Mastering Test / Critique? |
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Mastering Test / Critique? |
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May 28 2014, 07:41 AM |
I"m going to put my neck out and share a preliminary "Mastering" pass of a song I'm doing for a friend of mine. This is a "Home Brew" sort of deal and MASTERING is probably not the right word. I'm just trying to make the track sound better than the source before it gets put up on a HD audio streaming site.
So here is the "BEFORE" https://soundcloud.com/techniqueswithtodd/05-rage-original-pre-mastering Here is the "AFTER" *will add after it uploads. 24 bit AIF it's 100 Megabytes!! https://soundcloud.com/techniqueswithtodd/ragemastering-version2-52814-216-am So do you think it sounds better and do you have any tracks that you are trying to "master" @ home that you wanna share for some feedback? MR. MIRO: If you notice mine and others, be kind! This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: May 28 2014, 08:12 AM |
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May 28 2014, 08:46 PM |
Hi Todd,
I'm away at the moment in the UK - long story short but I need to take my elderly mother across from one end of the country to the other so that she can see my sister. (Why my sis can't go and see my mother is another story.) If you still want feedback I'll give them a listen when I get back next week. One thing - for an A/B comparison you may want to level match the two versions since louder nearly always will sound better to most people . -------------------- Get your music professionally mastered by anl AES registered Mastering Engineer. Contact me for Audio Mastering Services and Advice and visit our website www.miromastering.com
Be friends on facebook with us here. We use professional, mastering grade hardware in our mastering studo. Our hardware includes: Cranesong Avocet II Monitor Controller, Dangerous Music Liasion Insert Hardware Router, ATC SCM Pro Monitors, Lavry Black DA11, Prism Orpheus ADC/DAC, Gyratec Gyraf XIV Parallel Passive Mastering EQ, Great River MAQ 2NV Mastering EQ, Kush Clariphonic Parallel EQ Shelf, Maselec MLA-2 Mastering Compressor, API 2500 Mastering Compressor, Eventide Eclipse Reverb/Echo. |
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May 28 2014, 10:40 PM |
Hi Todd! I don't have trust-able monitors here were I am now, but maybe it would be good if you provide wav files, and also if we can download them to be opened on a daw to compare. What do you think? Is it possible?
I'm also curious to know what you exactly are looking for with the mastering... what's the original mix lacking for you? -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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May 29 2014, 03:00 AM |
I listened with both headphones and speakers.
1) cool song! 2) I generally 'like' the way both sound. But I prefer the first version because I can hear more separation of instruments ESPECIALLY when you're playing the clean electric arps behind the vocals (which is a great guitar part so I wanna hear it). All in all, IMO, the dynamics of the v.1 makes it all more interesting to my ears. -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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May 29 2014, 03:23 AM |
I'm not actually playing on this one but I agree! Very cool parts!! Thanks for giving it a listen and critique Ha, ha! That makes more sense. The rhythm parts sound great - good parts, good playing. The leads seemed a little, shall we say, rhythmically unconventional compared to what I'm used to hearing from you. This post has been edited by klasaine: May 29 2014, 03:24 AM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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May 29 2014, 08:51 AM |
Started from scratch!!!! Thanks much for putting your ears on it Anyone up for a relisten, I'd appreciate it!!!
Base Version for Reference https://soundcloud.com/techniqueswithtodd/rage-reference-track New Mastering Pass https://soundcloud.com/techniqueswithtodd/ragemastering-version2-52814-216-am Thanks much for your time!!! Todd This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: May 31 2014, 12:09 AM |
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May 31 2014, 02:17 AM |
I still like the first one better because I can hear some separation of instruments and personally I need dynamics to be kept interested in a song.
Having said that, v. 2 is a better 'car' or club or even soundtrack master/mix. This post has been edited by klasaine: May 31 2014, 03:13 AM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Jun 4 2014, 02:13 PM |
Hi Todd,
sorry for the delay - just got back late yesterday afternoon. I've listened to some of the reference track and master from the 29th. Before I say anything the main thing isn't what I or others think but whether r not your master meets the brief/needs of the producer. As I don't know what that is what follows is just my opinion and may be very different to what the producer envisages for the track. I'd start by suggesting that the ref track needs some correction/adjustment before you should start trying to do much else. There's quite a bit of noticeable background - particularly hiss - so the gainstaging is questionable. I'd also question the track balance - which is supposed to be the focus, the lead female vocal or lead guitar? Both fight to be focus of attention. I'd also suggest that the background vox is a touch too high in the mix and suggest that the producer experiments by comparing and choosing between this ref. and vox up/down versions. With the master I do find it rather lacking in dynamic shading and a bit flat - this is also dragging up what is already a noticeable background noise floor and making some quiet parts a bit too forward, etc. Levels at times seem a bit inconsistent and there are some noticeable shifts particularly when the track gets busy. I think the spectral balance over-emphasises the mid and at times it sounds quite congested in the mid. I'm guessing that the track spectral balance is supposed to be quite dark but even so there is a lack of shimmer and high end. Processing is a bit too noticeable - you can hear the comp kicking in and out and bass instruments/sounds have a tendency to wallow a bit and so may detract from what could be a tighter rythmic feel -take a look particularly at your times and threshold. I also found the vocals sounded a bt over processed and at times sterile and rather 'dgital'. That may be a deliberate production choice though. If this is for a commerical video you may want to watch your levels by the way as the whole thing sounds a bit too hot and lacking in crest for commercial post. Both the ref and the master drift a bit close to white noise in some parts but that may be the poor transcoding from Soundcloud. If it isn't I'd regainstage before you master it to avoid it going quite as hot. The master isn't bad - but I do think it needs a bit more light and shade both spectrally and dynamically. I'd also suggest that it's a bit limited by some mix issues. Hope that helps (and wasn't too brutal ). T -------------------- Get your music professionally mastered by anl AES registered Mastering Engineer. Contact me for Audio Mastering Services and Advice and visit our website www.miromastering.com
Be friends on facebook with us here. We use professional, mastering grade hardware in our mastering studo. Our hardware includes: Cranesong Avocet II Monitor Controller, Dangerous Music Liasion Insert Hardware Router, ATC SCM Pro Monitors, Lavry Black DA11, Prism Orpheus ADC/DAC, Gyratec Gyraf XIV Parallel Passive Mastering EQ, Great River MAQ 2NV Mastering EQ, Kush Clariphonic Parallel EQ Shelf, Maselec MLA-2 Mastering Compressor, API 2500 Mastering Compressor, Eventide Eclipse Reverb/Echo. |
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Jun 9 2014, 11:24 AM |
Hi Todd,
I know this is a different genre but it may give some idea as to why I think the level of the vocals needs looking at if possible: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-vinens-speil/id388054821 Also, some of Lisa Gerrard's stuff could also be a useful vocal reference here. Keep at as you're not that far away . T -------------------- Get your music professionally mastered by anl AES registered Mastering Engineer. Contact me for Audio Mastering Services and Advice and visit our website www.miromastering.com
Be friends on facebook with us here. We use professional, mastering grade hardware in our mastering studo. Our hardware includes: Cranesong Avocet II Monitor Controller, Dangerous Music Liasion Insert Hardware Router, ATC SCM Pro Monitors, Lavry Black DA11, Prism Orpheus ADC/DAC, Gyratec Gyraf XIV Parallel Passive Mastering EQ, Great River MAQ 2NV Mastering EQ, Kush Clariphonic Parallel EQ Shelf, Maselec MLA-2 Mastering Compressor, API 2500 Mastering Compressor, Eventide Eclipse Reverb/Echo. |
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