Online Mastering Question

[ardy77]

I have about a CDs worth of tracks that to me sound thin and at some points not mixed well (some songs sound like everything is right smack dab down the middle, etc.)

I'm really not sure when it's ok to start looking into online mastering...clearly the mixes need to improve...I'm afraid that if I send my tracks as they are now (somewhat incomplete and thin sounding...but all the instrument and vocal parts are there) that my end result will just be a louder version of thin unwide mix...i mean many people who hear the current version do like it...but they aern't doing the A/B'ing that I am doing to commercial songs (YET!)...

My main question is...how many tracks do you sent to an online mastering company?? just a two track mixdown? or do you send individual tracks all starting at 00:00:00 so that the mastering house can apply their magic to certain tracks only (and possibly adjust levels for optimum end-result)??

Well thanks =)

 

[LeeRosario]

I'll leave the answer to a better qualified person, but I do have this to say about mastering magic:


A mastering engineer is only as good as the mix he is given.

 

[Massive Master]

*Generally* you send stereo mixes.

Some send stems - Groups - Drum stem, vocal stem, guitar stem, etc., all at unity. Perhaps expect to spend a little extra $$$ for stem work. Sometimes not.

The "individual tracks" thing is mixing...

Of course, as mentioned, if the mixes aren't coming together, better to just send them out to be well-mixed and perhaps skip the processing portion of the mastering session all together.