New Mastering Contest

[masteringhouse]

Brad has his own kettle of fish, WOMP. I would seriously doubt that he has the bandwidth.

Not to sound like a broken record, but again this is why I like the idea of a study. Everyone gets to make comments and the judges don't take on the responsibility of being the bad guys. Also everyone can make multiple attempts and improve on what they learn.

But hey, some think I'm just a p*ssy for thinking that ...

As far as prizes inspiring people, if that's what you need to advance as a recording engineer, you're in the wrong field.

 

[xfinsterx]

Brad has his own kettle of fish, WOMP. I would seriously doubt that he has the bandwidth.

Heh, ill take that as a "thanks but no thanks" Tom

 

[mshilarious]

Maybe there should be a poll to determine if this is a competition or a "study".

I would be happy to help out either way, but have finals for two courses and will be listening to over 30 mixes starting next week. I'm gonna need a break after that ...

Haven't seen Massive around lately, I might PM him . . . anyway, I'd like to have one ME, one ordinary HomeReccer, and one experienced mixer or PMC judge. I have a couple of volunteers in the Homereccer category right now

I wanna get this going soon so people can have a crack at it before the holidays, so let's say contest end will be sometime in Jan. If any MEs think they can judge ~ 30 masters in mid-Jan., please PM me!

If the MEs here can't commit to that, maybe drop in on the contest when you have some spare minutes to review masters as they are posted.

If anybody has a track you want HomeRec to take a crack at mastering, PM me!

The tracks I have available so far are metal, I need to have a listen to everything I've been sent when I get home Sunday and I'll pick one. I'm looking for a track that I think has lots of potential, but also some issues--not remix issues, but something that is fixable in mastering. In other words, not crap, not a sparkling perfect mix, but a good basic mix, something that would score a 7 in a PMC but not an 8.

I will be putting up prizes, I'll find something more appropriate than the ribbon maybe (I think I have a Fairchild in the garage kidding! I don't have a garage!)

 

[masteringhouse]

Heh, ill take that as a "thanks but no thanks" Tom

Not necessarily (see my edit above). I would just prefer chiming in when the time is available on my end rather than having to dedicate a large chunk at some point.

 

[xfinsterx]

I wanna get this going soon so people can have a crack at it before the holidays, so let's say contest end will be sometime in Jan. If any MEs think they can judge ~ 30 masters in mid-Jan., please PM me!

What about this!
Take the top three that averaged out from the judges and THEN have tom or someone of the like choose the final winner?
I trust Tom's opinion 100%.
Whatcha think? Too crazy?

 

[mshilarious]

Brad has his own kettle of fish, WOMP. I would seriously doubt that he has the bandwidth.

Not to sound like a broken record, but again this is why I like the idea of a study. Everyone gets to make comments and the judges don't take on the responsibility of being the bad guys. Also everyone can make multiple attempts and improve on what they learn.

People get as many attempts as they want to post, and they get comments on all of them. But only the final masters will be scored.

 

[mshilarious]

What about this!
Take the top three that averaged out from the judges and THEN have tom or someone of the like choose the final winner?
I trust Tom's opinion 100%.
Whatcha think? Too crazy?

Good for me. Maybe the top 5 since there will be two prizes?

 

[xfinsterx]

Also everyone can make multiple attempts and improve on what they learn.

There is no cap on entries.
Just as long as the entries are turned in before the deadline.

 

[xfinsterx]

I like the prize idea!
Its a bonus!
Now who dosent love a bonus??

 

[xfinsterx]

Good for me. Maybe the top 5 since there will be two prizes?

I dunno Jon.....
If we get a guy like Blackwood to say yes, to judging 3 masters thats good, but 5 might be pushing it.

 

[masteringhouse]

Personally I think the judge should be the "client" for right or wrong.

That's the way it is in the "real world" anyway ...

 

[xfinsterx]

Personally I think the judge should be the "client" for right or wrong.

That's the way it is in the "real world" anyway ...

Ok Tom forget it.....

You cant say i didnt try though!

Whatever ends up happing with this thing i hope it works out.
Its going to be a great tool.

 

[mshilarious]

Personally I think the judge should be the "client" for right or wrong.

That's the way it is in the "real world" anyway ...

True . . . but I know that some of the guys who have offer tracks can't commit to judging

I dunno Jon.....
If we get a guy like Blackwood to say yes, to judging 3 masters thats good, but 5 might be pushing it.

Yeah, probably . I'll take whatever we can get!

 

[masteringhouse]

Ok Tom forget it.....

You cant say i didnt try though!

