Hi All !
Mark Doyle
Louisbourg, Nova Scotia
Requested a special issue about home mastering and as we found the idea excellent and because most of us now and a again have a go at mastering for ourself be that for a client reference disk or for a full blown release we can all learn something today. Thanks for the tip Mark!
Mastering Tips for The Home Studio Vladimir Meller ( Videos )
http://www.artistshousemusic.org/videos/mastering+tips+for+the+home+studio
Tips 'n' Tricks for Mastering by Dave Moulton
http://www.izotope.com/artists/dave_moulton.asp?id=1
Master of the Universe By Brian Smithers
http://emusician.com/mag/emusic_master_universe/index.html
MIXING AND MASTERING TIPS in Dance Music
http://www.vipzone-samples.com/tips.php
Mastering Tips
http://www.versionist.com/production/450-mastering-tips-pt-1-a.html
Pre Mastering Tips
http://vestmanmastering.com/masteringtips.html
Here´s our own findings when it comes to pre-mastering
1. Do a lot of different mixes, like vocal up, down, bass up - down, with and without master compressor. Different Ad, more / less / different fx etc. Also do at least 2 down mixes of every mix in case you get a glitch or click on your best mix!
The goal is to have the master engineer say, "sounds good to me, let´s make a flat transfer" (Ok, might not happen but remember that all limiting taking place in mastering will make your fx returns louder and might turn your mix up side down, so think about that and do a drier, compressed mix as well.)
2. Rest your ears for a few days and take these mixes around and listen to every system you can get your hand on. If you mix for the dance floor, make sure you get you get to listen to your mixes on really big speakers.
3. Soon you will have a few favorite mixes or realise that you have a flawed mix and need to do it all again.
4. Listen to the mix you finally choose on headphones and make sure you do not have any digital glitches or noise on your master mix.
5. Label your mix properly and make safety clones that you also check on headphones.
6. Proper mastering is really worth it, these people sit in rooms they know with big great speakers. They have fresh ears for your song and have equipment you could only dream of getting your hands on. They do nothing else day after day, year after year. Most get scary good.
Your song will sound both good and loud long after you have forgotten what you paid for it. All the hours you put in a recording deserve a proper presentation.
7. Ok, we do it ourself. Our fast way for a ref. disc might include a low cut filter @around 40 hz, a slight rise in the hights to make it more "radio" sounding.
A slightly clipped Ad/da or compressor and limiter plugins. We think the most important thing is to not do too much and to know when to stop. If your master needs major surgery your mix is wrong, do it again.
The final word of advice, do not try to get the level a professional mastering might get you. It´s a race you can not win, only loose.
We find that nobody listens to a squashed over-limited song,you get tired when you hear it and turn it off. We´re sure you have a few of those at home. You bought it because you thought you might like it, but when you think about it you have not listened to it many times?right?
( + A heavily limited song do not move any air on big speakers, so it will never get played by a nightclub Dj.)
Have fun & Good luck / Toby
Tips or comments? Email Toby@cascatoma.com)
