Another lesson learned

Well, I just found out how important mastering is. It's been awhile since I had to have anything mastered. Tracks sound "glued" together and good limiting is a thing of beauty! Sad thing is It seems somebody with fresh ears has to do it. I think you just get too close. Also I don't have the right tools.

Ahh yes. The old 'other set of ears' thing. I do a lot of mastering work. That is most of my business. Most people don't believe in the 'other set of ears' premise. I can tell you it has a HUGE impact on your master. I have been mastering for about 15 years, so my ears have become more 'attuned' to different things over time that most people too close to the mix are not. That being said: I DO NOT MASTER MY OWN MUSIC!!!! Even with all the experience I have, the most import part of mastering most of the time is exactly that. Another set of (very well trained) ears. Most of the problem mixes I get are people trying to 'pre-master' on the stereo buss. Do the best mix you can. Leave it alone. Use a good mastering engineer. Just my 2 cents.

Some kinds of music requiers mastering while mixing. For example, britpop. There's so much compression, you have to feel it during mix.

Good points guys. It seems to me that the "fresh pair of trained ears" is going to help any artist with their music.I don't know about you, but I lose objectivity during the writing and recording stages.

My main problem with people trying to 'master' on the out buss isn't using FX on it. If you need an 'effect' that is integral to the song or type of music you are recording: use whatever it takes! :) I often do masters of 'new age' style music that will have a long reverb on the master buss. I have no problem with that. It just gets tricky when people are trying to 'fix' their mix on the master. Adding master compression and EQ to make up for a not so good mix usually results in a bad mix AND a bad master. As for my own music, if I try and master it myself it takes me forever!!! I am just too involved in it. It is hard enough for me to mix it myself with any kind of subjectivity.

Mastering is as much about translation as anything else. I'd submit that translation is way more important than apparent loudness. A well mastered song should sound good most anywhere on any kind of playback system.

The infamous 'Loudness Wars'!! I take both sides of the issue with a grain of salt. On the one hand, if you take a very nice dynamic mix and compress/limit/peak reduce it to hell- I think you may have done way more harm than good. On the other hand, if you take a Metal song that is supposed to be loud and powerful and you DON'T give it that power and strength- I think you have also done more harm than good. I always talk to my clients about this. I give them the option and I try and show them a few A/B examples. Most people will choose loud if they are in a genre that supports it. If they are in a more 'dynamic' genre they usually choose a compromise of dynamic AND a little loud. It may sound like a cop out, but I think it is really genre specific. Personally, I am not beholden to any hard and fast ideology. These are my clients. They are MY BOSS. However, I always think it is my responsibility that they are well informed about the choices they make. I try and make sure they understand the impact their decisions will have and whether I agree or not. But in the end- it is really they're call. Usually after some discussion they will agree with my decisions and experience. Hope that makes sense.

Audioguytodd, the EQ-thingie is pure gold. I recently learnt this from another thread by Yep. It was like a click in my brain... An additional thought: If you get rid of useless low end rumble your monitor speakers and their amps will also be happy, not to waste 95% of their energy for nothing. This also makes a mix sound "cleaner" and more transparent on any playback equipment.