Mastering Without Monitors.. ANY TIPS?

[Shahar15a]

So I don't have any monitors right now, and I'm using regular speakers.
My speakers have a good sound quality, and the sound is pretty flat, pretty much like monitors (at least like the monitors Iv'e heard).

The only problem with my speakers is that they tend to "Master" the audio by themselves..
For example, if the kick is too loud compared to all the other tracks, it sounds ok with my speakers for some reason, and when I hear it in different speakers, I can barely hear somthing else but the kick.. it's weird.

The only way I can tell if the kick isn't too loud is when i already export the mixdown, and open it in cubase. Then I can actualy SEE the soundwaves and realize what's wrong..

I can't afford decent monitors right now.. Is there any temporary way to make my mastering fine without exporting the audio all the time? It's a real waste of time and effort..

P.S. I'm using Cubase 5 if it matters.

[Llitsor]

Good mastering with your current setup would be down to a large amount of luck.
Even good headphones, I personally find misleading at the best of times. Still, the more sources you have available to check your mix on, the better.

It depends what you want to master it for? If its just for yourself & friends, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If you are selling it or hoping for airplay, then you really need to do a decent job of it, and upgrade your kit. Or better still, have a professional do it.

There are decent mastering plugins, like Ozone for example, that you could use in Cubase. But without good monitors and decent room acoustics, you still wouldn't get the best out of it.

[oldeanalogueguy]

Originally Posted by Shahar15a

So I don't have any monitors right now, and I'm using regular speakers.
My speakers have a good sound quality, and the sound is pretty flat, pretty much like monitors (at least like the monitors Iv'e heard).

The only problem with my speakers is that they tend to "Master" the audio by themselves..
For example, if the kick is too loud compared to all the other tracks, it sounds ok with my speakers for some reason, and when I hear it in different speakers, I can barely hear somthing else but the kick.. it's weird.

The only way I can tell if the kick isn't too loud is when i already export the mixdown, and open it in cubase. Then I can actualy SEE the soundwaves and realize what's wrong..

I can't afford decent monitors right now.. Is there any temporary way to make my mastering fine without exporting the audio all the time? It's a real waste of time and effort..

P.S. I'm using Cubase 5 if it matters.

headphones are better
the right "speakers" can be as good as monitors

see the essay by the owner of another forum for reviewing audio where he claims the speakers he has are just as good as his expensive monitors

[JES]

There are probably people who would do it cheap or free who will do a better job. And if you're willing to pay, you can do even better.

[Ben F]

Not having a proper room and speakers isn't mastering...it's just bus processing.

[kcearl]

what are you considering as mastering?


if you are just trying to raise the an individual track loudness then you can do it on most setups...but mastering is really getting an album of tracks to sound cohesive and ready for release..if you are trying to do this Id suggest involving someone else

[offki]

Sacrifice Goats and pray to the dark gods, otherwise, good luck.

[Reptil]

yeah, you need some good monitors to judge mixes. and yes it's not mastering, it's mixing.
you can check on headphones but guessing the bass from that also requires a lot of experience.
the only thing left to do if on a budget of $ 0.00 is to take it to your car, and try it out, the stereo at some friends place, and make note of what's wrong or isn't, and compare to music you know (and like) and try to compare.

[StringBean]

Mixing is hard enough without monitors...no way you can master without em. If you are truly mastering that is ..

[Entrainer]

q: Mastering Without Monitors.. ANY TIPS?

a: Yes, 1 tip. Don't do it.

[payt]

My tip: buy a pair of monitors.. lol.

I've also mixed on a pair of old Wharfedales (from the 70s), and they sound like cardboard boxes compared to what i now have.. I now use a pair of KRK rokit 6's.. they're not exactly the best monitors you can buy, but it already makes a huge difference. And anyone can afford a pair of secondhand KRK's, unless you're totally broke (which seems to be a common state of affairs among Electronic Musicians).

[offki]

Recently ended up with a krk6 after a bizzare sequence of events and its really not that bad, its no msp7 but its workable for sure. Look at B-stock on music shop websites too, sometimes you can get genuine bargains, sometimes you can haggle them down too.

[kcearl]

buy a crown amp of fleabay and check your local pawn shop for a pair of older high end speakers...at least you can mix on them and when your a bit more flush with cash buy a pair of passive monitors and use the amp to power them

[rolo]

mastering without monitors is like eating without a mouth... like a bee without a bumble... like a hat without a head.... like an ass without a hole... ya get my drift?

