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Mastering tips?
 

offline weatheredstoner from same shit babes. (United States) on 2003-10-29 21:53 [#00924877]
Points: 12585 Status: Lurker



Anyone want to give out any mastering tips. The problem I
have the most is that my tracks are always at a lower volume
than professionally mastered tracks. I'd fix it but you can
only crank up so many sounds (like bass and snare) before
they go through the decibal roof and end up making your
track all shitty and grainy sounding.


 

offline weatheredstoner from same shit babes. (United States) on 2003-10-29 21:54 [#00924880]
Points: 12585 Status: Lurker



also, spectrographs are handy but they only seem usefull for
when you are creating and layering sounds.


 

offline ambsace from canaDUH. on 2003-10-29 21:54 [#00924881]
Points: 6326 Status: Lurker



yes yes yes yes yes. i have the same issues. that and all my
tracks usually end up different volumes altogether. it's a
hassle.


 

offline spoonz from Edmonton, AB (Canada) on 2003-10-29 21:56 [#00924883]
Points: 3219 Status: Regular



when you make music as unserious as me and my buddy do,
that shit don't matter, biatch :)


 

offline weatheredstoner from same shit babes. (United States) on 2003-10-29 22:06 [#00924884]
Points: 12585 Status: Lurker | Followup to spoonz: #00924883



but i Do take it serious because i'm a stupid perfectionist.
(to a point)


 

offline fleetmouse from Horny for Truth on 2003-10-29 22:07 [#00924885]
Points: 18042 Status: Lurker



I use a compressor called psp vintagewarmer. You have to use
these things carefully or you can make a track unlistenable
- I like to keep some dynamics otherwise everything is maxed
out like a TV commercial, yuk.


 

offline spoonz from Edmonton, AB (Canada) on 2003-10-29 22:09 [#00924886]
Points: 3219 Status: Regular | Followup to weatheredstoner: #00924884



i know i know, i'm just spamming as subtly as possible :)


 

offline weatheredstoner from same shit babes. (United States) on 2003-10-29 22:14 [#00924889]
Points: 12585 Status: Lurker | Followup to fleetmouse: #00924885



how would one best find a thing like that? Kazzaa? Soulseek?
URL?


 

offline glasse from Harrisburg (United States) on 2003-10-29 22:17 [#00924892]
Points: 4211 Status: Regular | Show recordbag



I use the vst plug in Excitifier as a master effect on all
of my tracks. It really brightens/spaces out everything
nice. I downloaded some freebie mastering program but
haven't really used it yet. I imagine mastering is somewhat
of a skill but I don't really know much about it yet. One
of these days I will buckle down and see if this program is
any good.

I know what you mean about the lower volume issue. Often I
just turn up the compensator amp in itunes before burning
it. Seems to work ok.


 

offline kochlear from aud-stim.com on 2003-10-29 22:27 [#00924900]
Points: 2311 Status: Addict



i have that problem mainly because there's so much reverb in
my shit that any higher degree of volume will be pure
static.


 

offline fleetmouse from Horny for Truth on 2003-10-29 22:37 [#00924902]
Points: 18042 Status: Lurker | Followup to weatheredstoner: #00924889



Yeah it's lurking around on various p2p networks.


 

offline magicant from Canada on 2003-10-29 22:55 [#00924915]
Points: 2465 Status: Lurker



i thought this thread said 'masterbating tips'.

which is why i read it.


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2003-10-29 23:55 [#00924962]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to fleetmouse: #00924885 | Show recordbag



I love that compresssor and it gets my seal of approval.
I've just realised I've not reinstalled it since rebuilding
my machine, so ta for the reminder.

There are good (but simple) mastering tips in How to Remix
by Tim Prochak. Well worth getting...


 

offline Q4Z2X on 2003-10-30 00:05 [#00924968]
Points: 5264 Status: Lurker



i like sometimes running the whole track through somewhat
heavy compression, but then mix the compressed version at
around 40% or less with the original, uncompressed mix.. it
really helps to bring out more punch and detail.. but with
too much it will sound very bland.. which is why i make sure
to keep the uncompressed sound very much in the mix as
well..

a kid that goes to a recording school was telling me that
portishead likes to compress their whole mix at one time in
this manner.. and that's one factor in how they get their
somewhat strange, but unique sound.. but i haven't heard
their music all that much..


 

offline oxygenfad from www.oxygenfad.com (Canada) on 2003-10-30 00:07 [#00924971]
Points: 4442 Status: Regular



Don't master it yourself. Best trick in the book.


 

offline plaidzebra from so long, xlt on 2003-10-30 00:08 [#00924973]
Points: 5678 Status: Lurker



any tips for those with macs who don't use vst are also
welcome!


 

offline oxygenfad from www.oxygenfad.com (Canada) on 2003-10-30 00:10 [#00924975]
Points: 4442 Status: Regular



If you spend too much time on mastering your song sucks.
Keep in mind you arnt trying to TRICK the ear. You just want
a good clean mix. I can master bands I record no problem,
but when I master my own shit I'm all like "Noo!!!!"


 

offline nobsmuggler from silly mid-off on 2003-10-30 00:24 [#00924989]
Points: 6265 Status: Addict



im agreement with oxygenfad get somebody else to do it


 

offline od_step_cloak from Pleth (Australia) on 2003-10-30 01:23 [#00925022]
Points: 3803 Status: Regular



Make sure the levels are good and then compress the shit out
of the drums. Own!


 

offline Aphexisatwin from your mom's room (United States) on 2003-10-30 01:27 [#00925025]
Points: 2777 Status: Regular



I like to take the track... put it in ACID format, and use
that as a volume boost.... loses no quality, and ya get a
nice boost off it..... about all I'm using ACID for, anymore


 

offline snAre from .oO Ghent Oo. (Belgium) on 2003-10-30 01:42 [#00925053]
Points: 247 Status: Lurker



Check Bob Katz
"Mastering Audio, The art & the science" it's very nice!

Or if you want your mixes louder,
check the Waves L2 Ultramaximizer,
it's really great for pushing the dB's to
the max...


 


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