[ddots-l] Re: the mysterious world of mastering

Well, it's the old adage that the only stupid question is the one you don't
ask for fear of looking dumb.

Best wishes.

Tim Burgess
Raised Bar Ltd
Phone:  +44 (0)1827 719822

Don't forget to vote for improved access to music and music technology at

http://www.raisedbar.net/petition.htm
 


-----Original Message-----
From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Shawn Brock
Sent: 01 December 2010 00:05
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: the mysterious world of mastering

Always good advice Tim.

I was thinking, these guys will think I'm some kind of hack if I haul off 
and ask them this.  So I ended up emailing Robert, he replied back and 
thanked me for asking.  He said that he was thinking of putting together a 
Q&A for questions like this, and that he wished more people took the time to

ask, instead of just showing up with just anything.

Guess I don't feel like such a fool after all...

Shawn
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Burgess" <tim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2010 9:15 AM
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: the mysterious world of mastering


> I'e talked to a few mastering engineers at seminars and the like and asked
> this exact question.  The answer they've all given me is to talk to the
> engineer you're working with to see what he likes to be given.
>
> Best wishes.
>
> Tim Burgess
> Raised Bar Ltd
> Phone:  +44 (0)1827 719822
>
> Don't forget to vote for improved access to music and music technology at
>
> http://www.raisedbar.net/petition.htm
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
> On
> Behalf Of Shawn Brock
> Sent: 30 November 2010 16:48
> To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [ddots-l] the mysterious world of mastering
>
> I'm always the first to say, I don't know when it comes to answering most
> questions about mastering.  And it seems that the longer I live, the less 
> I
> know.  You would think it would be the opposite right?
>
> Mastering has never been my cup of tee, and that aint ever going to change
> as far as I can see.  Its a lot like great visual art, I have a great
> appreciation for it, but I know my talents lie elsewhere.
>
> I was reading back through several years of Sound On Sound Magazine, and
> found some articles from great engineers who make a living on both sides 
> of
> the fence, those who record and mix, and those who master.
>
> My reason for reading up on this is because the mixing of my record is
> complete, and the mastering session will take place on December 13th.
>
> Its been a long time sense I was the party responsible for delivering 
> files
> to a mastering house, and I see the game has changed, or maybe it hasn't.
>
> I'm working with Robert Hadley and Doug Sax of The Mastering Lab Inc
> www.themasteringlab.com
>
> The credits and knowledge these men possess of there craft is quite
> astounding!  Needless to say, this is costing me a fare price, and I want 
> to
>
> give them the best product I can to work with...
>
> Anyhow, in the interest of providing the best possible files to them, I
> wonder if any of you have any tips?
>
> I'm uploading split stereo 24-96 files to them a week in advance, and will
> also be taking the files down on a hard drive.
>
> My questions are all about the meter.  When I look at the master busses
> output meter, my objective has been to get it to stay below 0.  You know 
> how
>
> it goes, you start mixing on a tune, add some compression, turn the kick 
> up,
>
> and bla bla bla.  The next thing you know, the output meter is bouncing
> between minus 4 and plus 2...  So in your collective opinions, what kind 
> of
> output numbers do you like to see on a tune that's ready for mastering?
>
> I don't want to go to the point of obsession, and line A Coleman Audio
> 2-channel VU meter into my chain, like David Rideau does...  But I want 
> the
> mastering house to have the best product they can get from me.
>
> Any thoughts and advice is always appreciated.
>
> Shawn
>
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