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Thread: Mastering

  1. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by SummerOfSam
    Mastering is the hardest part of producing.
    Period.
    thats three periods you got there.
    "The Taoiseach's plans are a quick fix, not a long term solution" - DJ Sunil Sharpe

  2. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by Evil G
    it's not just techno. the loudness wars are pushing producers in all genres to use too much compression. on first listen, a louder track is perceived as "better" than a quieter one, and the first listen is very important in terms of getting a track noticed, but on the 10th listen (or sooner), that over-compressed track starts to sound distorted, dull and flat. people need to stop competing for the attention of the distracted masses, relax and let their music be what it is. people who actually like music will appreciate it.
    Very well said, I learned this the hard way

    To add to that sometimes it’s that over compressed sound which makes a record what it is. It adds a little rawness to it which compromises the clarity/bandwidth. There is a line in there too, but where the line is, is subject. Example, I find so called schranze crosses the line with over compression, distortion I also find a lot of techno too polished (like a pop records) as I like dirty sounds and powerful mids. I mean listen to a wu-tang album and that grittiness and flatness adds a little character, listen to 2pac and it’s a completely different story. Some would argue that the mastering on a 2pac track is much better than a wu-tang yet they are two very different sounds. It’s all subjective personal preference. Should we really try to standardize everything? People already argue that everything is sounding too similar. I agree with all the points made, just offering a little bit of a different angle there.

    Ive got a bit of beef with the amount of top end people use, everyone seems to add loads of it. Even at the start of a track there’s those bloody hihats. Like its somekinda rule, same with bass and rides

    “I remember back in’t when 1st 17 bars was just a kick drum wiv a bit of reverb and some synth and not all these bloody hi hats everywhere” :lol:

  3. #23
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    Cursed hi hats. ruining everyone's fun.

    By the way, does anyone have some little white mice? We appear to be drowning in a sea of periods.

    Mastering? I have NO bloddy idea.

    All i do is

    Remove frequencies below 20hz
    Check the DC offset
    Top/ Tail
    Little Boost here n there, no more than 0.5db max
    Little Cut here n there, no more than -1db
    Have a go at compressing, 1.5:1 max

    Then i sack it all off and send it away.

  4. #24
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    Mixdown
    Run mixdown through outboard compressor on mild setting
    Cut below 30-45hz depending on what the track is doing
    Multiband compression
    Multiband limiting

    Then listen to finished product on as many systems, speakers and headphones as possible and keep amending until it sounds right, referencing a few well produced and similar track you know sound good already.

    Had I the money and someone wanting to release my music I wouldn't even bother - would just stop at the mixdown and send it away. But, if you're sending stuff out a mixdown sounds rubbish, so you need to try mastering it yourself to get people's attention.

    People dedicate their lives to being mastering engineers. A cracked copy of wavez is never going to put you on their level.

  5. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jay Pace
    Mixdown
    Cut below 30-45hz depending on what the track is doing
    .
    45hz???

    I boost kicks at 45...

  6. #26
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    Quote Originally Posted by dodgyedgy
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay Pace
    Mixdown
    Cut below 30-45hz depending on what the track is doing
    .
    45hz???

    I boost kicks at 45...
    thats madness
    Solitary by nature.
    Isolation is the gift.
    Does anyone have courage to stand apart any more?

    myspace.com/dirtybassgrooves
    http://www.myspace.com/dirtybassvoidloss
    http://www.subgenius.com

  7. #27
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    the boosting or the cutting?

  8. #28
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    the boosting :)

  9. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by dirty_bass
    Quote Originally Posted by dodgyedgy
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay Pace
    Mixdown
    Cut below 30-45hz depending on what the track is doing
    .
    45hz???

    I boost kicks at 45...
    thats madness
    "The Taoiseach's plans are a quick fix, not a long term solution" - DJ Sunil Sharpe

  10. #30
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    There are no hard and fast rules really.
    Mastering depends on the tune, and unless mastering to compensate for the weaknesses/quirks of a certain medium, you really shouldn`t do any stock processes ie always boost at x frequency or whatever.
    Solitary by nature.
    Isolation is the gift.
    Does anyone have courage to stand apart any more?

    myspace.com/dirtybassgrooves
    http://www.myspace.com/dirtybassvoidloss
    http://www.subgenius.com

  11. #31
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    Quote Originally Posted by dirty_bass
    Quote Originally Posted by dodgyedgy
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay Pace
    Mixdown
    Cut below 30-45hz depending on what the track is doing
    .
    45hz???

