceful."

For each assignment, the student must share their work with the rest of the class. After each assigment is evaluated, I have a panel composed of former A students give a "thumbs up" or a "thumbs down." At the end of the day, the thumbs are tallied, and ultimately will determine the grade of each person's project.

The next step is sort of an unusual but fun tradition in my classes. Those receiving a C or less are then placed in the center of the room. All of the A and B students are then instructed to place silly hats on the heads of the C and D people, which they must wear to each class until the next assignement. Each hat has either the words "Crap" or "Dogshit" clearly written on them, corresponding with the letter grade received for that project.

It's all very ritualistic. The next step is for the A students to drive the E students down to the fast-food restaurant of their choosing. The E student is given a tour of the establishment, followed by an application for employment. The A student is then instructed to inform them that "this is the highest form of employment you will ever strive to achieve in life," just before they are given orders never to return to class.

I've been pretty severely criticized by some of my peers, and by my superiors, for the sometimes bizarre teaching methods I employ. But in my book, no two people are created equal. The cream will rise to the top, and lack of competition only breeds mediocrity.

.
 
chessrock said:
In my classes, everyone gets a fair opportunity. But those who don't perform get roundly and publically criticized.

My grading system is as follows: "A" stands for "a good start." B stands for "better get to work." C stands for "crap," and D is for "dog shit." I don't give E's because anyone deserving of an E gets kicked out of class immediately. If I did give E's, they would stand for "Effin' disgraceful."

For each assignment, the student must share their work with the rest of the class. After each assigment is evaluated, I have a panel composed of former A students give a "thumbs up" or a "thumbs down." At the end of the day, the thumbs are tallied, and ultimately will determine the grade of each person's project.

The next step is sort of an unusual but fun tradition in my classes. Those receiving a C or less for that project are then placed in the center of the room. All of the A and B students are then instructed to place silly hats on the heads of the C and D people, which they must wear to each class until the next assignement. Each hat has either the words "Crap" or "Dogshit" clearly written on them.

It's all very ritualistic. The next step is for the A students to drive the E students down to the fast-food restaurant of their choosing. The E student is given a tour of the establishment, followed by an application for employment. The A student is then instructed to inform them that "this is the highest form of employment you will ever strive to achieve in life," just before they are given orders never to return to class.

I've been pretty severely criticized by some of my peers, and by my superiors, for the sometimes bizarre teaching methods I employ. But in my book, no two people are created equal. The cream will rise to the top, and lack of competition only breeds mediocrity.

.
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If I was paying to be one of your students and you were wasting class time with these activites I'd give you a big fat E :D
 
tkingen said:
If I was paying to be one of your students and you were wasting class time with these activites I'd give you a big fat E :D
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And I'd give you a big lump of dog shit and a free ride to the Taco Bell.
.
 
chessrock said:
And I'd give you a big lump of dog shit and a free ride to the Taco Bell.
.
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I'm sure it would be the best dogshit you ever tasted.
 
Hmm. Dogshit ... Taco Bell

I'll take the Taco Bell if given a choice, but in the end, there's little difference.
 
chessrock said:
This is where our methods differ. In my classes, everyone gets a fair opportunity. But those who don't perform get roundly and publically criticized.

My grading system is as follows: "A" stands for "a good start." B stands for "better get to work." C stands for "crap," and D is for "dog shit." I don't give E's because anyone deserving of an E gets kicked out of class immediately. If I did give E's, they would stand for "Effin' disgraceful."

Etc ...
.
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Rock, why not just shock them?

Bad EQ (60 volts), over compression (110 volts), ...
 
chessrock said:
The next step is for the A students to drive the E students down to the fast-food restaurant of their choosing. The E student is given a tour of the establishment, followed by an application for employment. The A student is then instructed to inform them that "this is the highest form of employment you will ever strive to achieve in life," just before they are given orders never to return to class.

