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Old 05-24-2021, 09:41 AM   #44
Lynx_TWO
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Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: St Petersburg FL
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Default The OP and others may be confusing mixing vs mastering?

Probably not putting anything new out here, but things you should do before even thinking about plugins:

Powered studio monitors set up properly in your room
Room setup/treatment/calibration for as flat a sound as possible

Grab a pencil and a notepad

Listen to the track one time, make notes on your overall feeling of that track; what you like AND what you don’t like
Take a 5 minute break

Listen to the track again, make notes on the individual verse, chorus, hook, bridge, etc. for example, what needs to change? (Eq, level, compression, etc). Why does it need to change?
Take a 5 minute break

Listen to the tracks again, but this time listen critically to the different instruments and how they mesh. If something needs changed here, talk to the mixing engineer as they will need to make the changes in the actual mix. When talking to the mixing engineer, be sure to start with what you like in the mix. Then talk about what you feel needs to change in order for you to deliver the best master you can. Be sure to let him or her know where the limitations lie should they want you to just master the mix without any changes. Finally, close with something positive.

If you get a new mix, start at the top and work down again, otherwise, go through your master suggestions one by one and notate which plugins you will be using to tackle which problem.

Finally, work from the bottom of your notes up, making your smaller tweaks in the mastering chain and finally arriving at the overall feel.

Scan your notes for that track and keep a record so you know exactly what you did, why you did it, and also have something in case the artist ever wants a limited release or something of that nature.

Why use a pencil and paper? There’s value to the physical connection you get in writing, even if it looks like a 5 year old wrote it. Also keeps you focused and grounded

Remember: A good Mastering engineer is simply putting the final touches on an already-baked cake. If you are doing anything drastic as a mastering engineer, then you need to take the right approach: talk to the mixing engineer. In a perfect world, the mastering engineer should barely have to touch anything other than maybe making sure the track meets loudness standards. For example, if you are having to make EQ adjustments of more than 1dB or two, you REALLY need to get with the mixing engineer so they can make the larger adjustments needed.

Final thought: if you are mastering a track and can’t explain exactly why you are doing what you are doing, for each individual track, every little tweak, etc. then you really need to go back to the original mix and start again.

Final, final thought: it does seem like the thread has a lot of people confusing the role of mix engineer vs. mastering engineer, to include the OP. For example: On compression, it gets overused WAY to much. remember that the use of compression is an art, but the application is a science based on multiple factors. Compression limits dynamics, so if for example, the drums are too dynamic in a mix, the mixing engineer should be adjusting that use of compression on the drum tracks. The mastering engineer should NOT be adjusting that use of compression on the overall mix. I would even go so far as to say (and correct me if I’m wrong) that if a mastering engineer is using more than two or three, MAYBE in extreme cases, 5 plugins on the mastering chain, then they really need to get with the mix engineer since the two disciplines are looking at things from completely different angles

Last edited by Lynx_TWO; 05-24-2021 at 10:08 AM. Reason: Clarification
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