Mastering with Reference CD's

[drakewire]

I thought I'd post a simple poll. How Many of the M.E's here use Commercial Reference CD's while mastering a new client that you've never worked with? I know thats an open ended question, with so many variables that its not even funny. Since most M.E's already have a sound sweet spot they are looking for, and a target RMS, but, do you ever find yourself listening to Ref's to guide you in a specific direction for an a new client, at least to remain competitive?
The Reason I ask is because I am just now starting to learn the mastering process, and I find myself at war with myself, I hear commercial masters, and they all seem to have a sheen that is so similar that begs me to ask. Matching the volume is simple... But wanted to know if this is a good place to start....

Best Wishes,
D.Drake

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Also, another question which is completely irrelevant, but as a fellow GearSlut for almost two years now, I entered some competition that Atlantic Records is throwing in conjunction with Uber, Andy Karp is the primary judge along with the Rebel Group. I currently am leading the competition in votes, but I was hoping i could call on My fellow GearSlut friends to help me.It only takes two or three seconds to vote.
Drakewire - Uber

[DSD_Mastering]

What I usually do with new clients is let them hear a what I have already done in that genre and let them pick something they really like. Hopefully they can pick a general direction or vision of what they want their tracks to sound like.
If they've done something in the past, I'll ask them if they like what they sound like or want to go in a different direction.
THEN.. if all else fails, we'll start with the commercial CD's. Thankfully I've never had to go that far.

Regards,
Bruce

[lucey]

I ask them to send a Ref of their choice, or a past mastering attempt, and use that info to extrapolate some of the elements that might be important to them (level, overall eq tilt, etc) If they choose to provide nothing, I'll do what I hear and we go from there.

[MASSIVE Master]

If they bring in a disc and say "this is sort of what we're shooting for" then I'll certainly use that as a guide -- But I can only do what the mixes let me do.

Since most M.E's already have a sound sweet spot they are looking for, and a target RMS,

Especially those. I don't have an idea of where to take something until I'm listening to it. And the volume is up to the potential of the mix much more than it's up to me.

Not that there aren't plenty of (most, actually) clients that are more than willing to sacrifice quality over volume...

[finetuner]

Originally Posted by drakewire

...do you ever find yourself listening to Ref's to guide you in a specific direction for an a new client, at least to remain competitive?...

I wish art was less about competition and more about unique-ness.
And the purpose of mastering to make that quality come out as good as possible.
Nothing more nothing less...

[end of cynical note]

In answer to your question: I usually find references brought by clients rather misleading than helpful. I've got a reference disc of my own to guide me on a bad ear-day but that's a different purpose.
Anyway, after a few years of experience, it really doesn't matter what kind of music one gets to work with. It's all about tonal balance which is quite universal if you ask me.

Peter van't Riet
FineTune Mastering