Before and After Mastering question

[jwnc]

Hi,

I am mixing some tunes and they are coming out really good. I do want some opinions. I know you need to get your mixes sounding great and not expect mastering to save it. Just to glue things together I have a some light compression on the master buss and maybe very light eq on there too. At this point it sounds really great and I am happy with it. So I am wrong to think that if at the point when I do this that is my mix not as good as it needs to be? Or does jive with most people. I am just trying to do very light simulations of what a real ME would do just to find out how the mix holds up, etc... if it sounds good like this would the same holds true once a Pro ME gets a hold of it?

Also does anyone have a good a/b reference of something that was mixed great before it was mastered and how it sounded after? Just as a point of reference?

Thanks
Jason

[Riccardo]

Originally Posted by jwnc

Hi,

Just to glue things together I have a some light compression on the master buss and maybe very light eq on there too. At this point it sounds really great and I am happy with it.
Jason

That's all that matters (being happy with a mix that sound great!) thumbsup

[lucey]

What other mixes sound like means nothing. Mixing is about making a unique, focused, emotionally compelling musical statement .... and all of your energy should be on this, not comparisons or fears. As a music lover I don't want to hear the same thing the other guy did, and I don't want to hear the energy of your fears in the mix. Be bold and brave and kick some ass. The only comparing you might do is to drop the level of a mastered CD, and yours should be more dynamic but similarly balanced.

If it sounds amazing then you're done. If there is something that bugs you that you think could be better, then do it. Center channel clarity? Appropriate width and spice? Vocal sits and feels right? Dynamic punch? Max it out. That's your standard ... maxxed out.