The case, like a recent topic about compressors, is more about YER sound, i.e. if u use loads of sound mangling then that's you, your trade mark, leave it on... BUT mastering is a very delicate and complicated subject 2 be aproached very carefully... a weak master can kill a great track, ... the reverse isn't completelly true... ;)

So I would say experiment, attend any mastering sesssions u can, learn as much as u can... but in case of doubt don't touch it... play around with yer final tracks, b ut always keep an unmastered version just in case... this way u can learn... u can even get a bit cheaky and take yer mastered version 2 the mastering house and check what they'll say... then if 2 dreadfull pull a "... oops so sorry wrong CD!! ;) ..." n then giv' em the unmastered clean version!!


As for mastering plug ins I would recomend the waves package, antares tube, BBe sonic maximizer... Izotope is also good but I thibnk u need a lot more knowledge 2 b able 2 use it without screwing things up!

T-racks is a simpler, yet powerfull, mastering package...


I would honestly concertrate as much as possible on the mixing, and getting right at that stage.. if u do u don't need 2 do much with mastering!!


There is also another subjective factor that works againts us being our own masters.. u are 2 attached 2 our tracks 2 b able 2 make some of the critical decidions that mastering mean!!

My 2 cents,



Z