[payt]

Originally Posted by rolo

mastering without monitors is like eating without a mouth... like a bee without a bumble... like a hat without a head.... like an ass without a hole... ya get my drift?

I think we need some more examples.. you're not really making your point :P

Would it be like sex without a girl, for example?

[msl]

.

[mikeg09]

Originally Posted by payt

I think we need some more examples.. you're not really making your point :P

Would it be like sex without a girl, for example?

lmao

[mike vee]

you can get monitors for like 200 bucks or less...if you can't save that, get a job already!

[offki]

Originally Posted by payt

I think we need some more examples.. you're not really making your point :P

Would it be like sex without a girl, for example?

Nope, that can be pretty good sometimes, simpler for sure. Bad Metaphor. Go to your room.

[SecretSilencer]

Do your best. When we are in a limited situation we just make the best we can with what we have.

If it helps out, a lot of music stores online have financing plan with no payments or interest for 12 months. Sam Ash, Sweet Water, Music 123, Guitar Center....

If your really dedicated to your music then it may be a good investment and you cant beat no interest!!!

[offki]

If anyone reading this is in the UK aged 18-25..

Take it away

The arts council give interest free loans for gear, odd but handy if you're young and too scared to sell crack.

[chickenuggets]

Take it,away only allows u musical instruments, it doesn't apply to pro audio.

[Barfunkel]

Why do you even need mastering, if you can't even afford a half-decent set of speakers (which you can get for 500$ or so used)? If you got a release coming up, ask the label to deal with the mastering. If you're releasing it yourself, use a real mastering studio, it's not THAT expensive. If you're not releasing, why bother with mastering? Just make those tunes, put them on Soundcloud or equivalent and worry about mastering when you have a real release coming up.

Mastering is not a magic wand anyway, if your tune is good, it will sound good without mastering.

[mattyc]

Originally Posted by BigDaddy

don't listen to these guys...if it sounds right in mom's basement on those speakers, then it is right, because let's face it, that's the way most people are hearing it right?...you're on the right track. Just get a pair of cheap earbuds and do a second reference from there. Buying expensive stuff is unecessary in this day and age.

not sure if serious. . . .

[FLYINGJAY]

Originally Posted by BigDaddy

don't listen to these guys...if it sounds right in mom's basement on those speakers, then it is right, because let's face it, that's the way most people are hearing it right?...you're on the right track. Just get a pair of cheap earbuds and do a second reference from there. Buying expensive stuff is unecessary in this day and age.

He's not serious

Sent from my PC36100 using Gearslutz.com

[gremlin moon]

I was just on my laptop speakers and "mastered" a quick loop for the "show me your strings" thread and used an Ozone preset and it came out awful when I heard it at home, I'll probably go and delete it. If in doubt don't master. According to an SOS article I read, a lot of the "loudness wars" is really things being recorded louder -- not justed boosted at the mastering stage.

[FLYINGJAY]

Originally Posted by gremlin moon

I was just on my laptop speakers and "mastered" a quick loop for the "show me your strings" thread and used an Ozone preset and it came out awful when I heard it at home, I'll probably go and delete it. If in doubt don't master. According to an SOS article I read, a lot of the "loudness wars" is really things being recorded louder -- not justed boosted at the mastering stage.

This is a joke as well

You record clean!

Meaning try to minimize noise by buying well shielded cable.

Learn your equipment,technique tells use to peak incoming signals for optimum leveling?

Some gear sound better if you DON'T.

Room and microphone placement is key,my booth Is treated to absorb!I have one reflective wall in there.

Recording loud has nothing to do with a loud mix!

O god nevermind...

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[gremlin moon]

Here is the article if anyone is interested: 'Dynamic Range' & The Loudness War

[What I recorded for a quick loop was all ITB btw]

[Brainchild]

If I'm not mistaken, that article actually claims that modern recordings are more amenable to dynamic-range reduction than previous recordings because they have higher innate crest factors (because they're more percussion-centric than at any time in the past).

Whatever the case, that's a somewhat controversial article (obviously intentionally so) in this climate, but I think the conclusion is about as uncontroversial as possible: do what's most appropriate and sounds best for the material at hand using the best tools available.

[offki]

U

Originally Posted by chickenuggets

Take it,away only allows u musical instruments, it doesn't apply to pro audio.

Oh yeah. You could about a year ago, oh well.