What in the mastering problem

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GUNS

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I have got the biggest problem. Without all of the drama, I just can't seem to master my mix. I have been reading all of these threads for about a month now, and a lot of great info. But, I don't know what applies to my mix and what doesn't. I even have a spectrum analyzer to see the freqs. of all the tracks and I got them to take up their own freq, but when I listen to a reference cd, my mix stinks. I have been doing this one mix for about a month day, and I give my ears rest, and then get back to it. What is the problem? maybe someone could hear it for me and tell me what the deal is, because the talent doesn't flow with this. I am losing my hair and losing sleep on trying to get this taken care of. PLEASE HELP THE ROOKIE...thanks
 
uhhhh...post an MP3 in the clinic, that's what its there for!
 
Mixing and mastering are 2 different processes, and you've used both interchangeably.

Mixing is combining all your tracks, with respect to levels and tone, down to a 2-track (stereo) version.

Mastering would involve tweaking that 2-track to add the final "polish" with EQ, overall level, etc...

Problems with the mix cannot generally be solved in the mastering process.

Bruce
 
My advice on mixing (again, this is very unoriginal):

Concentrate on getting good sounds on to disc rather than trying to "fix" the sounds with excessive EQ. The less you have to use EQ to get your song to sound decent, the better your song will end up sounding. It's only taken me about a year and a half to realize that;)
 
I think that you have answered your own question when you had said.

"but when I listen to a reference cd, my mix stinks"

Maybe the mastering process is not you problem but rather getting a good mix first, and maybe the reason that you are not getting a good mix is because the tracking was sub par. I am a firm believer that in order to achieve excellent mixing you must be working with excellent tracking takes and the same goes for mastering in relation to mixing.

Why don't you post an MP3 like Dolemite had suggested a few posts earlier....
 
One thing that nobody seems to acknowledge when talking about reference CD's is that you are comparing an UNMASTERED mix to a MASTERED mix.

You would really need a pre mastered mix to do a true comparison. Comparing a mix to a mastered recording can prompt you to use too much compression and worry about stuff that the mastering process will take care of.

I realize most home rec's wont spend money on mastering but that is something to consider.
 
ok

Thanks for all of your info. I meant to say that I was I guess mastering the song. Every instrument that I had recorded is a good track but I am going to have to do the vocals over again. There is some popping in the end of the track that I know I can get out, but it would be just easier for me to do them over. check it out, and please reply back. This isn't my song, but a friend. ANother thing is I am not a big country listener, so I might not know what to look for as much as the nest guy.


 
TexRoadkill said:
One thing that nobody seems to acknowledge when talking about reference CD's is that you are comparing an UNMASTERED mix to a MASTERED mix.

You would really need a pre mastered mix to do a true comparison. Comparing a mix to a mastered recording can prompt you to use too much compression and worry about stuff that the mastering process will take care of.

I realize most home rec's wont spend money on mastering but that is something to consider.
Click to expand...

this is a very good point which is why I always use a reference when I'm mastering and not mixing.
 
Hmmmm.....

There are a number of problems - most either in the tracking or mixing process....

The drums sound very stiff (as if they were quantized)... also there doesn't seem to be any dynamics to each hit - especially noticeable on the rimshot. No drummer in the world hits the drums with the exact same level all the time -- subtle dynamics are very important.

The guitars don't have that shimmer which is characteristic of many country songs -- you have this mid-heavy muddiness over the track.

The bass sounds very thin to me... needs more depth.

Now the vocals -- the effects are overshadowing the vocal track completely, giving you a very boxy sound. Get the vocal tracked properly and use effects to enhance it, not overtake it. Consider using a short delay tucked under the track to give ambinet depth without actually being audible.

The MIX needs re-working... possibly even tracking, depending on what the original tracks sound like.

You shouldn't even be close to worrying about mastering at this stage............. work on the tracks and the mix - if these are done properly, the mastering will take care of itself.

Bruce
 
Guns:

I'm not a country music fan, but I love country music production. Lots to be learned from checking out a Dixie Chicks, Corrs, or Brooks & Dunn CD.

As far as your Mp3 goes, you need to work on the mix, and forget about mastering for now. My comments:

- The acoustic guitar is thin and has too much high end EQ on it. I'd re-record the track twice, and double the guitar in the track, panning one about 40% left and the other about 40% right.

- The bass is thin too. Not sure how it was recorded, but a combination of mic'ing a cabinet and running direct should yield a nice sounding track.

- The rimshot is too loud, and needs some dynamic variation. Regardless of whether it is live or from a drum machine, it can be fixed. Try to bring it back in the mix too.

- As Bruce said, the vocals are drowned out by the effects used on them.

The entire song also lacks interest. The same instruments go on throughout the entire song, and your ears become quickly "bored" with the same sound. Adding more instruments, vocal harmonies, adding and subtracting parts, and creating some dynamics would greatly benefit this song.

Just my 2 cents..
 
The Keys - Miking, Mixing, Monitors

I haven't listened to the track, mainly because I'm at work and don't have time at home to listen on my system, but the one thing I will say is that monitors are key.

For years I was mixing on a small pair of speakers, and always wondered why my mixes sounded like crap. Then, I got some good monitors, and it was worlds of difference. Parts that I had thought sounded excellent actually lacked depth, were too bassy, lacked punch, etc. But you couldn't tell on the lousy speakers or headphones.

The key is to play around with different mic configurations and get the part to sound how you want it in the mix before you track it. Don't assume you're going to be able to EQ the heck out of it to get the sound that you want. If the sound's not right to begin with, change the position of the mic, or the mic itself. A good (or at least decent) preamp is a must, as well... I learned this one the hard way.

I've found that if you mic right to begin with, it takes a lot less EQ at the mix stage... And even if you do need EQ, it's just to keep the space that each instrument is occupying in check.

Also, listening to a mastered CD as a reference isn't altogether bad. It's not much of a help dynamically (especially if you're using the latest top-40 radio CD, with levels so hot it kills your ears on low), but as far as hearing where certain instruments are placed in the mix, it can be useful. Getting each instrument to fall in the right place in the mix is a must for a good sounding tune.

The attitude that I always had was, "I'll fix it later"... I've come to realize that this leads to lousy sounding recordings (and me pulling my hair out on more than one occasion).

Oh yeah, and "self-mastering" is the WORST. My unmastered mixes will always sound better than the "mastered" versions. It's not something I've gotten good at, and I won't pretend to know what I'm talking about with it. I think my next project will be sent to a mastering studio.

Rick
 
How about this...cleaned it up a little

Thanks from everyone about the helps. I tweaked here and there, but since i don't have monitors, I'm running around the house one different players. There may be some upper freq hiss, but I will get that out later. I panned the now 2 guitar 40% right and 40% left. Brought the snare down, and just worked on everything a little at a time. I know everything is repetious, but the guy that wrote it, hasn't added much...Can't afford the fiddler and the steel guitarist...let me know how this new one sounds...thanks guys for all the help, I think I'm going to go to school for this...



Mike
 
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