How do you master yours?

[ernstinen]

I run an analog stereo path out of my Soundcraft board into an Emperical Labs Fatso, then record @ 24/96 into an Alesis Masterlink, adjusting the input and output levels on the Fatso.Then I run a digital out into Pro Tools LE. I use a bit of T-Racks and Waves EQs, and a touch of the compressor that comes with Pro Tools. I don't use a Maximizer (I've got the Waves) because I like to maximize the levels myself! I go back and forth between the EQ and compressor outputs so they all ALMOST tip into the red, and make sure that the meter in Pro Tools does the same.It's then back digitally into the Masterlink, and I might adjust the levels a bit to make them as hot as possible. The Masterlink will then convert down to 16/44.1 when making CDs.Sounds complicated, but I'm a complicated guy! Ern

[louis2012]

wow Ern, now I feel like a lazy, badly equipped, amateur! Maybe we should all have a competition where we choose one song (whoever's) and each master it and post the results somewhere! That would be fun.

[milfus]

*good bad and ugly theme plays**tumble weed goes by**random displaced whip crack noise*oh what, no one else fealt it? yeah right......

[louis2012]

*makes Lee Van Cleef shifty eyes*

[ernstinen]

Sept 24, 2008, 9:08am, louis2012 wrote:wow Ern, now I feel like a lazy, badly equipped, amateur! Maybe we should all have a competition where we choose one song (whoever's) and each master it and post the results somewhere! That would be fun.Ha! I'm up for that!I ALMOST turned my recording studio into a mastering studio. One problem: EVERY mix that people brought in were terrible. They REALLY needed to be re-mixed. I just couldn't take their money --- bad karma and all. So I was honest with the clients, and decided it just wasn't worth it since I prefer to compose!But I LOVE to mix --- it's my favorite thing to do as an engineer. Mastering comes second, and if you have a good mix, you really don't have to do much in the mastering process besides setting relative levels between songs, a little EQing and maybe a little buss compression.Ern

[milfus]

yeah im with you ern, hand me a raw song any day, mixing/editting is my thang

[mojobone]

At home, Mackie Finalmix, and occasionally Blockfish. Elsewhere, whatever's handy.

[bluntbeats314]

i'm not as good as you vets but my favorite tactic is getting a mix (i mean a good mix with balanced levels throughout and clear) as good as it can possibly sound with slight compression(she's my favorite!) over the master before i export it because it seems to help me pick out clashing or annoying freqs before they become a problem later and it helps me pick up things my meager sound system may mislead me into thinking sounds good-then i use my main "squeeze" get it bad humor! cubase! i dont really do much compression there usually i'm bringing up levels and maybe rolling of some low end and adding a little clarity with a 7-9k slight boost. i know from what i understand you're not supposed to throw compression on until after the mix but hey to each it's own right...guys...gals...anyone...someone...please...

[milfus]

ah yeah blunt, you'll eventually grow out of that, as your ears sharpen, I used to temp compress my mixes for eq's too. now tho, I try to almost expand my levels some, like the variance, to counter some of the flatness of the compression from the final master, just cause I can get a little heavy with it, plus you have to account for the radio compression as well

[weslong]

The MClass Mastering tools plus the RV-7000 reverb in Reason do most of the work for me normally and then pipe Reason into Logic for treatment with Ozone. For those cross-platform projects that require addtitional tracks in Logic, I'll use only the bare-minimum effects in Reason needed for mixing on that end and use Logic's effects and Ozone to get the bulk of the sound work done.