I've been pretty severely criticized by some of my peers, and by my superiors, for the sometimes bizarre teaching methods I employ. But in my book, no two people are created equal. The cream will rise to the top, and lack of competition only breeds mediocrity.
Click to expand...

You know, as demoralizing as all that is, it's sad but true.

I'd take your class Chess :D I've got a car and can take the E kids down ;)
 
mshilarious said:
Hasn't been a problem. Anyway, a judge could pretty easily figure out whose was whose even if anonymized--the links are public on the thread.

Well, lemme know if you'd like to be a judge. I don't think you need anything special to judge. To judge a mix you'd need a decent pair of monitors in a good room, but the consumer is the ultimate judge of a master. In fact I know I'm going to have a Translation category, so I'd expect the judges to listen in their car, or maybe home stereo, or boombox, basically try out some different systems in addition to their monitors.
Click to expand...

Well, I can judge if need be. I've got a pair of M-Audio BX8's in an okay room (not treated, but it doesn't sound too weird). I've also got about $2000 sank into my car stereo, and two different sets of decent consumer loudspeakers.

I can be the "translation" king :D If it sounds good on my crap, it'll probably sound like something on somebody else's!
 
chessrock said:
In my classes
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Oh man.

[a whole truckload of ultimately inappropriate comments edited out at this point after thinking better of it.]

G.
 
In my classes, I sometimes let Southside bang the erasers out and clean the chalkboard. :D
 
I'll wait till this all get sorted out before I commit, there's lots of good points here. contest or no contest?, who's got the the room and playback system to really judge?, blind or not blind entries? turd polish or a "real world" example?.

My preference:
no contest, but with only one entry and a cutoff date, then if the judges are willing another submission for further comments.

(judge's) would like the real ME's to make comments/suggestions, though others could too.

not blind entries, no need if not a contest.

"Real world" where if the mix is "bad" a real ME would (like to) say "go back and remix it".


seeing as none of us (except for the resident pros that do this kind of stuff for a living) really know what we're doing in mastering, I think it crucial that real qualified critiques be done, in order to learn.
 
chessrock said:
In my classes, I sometimes let Southside bang the erasers out and clean the chalkboard. :D
Click to expand...
Yeah, he does whatever he can to get me to "stay after class"... Then he tries to talk me into dressing up in pink skirts and tights that he bought me as a "Christmas present". Prison is going to love you, Chess. :eek:

;)

G.
 
What is this PMC #12 anyway? I have no idea what that is.
 
SonicAlbert said:
What is this PMC #12 anyway? I have no idea what that is.
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Xfinster put up the raw tracks to a song he had, and a bunch of us tried to mix it as best we could. Something to try and help us learn from, as we all started from the same spot. Actually a very fun thing to get involved in. These things have helped me immensely.
 
mshilarious said:
Yareek, if you don't mind, how about this: I'll host the contest. 7string, bendbones, send me a link to your tracks via PM and I'll pick one. You will need to supply .wav files for the contest, but mp3s will do for now.

I'll put up one of my mics as a prize, probably my Shure 330. I'll chip in something for a second prize too. I will need some volunteer judges (how about Yareek, 7string, and bendbones?).

I'll have a look at the rating system and tweak it for mastering. I will probably enter the contest myself, but be ineligible for the prize. I will ask NL5 to host the premaster files.

Once I have it all together, I'll start the thread on the clinic, called "New Mastering Contest #1".

Objections? Suggestions?
Click to expand...

Well I'd be happy to submit a mix just to see what could be done but I don't want to even attempt to judge. Hell, I'm still learning how to mix! And I don't think my ears are good enough at this point to judge a decent mastering job. My monitors are good though (Wharfie's) and I have a decent 2.1 system with a sub for reference. And being that I'm taking care of an 81 year-old Mother with Alzheimer's it's hard to find the time to record/mix much less have the time to listen to a bunch of submissions, so I'm pretty much out as a judge. If you still want me to submit a mix, let me know and I'll PM a link to you.
 
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