Mastering

[RDR]

if ya wanna ask then PM me. i can provide audio examples and explanations.

If you're bothered.

[loopdon]

i suppose it's Ok if you're kick is doing the (sub)bass part. or you don't have them playing at the same time etc. etc.

Care to elaborate about the 'together with some other tricks' referring to Mr. McCormack :)

[holotropik]

I think it is clear from all this discussion that mastering really has nothing to do with the success or failure of a track and it is the content and the personality behind it that counts more often than not.

Yes, it is all part of track production and does hold weight but not as much as some think. Some are perhaps a bit elitist in their attitude and think that having the best mastered track wins everytime. That is putting the cart before the horse.

Content on the other hand is what is at stake here. Yes, there are dime-a-dozen tracks out there to wade through due to the nature of the industry and the formats available. But, that is why label reputation is the most important element to track success or failure. That comes down to the label owner(s) personality and ideals - collecting tracks that best represent the ideals of the label. This is a personal thing and requires a certain degree of timing and networking.

You could have the best mastered track in the world (and you may have one now you are unaware of) yet if you are not networking or connecting to your audience, community or labels then you will go un-noticed.

Its also important to know that mastering is part of the creative process and has the ability to be part of your track and overall sound in everything you do.

[Jay Pace]

Most minimal tracks would sound completely lifeless without decent mastering.

In fact, I'd warrant most techno would sound pretty hopeless without mastering.

Maybe jazz, or some other form of music can be musically rich, complex and interesting enough to shine through poor mastering, but a track made out of a load of drum machines samples needs a lot of life breathing into it to make it impressive.

OOOOH! A 909 clap! The last thing I was expecting and and and and NO WAY! A SNARE ROLL!

[dirty_bass]

snare rolls, in techno?

[Jay Pace]

Not just an urban myth.

Sometimes found near the mythical "rides" (Kids! Just add rides for extra "hands in the air" factor!)

[loopdon]

i like rides :eyes:

[RDR]

i like rides :eyes:

Not the ones at the fair ground LD... :lol:

"Scream if you wanna go faster girls!" The 909 agogo... lol.

As for the Mcormack comment, i sent some stuff for mastering to him and we had a few really long talks on the phone about various things, and to give the guy credit he took the time to point out some things he thought i should be doing, one of these was boosting kicks at 40hz... I boost at 45 by no more than 3db prior to them being in the compression chain, then spend time with judicious EQ cutting away bits i dont need in accrdance with where the bass is sitting. the bass is also Ducked slightly away from the kick too... It all depends on program material.

Anyway.. thats OT,

back On Topic, i certainly DONT do that in a mastering session. EVER. so if there was the impression that i do, then sorry. but no.

[RDR]

snare rolls, in techno?

I hope thats sarcasm. :lol: :cheese: