Help with basic self-mastering

[PheelTheMusic]

On small non-commercial projects where any level of professional mastering is entirely out of budget, what gear would you recommend placing across the master bus?

Obviously there are no universal rules, but would a mastering EQ and a multiband compressor or limiter almost always serve some role? What other hardware or plugs would be a good starting point? Any setting starting points?

Some projects that I record have literally zero budget, so what quick faux-mastering can I perform just to gel the mix a bit more and maybe add some volume to the track? Mastering is a world that I have left to the professionals but some basic knowledge would be great to have for these smaller projects. Thank you fellow gearslutz...

[Riddler]

Hi Pheelthemusic,

I'm also really interested in hearing a response to this question, I normally use the obvious multiband compression and limiting to taste, but convincing a band to spend some cash on pro mastering is a constant problem. At the start of every project where the budget is limited I explain that mastering is a different discipline and the reasons why it is worthwhile, but it very rarely is taken on board. As a result, I'm left needing to perform as a mastering engineer which is an area that I have no concrete expertese.

Tim.

[ed littman]

I'd say in both of your cases do what ever allows for good translation to a majority of playback systems.
If the band can't spend for pro mastering(it does not cost like it used to..by the way) don't worry about post sweetening the mix to much...after all, you mixed it & should get it as sweet as you can in your room.

Any further tweeking may be a shot it the dark. cause mastering is not about gear it's about hearing the truth of a mix & making decisions for translation & client vision. any decent eq & compressor & limiter can be a valid tool, it's how your operate it that counts.
Ed

[MASSIVE Master]

Maul-the-band compression rarely comes into play in most cases. Especially on one's own mixes. I can't even imagine the need for MBC if I was "self-mastering" and I could fix whatever the imbalance was in the mix.

Other than that, there is no starting point. You do what the mix asks you to do. If you didn't already do that in the mix, it isn't going to change when you put a different hat on.

[lucey]

Originally Posted by MASSIVE Master

I can't even imagine the need for MBC if I was "self-mastering" and I could fix whatever the imbalance was in the mix.

what he said... just remix it until you're happy.

There are no "setting starting points" either. And yes, a limiter or internal clipping is going to be involved if you want more level.

[NoVi]

If you have access to Logic Pro or Waveburner there are many predefinied set ups (called channel strip settings). The give you a very starting point for your own mastering.
I presume that other apps ou there have similar functionality.

[Riccardo]

Yes, mix it until it sounds good (check across different systems) and translates well.
Only add limiting to get that extra bit of volume!
thumbsup

[Stiff]

Well, why not try out a mastering pack like those offered by iZotope and Flux? I use Flux Solera sometimes and it's really simple to just dial up presets, blend them and tweak them a bit for quite simply almost always better results. There's also T-Racks if you like the sound of that.

For individual plug-ins I'd say the limiter is what's important. Sure, you can EQ and what not, but if you got the mix you might as well go back and change it there.

[Musikvilla]

Get a SSL G compressor and use a digital EQ. If you can afford it get a GML or Focusrite EQ.

AND GET DORROUGH METERS!

[Riccardo]

Originally Posted by Musikvilla

Get a SSL G compressor and use a digital EQ. If you can afford it get a GML or Focusrite EQ.

Is this serious?

[Sid Viscous]

Mastering is all about the mix. The good thing about doing it yourself is that instead of trying to save a mix with an issue, you can just fix it. If the mix is right, the mastering will become much easier. The Waves SSL buss compressor and L2 or Kjaerhus MPL-1 can do wonders on a bad mix and they are fantastic on a good one.

[DeeDrive]

Originally Posted by Riccardo

Is this serious?

Yeah, what's this guy smokin, he REALLY needs an STC-8 and a Weiss.

[GuitarRuss]

Originally Posted by Stiff

Well, why not try out a mastering pack like those offered by iZotope and Flux? I use Flux Solera sometimes and it's really simple to just dial up presets, blend them and tweak them a bit for quite simply almost always better results.

I'm in a similar role as the person who posted this topic. I master my own stuff and get asked by friends to do their stuff on the cheap. Mostly just their cd to sell at their gigs, so nothing major. I've noticed this - DIY mastering has a sweetspot for guys like me. A good pro-level mix is very, very hard to improve on unless you have the right equipment, monitoring setup, room treatment, ears, knowledge and experience. I did a few tracks at a good studio and was trying to make them blend with my other stuff for my album. I would improve it on my speakers but it always sounded worse on other speakers. In the end I just matched the volume and left it alone.

As well, the stuff that they do remastering really noisy recording from old live concerts etc. is really, really hard. You'll get swimmies trying to do the noise reduction and it'll drive you crazy unless you have the equipment and knowhow.

However, the mixes I get from friends are flat, dull, boomy, or overhyped on the treble. It's almost hard to go wrong with the eq. There is so much crap to remove with reductive eq it always sounds way better after. If it's dull you put in a little shine and then listen on those annoying PC speakers with the brassy tweeters to make sure you didn't add to much high end (half of the people I know wind up listening to it on crap computers speakers anyway). Yes, a real ME in a real studio will do a much, much better job, but that's financially out of the question and besides sending most of this stuff to a real ME would be ridiculous - spend the money on doing a better recording in the first place.

For myself I just invested in PSP Neon for a reductive eq. It's linear phase so you can be pretty agressive about removing stuff and it sounds really clear afterwards. It's not very useful for using in a multitrack though because it adds a huge amount of latency (although you can turn of LinearPhase and oversampling and it's usuable). I added Tritone-Angeltone to add high end sparkle and occasionally a bit more thud to the low end. It really adds a nice shine and is easy to use. I also got Solera to finish off the package. The presets sound good, I often start there and it has a stereo enhancer that is the best I've found for PC (Waves - pretty good, Wave arts Panarama - hideous, PSP - sounded strange to me).

PSP Neon - $300
Angel Tone - $169
Solera - $600
So for a total of $1069 I have a pretty decent little setup for DIY Mastering. It'll pay itself off eventually...

I used to go crazy and try all sorts of other plugs but I find now it's better to keep it simple (less to go wrong). If little or no compression has been used yet I might throw on a compresser and start with the Mastering preset and tweak from there - yeah I know you guys hate presets but it's a good place to start for people who don't have too much experience.

Always A/B your mix with the original at equal volume - important!! You will think you have made soooo much progress only to realise that you've only made it worse. Which is why I backed off on overusing compressors, stereo widening, bass enhancers, etc.

Have fun - but remember, if you think the recording has a chance for radio play, do the right thing and recommend they send it to a real pro ME, it'll be worth the money!

Edit - Solera is great, same advice as the poster above. It also has a built in limiter set to 0. I often try turning off the decompression and like it more without, also play with the Angel's Share and Hysterisis. It's pretty complex, certainly lot's of room to grow with that plug if you want to deepen you knowledge and skills. I was using L2 before and now I look back at all those songs that have it with regret... Try the demos for these products. Except Angeltone - it's got this beeping sound just about drove me out of my head. I just had to trust the advice from the mastering forum which is that it is possibly the best eq plug for adding soft and sweet high end.