How to master several tracks

[RUSTE]

Hi guys. Ive something thats been bothering me for a while. If i was putting together say an e.p & had all the tracks ready mixed down in 24bit & no compression on the master buss & wanted to master myself then arrange for cd. How would i go about the mastering process. I mean should i -

1. Master all tracks together in cubase (or whatever daw)
2. Master all tracks together but master each channel different or eq different to match
3. Master separatly then arrange in something like cd arcitect

What i confused about really is if i master each song on its own they are going to end up different levels & some might be brighter than others. So hows the best way to go about it?

I normaly master using a urs 1980 (or sonalksis) & then limit with wavearts finalplug or sony oxford limiter.

Any help would be wonderfull. Thanks in advance guys

Russ

[Thor]

Hi Russ,

why would you want to master them yourself?

Where's the objectivity? Where's the reference monitoring environment? Where's the fresh pair of experienced ears?

Just wondering out loud. You've worked hard getting the mixes as good as possible, why risk all your work by DIY mastering?

Best of luck,
Thor

[MASSIVE Master]

Not that I'm in any way disagreeing with Thor (as I'm not in the "MIY" boat by any means), but you're missing the whole point. You do what each mix tells you to do in the context of the entire project holistically. That's usually where the objectivity comes in...

[RUSTE]

Originally Posted by Thor

Hi Russ,

why would you want to master them yourself?

Where's the objectivity? Where's the reference monitoring environment? Where's the fresh pair of experienced ears?

Just wondering out loud. You've worked hard getting the mixes as good as possible, why risk all your work by DIY mastering?

Best of luck,
Thor

Hi guys thanks for the replies. Basicly ive not got the money to master. Im not a serious mixer enginner but i do pretty well for somebody who mixes in a room in my house. Im very happy with the standard of my mixes right now. I should be building a little studio in my garden very soon to make cheap demo's for bands but with high quality. I will also use it for my own projects. Right now im in the process of recording an album with a metal band im in. I have a contact in america (im from england) who was going to master for me. Although his not a mastering studio buts runs a studio from his house & has some very nice outboard gear. If i could get it mastered properly for £200 to £300 i would do it. It will have 10 tracks

Although when im doing demos for bands im going to need to master myself. Somrthing im always messing around with & think it sounds fine. My method is get the mix EXCACTLY how i want it. Compress to make it pump abit & gel things togther, Then limit to get it up to standard levels. Which is slammed in todays standards. Not something i like but ive gotta keep up with the trends & demands right??

So that was why in was wondering how to go about it.

In my bands album there will also be things in between tracks. Im guessing all that will just be done in cd arcitect? & if the tracks dont sound the same go back & change indervidualy (if i was to do it)

I hope this makes sense im rubbish at explaining things particulary when ive gotta type it lol :o)

Thanks

Russ

[nickolo]

OK sure a great mastering engineer is first choice,that i agree but thought it would be useful to check out an old sound on sound article on doing this the way you describe.It was published in SOS more than 15 months ago roughly.I remember it being a good basic guide.Check out their site for a copy of it...

[illynoise]

Originally Posted by RUSTE

Hi guys. Ive something thats been bothering me for a while. If i was putting together say an e.p & had all the tracks ready mixed down in 24bit & no compression on the master buss & wanted to master myself then arrange for cd. How would i go about the mastering process. I mean should i -

1. Master all tracks together in cubase (or whatever daw)
2. Master all tracks together but master each channel different or eq different to match
3. Master separatly then arrange in something like cd arcitect

What i confused about really is if i master each song on its own they are going to end up different levels & some might be brighter than others. So hows the best way to go about it?

I normaly master using a urs 1980 (or sonalksis) & then limit with wavearts finalplug or sony oxford limiter.

Any help would be wonderfull. Thanks in advance guys

Russ

If your serious about your music and you have no clue about whether you know if your songs are going to sound good, or level, or bright dull etc..... This IS why you need to get a Master(er)!

If you really have no money for mastering, how are you gonna have money for promoting your project? I'm not trying to be an A hole, but I'm just going off of what you said.

Your answer really is to get Wavelab or Samplitude and DIY, but my guess is that you will never get it to sound like you want to, if your not already getting it from your mixes!

[RUSTE]

Originally Posted by illynoise

If your serious about your music and you have no clue about whether you know if your songs are going to sound good, or level, or bright dull etc..... This IS why you need to get a Master(er)!

If you really have no money for mastering, how are you gonna have money for promoting your project? I'm not trying to be an A hole, but I'm just going off of what you said.

Your answer really is to get Wavelab or Samplitude and DIY, but my guess is that you will never get it to sound like you want to, if your not already getting it from your mixes!

But i am VERY happy with my mixes. I think they are at profetional level thats the point. We need the money we have to print the album... Im not sure how to go about promoting it other than gigging & sending to labels & mags for review. Ive tried wavelab before but didn't like fact i could not use my vst's. Or is that just me? Id like to master in cubase. Could i put a limiter on the master channel with dither & compress & eq the tracks indervidualy? Or will different tracks need different release settings on the limiter etc...

I have been looking on the net for mastering & ive found some places that would master cheap. One is very cheap but has no photo of the studio & claerly uses alot of software. Here it is
CD Mastering, Audio Mastering, Sound Restoration, DVD Audio, CD Premastering, Mastering Services - Audiomaster
I could afford this easy. It does say no pay till your 100% happy... I might have to give it a go. Thanks for the replies

Russ

[illynoise]

you can use your VST's in wavelab. Also Direct X and the Wavelab plugins themselves. Wavelab is probably the most efficient one that I've used.

[MASSIVE Master]

Originally Posted by RUSTE

One is very cheap but has no photo of the studio & claerly uses alot of software. Here it is

Yeah... The picture he *had* on his site was of my old space until I had my attorney give him a call... tutt

Go cheap and take your chances. There's a reason some places are as cheap as they are.

[RUSTE]

Really...

Well i might try them out as you don't have to pay till your happy. Or not at all if you don't like it. I might get them to master a track. They let you upload an mp3 to hear what its like. I know its an mp3 & not as good as a wave but you would get the general idea if what there doing is good.

I would check you out massive master but im in england so its to far for my liking. Your mastering studio looks well cool though. Thanks for the replays. I think im going to get my hands on wavelab but will go for a pro master for the album im recording. Halfway there now

Russ