step-by-step mastering

[wjgypsy]

ok so i've been recording for 3 years now and i'm starting to get into mastering even more then before. so here's my question...

how do you get a good master? what is the main goal? and what are a few good starting points?

here's what i got.

fostex vf-16 recorder (with master eq,comp/limi/effects)
cakewalk guitar tracks 2 software
behringer composer pro comp/limi/gate
digital cd-burner.

thanks for your help.



zeke

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Oh man.......... this is SO tempting........!

 

[chessparov]

Bruce, check the "Recording" forum.
A little bird told me something.

Chris

 

[littledog]

I'll be Blue Bear's proxy on this one...

Step by Step guide to great mastering:

Step 1: Create the best possible mixes you can make. Be sure you check them on different systems in different rooms, and let your friends critique them. Compare them to commercial CD's that are in a similar style.

Step 2: If digital, if at all possible, keep your stereo files at 24 bits, if that is how you tracked. Or 1/2" Analog 2-track is a fabulous alternative, if you have it.

Step 3: Call a few other local pro musicians and or tracking studios and get a consensus recommendation for who in your area is an excellent mastering engineer who will work at an affordable rate.

Step 4: Take your mixes there to be mastered.

NOTE: This assumes you want a professional quality product that could be played on any radio station or in any dance club. If that's not important, then go ahead and master it yourself.

 

[Gidge]

if you must master yourself, of course #1 is get the best possible mix you can....then, listen to the mix thru as many times as you need and see whats wrong with it....take notes as you listen.......if its something that could be corrected in a remix, then remix it.....continue doing this (remixing) until you can find nothing wrong with the mix....then youll know its ready to be mastered......

 

[dobro]

See, Zeke, this board is split on the question of mastering. There are two main views. The first is the pro view, which more of less goes like this: mastering can only be done by a mastering engineer (someone with boatloads of experience) using really, *really*, REALLY good gear. Which probably counts you and me out, yes?

The second view is the DIY view. There's no consensus about this, although Gidge described the preliminaries very nicely, I thought. My view is this: the main goal of DIY mastering is to get all the tracks on your CD sounding like they all came out of the same studio. In other words, no jarring changes from song to song in terms of volume and EQ. And probably reverb.

Now, the final comment. I really do think it's better to get somebody other than yourself to master your stuff. But you know, that isn't feasible for some homers. (I mean, what do you think I'd say if you said: "Hey dobro, what do you say to my mastering your stuff and you mastering my stuff, all for free?" Dude, you're probably a very nice person, but I'd have to know your work *way* better before I'd trust my stuff to someone else. And if you trust your stuff to me, you just don't know what you're doing...) So my final take on the situation is this: we're gonna see a lot of homers doing their own mastering until they're in a position to do it right. Kind of like how you wank until you find someone to have sex with. Not that wanking's a complete waste of time, mind you.

 

[BrettB]

Oh man.......... this is SO tempting........!

hi Bruce,

I know you've been around here for a very long time and you are just sick of ridiculous newbie questions like that, questions you have given your opinion about for so many times. But some of us aren't that long in the business and on the board than you, so there are going to keep coming questions like this. If you don't feel like answering them, just don't read them and forget them.

Or wait, just answer a few to make us all laugh

Seriously, Zeke's question wasn't that bad for ppl trying to understand the basics of mastering and why it is difficult as a homereccer to do it yourself. Also, I think I remembered Zeke is 13 years old, so we should support guys like him instead of wanking to them

 

[wjgypsy]

thanks. i would like to learn to master for my-self and other people. i know that it is not going to come over night, but someday.....mabye.................

 

[Gidge]

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/?aid=1775/singles


after hearing your stuff, at 13, i have no doubt that you will learn to master yourself.....


i agree with dobro that there are basically 2 schools of thought here....i lay in the middle of the road....yes, i believe that you can master home home, the same way you can track at home......

i think the confusion comes in what mastering actually is and what it is supposed to accomplish....it isnt a step to fix a bad mix (though that does happen)....it is exactly what dobro described, getting all the tracks of a project sounding like they belong together and in the right order.....

should you try to master at home?...of course, thats the only way youll learn......but understand what mastering is, and know what you can go back and fix my re-mixing........

 

[Gidge]

im gonna try and help this guy...he dint ask for much...hell i like him.....kinda like the son i never wanted

start off with a decent listening environment....comfortable, good speakers.....youll want a decent wav editor like Sound Forge.....nice rested ears.....


http://www.studiocovers.com/articles9.htm
(this one has alot of articles...)

http://www.computermusic.co.uk/tutorial/mastering/mastering1.asp

http://www.baproducers.com/wwwboard/messages/177.html


but i must emphasize...learn to crawl before you walk....or at least at the same time.....first learn to track good clean tracks.....then learn to mix....then master.....

http://www.studiocovers.com/articles12.htm

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Hey... I restrained myself!!!! I know Zeke is thirteen... I support his ambition!

hi Bruce,

I know you've been around here for a very long time and you are just sick of ridiculous newbie questions like that, questions you have given your opinion about for so many times. But some of us aren't that long in the business and on the board than you, so there are going to keep coming questions like this. If you don't feel like answering them, just don't read them and forget them.

Or wait, just answer a few to make us all laugh

Seriously, Zeke's question wasn't that bad for ppl trying to understand the basics of mastering and why it is difficult as a homereccer to do it yourself. Also, I think I remembered Zeke is 13 years old, so we should support guys like him instead of wanking to them

 

[sjoko2]

play maround with it and try and try again.
But, after 30 years of recording and mastering professionally, I stick with one rule - I NEVER master anything I have recorded myself.

 

[ambi]

your already fairly far along for a 13 year old, keep it up and you'll be good. Just don't get ahead of yourself.
People on the board have seen it happen a lot "cough" tylerprorec "cough".

 

[smellyfuzz]

BLUEBEAR;

Hey... I restrained myself!!!! I know Zeke is thirteen... I support his ambition!

I'd say so...

You've tore me a new asshole for far less.

Sjoko2;

I NEVER master anything I have recorded myself.

Really ?

I'm surprised.

Please elaborate.

 

[sjoko2]

If I record and mix something myself, by the time a project is finished I know every single note and tone in it, my ears have become accustomed to the sounds.
At that stage I feel mastering deserves a pair of fresh ears in order to make the right, objective, decissions.

I chose very carefully who to sent what material to, normally attent the mastering process, and will listen to their input carefully.
Most of the time I will agree to adjustments, sometimes I will not. The latter has normally to do with artistic rather than tonal qualities.

For the same reasons, I will not track a project and then mix it immediately after. I like at least one other project in between.

 

[littledog]

I am in 100% agreement with Sjoko about mastering your own projects. Hell, if Bob Clearmountain sends his mixes "outside" to be mastered and gets additional benefit, think how much more benefit my rather less than Clearmountain mixes will get!

Zeke, if you decide you are serious about learning the mastering trade, the only effective way to really learn the art is by apprenticing with an accomplished pro. Find a well regarded mastering studio in your area and see if you can get an unpaid internship. You will be mostly emptying the trash and getting sandwiches, but if you keep your eyes and ears open you will learn a lot.

If nothing else, you will get better appreciation for what a mastering engineer does, and will better be able to evaluate for yourself whether it is worth the time and investment to do it yourself.