Question on what steps come first?

[rockabilly1955]

for my music, which is rockabilly, i usually dont use more than 8 tracks. I use Magix Music studio as my mixing/mastering software. Should I get the mix of the individual tracks down, and then covert that mix to stereo wav, and then go back and master that wav seperately?? I usually just mix and master at the same time

 

[mixsit]

I usually just mix and master at the same time

Generally during the act of mixing, while it can be aimed at staying within a given style or theme for example, is focussed at the song at hand. Until you start hearing the songs together in context it could be fairly hard to call those final tweaks. You could get pretty close working ITB or some other total recall where it's easy to keep going back and running re-mixes.
Wayne

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Think of it this way; what you are referring to as "mastering" - is something that is done to the mixdown. The idea is to take the mixdown and to get it sounding as good as possible.

A term you often hear is that the idea is to "polish the mix". It's impossible to polish the mix until you have a mix to polish .

With some rare exceptions, with any construction project the final polish (or varnish or final coat) is something that can't and shouldn't be applied until the construction is complete. Its the same thing with constructing a mix. It's not until it's all built and put together that one can properly determine just what color and how many coats of polish it's gonna need.

G.

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yea, verily, Glen from "da" South is right.

However, one thing about analogies; they don't prove anything since the two analogous items in the rhetoric are NOT the same. Buildings are not sounds.

So, in my simple view, what are you after?

Do you want the sax solo to stand out in the mix? Do it.

Do you want the vocal to be up front? Do it.

Do you want the strings in the background to be light? Do it.

I've had the pleasure of working with a buddy of mine--a real talent and very experienced in the recording world. Everytime he is in my studio, I get a 500 dollar lesson--FREE.

So, twiddle your dials and mix and record and you will get what your ears want to hear. If nobody else likes the tracks, YOU DO!

Green Hornet

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Do you want the sax solo to stand out in the mix? Do it.

Do you want the vocal to be up front? Do it.

Do you want the strings in the background to be light? Do it.

Which is all fine and good. But none of which has anything to do with matering. That's all in the mixing. It's only AFTER one gets the sax solo standing out, vocals up front, and lighten up the strings that one is ready to master the mix.

G.

 

[mixsit]

And Rockabilly never really said what he was doing as a mastering step.
Wayne

 

[The Green Hornet]

Aww, gee, Glen.....

You know that's what I meant. You get them all where you want them and do the stereo track--then, CD.

Wonderous things came come from additional gear which most home studios don't have.

But, the SIABs are getting better and better, as well the PC based programs.

Have a great summer and play some golf.

Green Hornet

 

[The Green Hornet]

BTW GLEN:

What is "matering?"

Oh, the woes of a retired English teacher. No flaming please. Anyone can make a typo.

Green Hornet