Whatever ends up happing with this thing i hope it works out.
Its going to be a great tool.

I appreciate the vote of confidence.

Don't count me out yet, just need to get the parameters in order.

My choices for judges would be John, myself, and def Brad if he could along with the client and/or producer if there was one. Seems to be the most logical choice. There are also a few other MEs I see on here from time to time, hopefully they will chime in. Other good choices (IMHO) would be Bruce, Farview, Rock, Ronan, and Mr. G.

 

[SonicAlbert]

My choices for judges would be John, myself, and def Brad if he could along with the client and/or producer if there was one. Seems to be the most logical choice. There are also a few other MEs I see on here from time to time, hopefully they will chime in. Other good choices (IMHO) would be Bruce, Farview, Rock, Ronan, and Mr. G.

What am I, chopped liver?

I think it's a good idea to have a cross section of "judges", not just ME's. The files will be up for all of us to listen to, right? Why not just set up the judging as a poll, and have people vote as they would in any poll?

 

[mshilarious]

What am I, chopped liver?

I think it's a good idea to have a cross section of "judges", not just ME's. The files will be up for all of us to listen to, right? Why not just set up the judging as a poll, and have people vote as they would in any poll?

Only 12 options in a poll. We'd have to have several rounds of polling. The scores go beyond a simple favorite; there are ratings in seven categories.

The entire format we are gonna use is basically what xfinsterx created for the PMCs; it works great, the MP3 Clinic is familiar with it. I think for NMC #1, we need to stick with that format, and if that doesn't work, then make some changes in #2.

Are you volunteering to judge?

 

[Yareek]

Ill tell you the bummer thing about this!

The best judges for each and every contest (on not...whatever) Would obviously Be Scrip and Volpicelli. Or definetly Blackwood, but he hardly ever hangs out around here.

However you could never expect either of them to commit to judging 40 different masters. It just wouldnt happen. And i completely understand.
But wouldnt it be nice if one or both of them agreed to be the judges!
Think of how much you learn!!

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. It's a lot to ask of somebody to do a ton of mastering for their day job then listen to a bunch of weekend hacks afterwards.

Maybe we should just donate money to the judges and screw the prizes After all, getting real constructive feedback on a master is more valubale than a chance to win some leftover gear.

EDIT: Of course, then he drops "Fairchild" and "Ribbon" on us

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Other good choices (IMHO) would be Bruce, Farview, Rock, Ronan, and Mr. G.

I'll be happy to participate in analysis and discussion, and I'll vote if there's a clear-cut winner and clear-cut criteria as to the definition of a winner.

Is the "winner" the one that absolutley sounds the best or is the winner the one that did the best job with the equipment they have? In the first case, there is an automatic advantage given to those with gear. In the second case, there's an automatic advantage given to those with technique. I personally am biased for the second, but I believe that I am probably in a minority of one on that one .

I still side with Tom that the idea of competing is unnecessary, that all goals of learning and sharing can be met and made even better by taking the "contest" aspect out of it (i.e. the same exercise, but no official judges, no declared winner, and no losers)

But if everyone insists on going the "contest" route, I'd be happy to participate fairly and without bias in the slot as a pro AE who is not a pro ME.

G.

 

[Yareek]

I'll be happy to participate in analysis and discussion, and I'll vote if there's a clear-cut winner and clear-cut criteria as to the definition of a winner.

Is the "winner" the one that absolutley sounds the best or is the winner the one that did the best job with the equipment they have? In the first case, there is an automatic advantage given to those with gear. In the second case, there's an automatic advantage given to those with technique. I personally am biased for the second, but I believe that I am probably in a minority of one on that one .

I still side with Tom that the idea of competing is unnecessary, that all goals learning and sharing can be met and made even better by taking the "contest" aspect out of it (i.e. the same exercise, but no official judges, no declared winner, and no losers)

But if everyone insists on going the "contest" route, I'd be happy to participate fairly and without bias in the slot as a pro AE who is not a pro ME.

G.

*sigh*

Again, I don't want to harp on the "contest" thing, but it almost sounds like a 2-tiered event. Kind of like, this is the best mix in the "pro" category and this is the best in the "amateur" category.

I really think it's best not to get too carried away with prizes and all. Whole reason I kicked this hornet's nest was for mastering feedback, advice, and to compare and contrast my skills with other people. I'm greedy in a whole other way

 

[xfinsterx]

But if everyone insists on going the "contest" route, I'd be happy to participate fairly and without bias in the slot as a pro AE who is not a pro ME.

G.

Awesome!
Thanks SSG.