    I boost kicks at 45...
    thats madness
    Not according to chris mcormack.

    straight from the horses mouth. It bloody works too. Coupled with a few other tricks...

    besides i EQ em on big tannoy mid fields at work. Sounds like the world is ending.. beast..

  12. #32
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    But what if you bass sits at 45hz
    if you apply the same rules to each time to different tracks, then you are just gonna **** some tracks up.
    boosting your kicks at 45 on every track is just silly.
    Solitary by nature.
    Isolation is the gift.
    Does anyone have courage to stand apart any more?

    myspace.com/dirtybassgrooves
    http://www.myspace.com/dirtybassvoidloss
    http://www.subgenius.com

  13. #33
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    there are no rules, only guidelines. it takes years to train your ears. some people have it, most don't.

  14. #34
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    Quote Originally Posted by DSP
    there are no rules, only guidelines. it takes years to train your ears. some people have it, most don't.
    what he said
    Solitary by nature.
    Isolation is the gift.
    Does anyone have courage to stand apart any more?

    myspace.com/dirtybassgrooves
    http://www.myspace.com/dirtybassvoidloss
    http://www.subgenius.com

  15. #35
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    i wouldn't say i now it all but it seems ovious that each track should be masterd differently

  16. #36
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    Nice one. Cheers for that.

  17. #37
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    GOD!!!!

  18. #38
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    Quote Originally Posted by dodgyedgy
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay Pace
    Mixdown
    Cut below 30-45hz depending on what the track is doing
    .
    45hz???

    I boost kicks at 45...

    i'd say that was nuts too mate ;)

  19. #39
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    Default Mastering

    Quote Originally Posted by dirty_bass
    Quote Originally Posted by TechMouse
    Is it me, or is Mastering on tunes getting worse?

    I wonder if more people are convincing themselves they can do a "good enough" job at home with software, and skimping when it comes to getting releases sound as good as possible?

    I'm listening to more and more records which just don't have the same finesse and sparkle that tunes had a while ago. The tunes themselves are as interesting and inventive as ever. It's just the overall sound is sometimes a bit flat. (IMHO)

    Just wondering what some of our more seasoned producing talent on here think... Do you guys splash out on proper mastering, or do you DIY?


    It can be down to 2 things.
    Records sell sod all in techno these days, a lot of labels start on no money, and so therefor end up being cut by these cheap vinyl cutting places, that spend no time mastering. The record is just processed through a basic setting for vinyl and so comes out flat.
    So there it is a question of money and not the producers skill.

    also, to my ears, I can separate the above pretty easily from the just downright badly produced.

    the availablility of the technology to produce is good because it stops music making being an elitist thing.
    But it`s bad because any DJ or techno fan with a copy of reason suddenly thinks after a couple of months that they are good enough to produce.
    So they send their stuff around, get no response and think "sod it, I`ll start my own label"

    Hence loads of badly produced stuff on the market.

    well said mate.

    and just to add to point 2. the distibutor only has to sell a couple of hundred to make a quick buck. and a few more labels like that and its beer money. :(
    send>>>>>>>>>>>us......................your....... ..................lovely demos

  20. #40
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    Quote Originally Posted by MARK EG
    Quote Originally Posted by dodgyedgy
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay Pace
    Mixdown
    Cut below 30-45hz depending on what the track is doing
    .
    45hz???

    I boost kicks at 45...

    i'd say that was nuts too mate ;)
    All that being said, it doesnt make it wrong, does it.

    Anyway, i like doing it and thats that. besides no one has asked how much i boost by... or how...

    Why not ask me ya'll before you assume.... sorry to be so pedantic - no dammit im not sorry... im not usually like this but i dont have to take it when people tell me im doing it wrong without hearing it first.

 

 
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