Aren't you proud?

[NorseHorse]

So I got my first cold-call mastering request via Craigslist last week. I operate an on-location recording service, but I've been doing some mastering trial runs for the experience. I decided to post on Craigslist as a psuedo-studio offering mastering (don't want to mix my reputations, you know?). So... here is what my first potential "real" paying client sends me. Is this what the world of mastering is like?!?!

[MASSIVE Master]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

So... here is what my first potential "real" paying client sends me. Is this what the world of mastering is like?!?!

Certainly not.


That has a lot less clipping than some of what comes in.

It's not hip-hop by any chance, is it?

[firby]

Hey John!

Looks like that audio has already been mastered !

HA

Just kidding.

[jayfrigo]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

So I got my first cold-call mastering request via Craigslist last week. I operate an on-location recording service, but I've been doing some mastering trial runs for the experience. I decided to post on Craigslist as a psuedo-studio offering mastering (don't want to mix my reputations, you know?). So... here is what my first potential "real" paying client sends me. Is this what the world of mastering is like?!?!

Yup. Now, can you please make that louder and more dynamic? Thanks. Oh, and make it sound like a good band mixed by one of the Lord-Alge brothers while you're at it. I heard mastering can do that.

[yumdrum]

I say you send it back to them just the way it is, say it's done and see if they even notice just kiddin'.

[Bob Yordan]

As long as you double the loudness of the mix I see no problems
that you wont get paid.

[inlinenl]

get paid in advance ...

[finetuner]

NorseHorse,
You seem like a serious guy willing to learn and not the 'take the money and run' type.
I think everyone will agree that it won't hurt (definitely not your reputation) to carefully ask if they possibly have an unlimited mix for you.

There have been some discussions about communication and education, now's the time!
As long as you bring it with tact, they must appreciate your concern about getting the best out of their production.
You may get no for an answer but then at least you've tried.

[24-96 Mastering]

Originally Posted by finetuner

NorseHorse,
You seem like a serious guy willing to learn and not the 'take the money and run' type.
I think everyone will agree that it won't hurt (definitely not your reputation) to carefully ask if they possibly have an unlimited mix for you.

There have been some discussions about communication and education, now's the time!
As long as you bring it with tact, they must appreciate your concern about getting the best out of their production.
You may get no for an answer but then at least you've tried.

Indeed. You are hired to make sure the master sounds good. If you can get an unlimited mix to master from because you asked, that 1 question will have made a massive difference in sound quality - much more than any piece of gear or clever processing could. I.e. imo, making sure you have the best possible material is very much part of the job. And as finetuner said, asking with tact is important. Clients may be touchy and noone wants to be told their product is sub standard, so in communication, it's best to focus on the possible improvements rather than the current state of things.

[Masterbrother]

Dude calls me who has a band and a somewhat modest studio situation in his home. I mastered an album for him a couple of years ago. Now he's
all in the box and has lots of plugs. He says he tried to master himself
and is not happy with the results.

So he asks:

"Should I use my mastering plugs on the files I send to you?"

I say:

"No"

Sends me files with no clipping, lots of headroom.
Easy as pie to master, fun actually. He loves the results.

[Storyville]

ask for an un-limited, quieter version. Then they will tell you they lost the mix files. THAT's when you know what the world of mastering is like!

[NorseHorse]

Thanks folks.

The reason I had the picture to post was because I sent it to him so he could visualize why I was asking for a different copy of the song. I posted just after shooting him an email. No response yet...

[matskull]

Best of luck to you.
Matering looks pretty fun to do, I wish I could...but I'm still learning how to mix.
I can get it loud, but mastering isn't only about that so I don't call it mastering.

Last time I asked the band if they were going to take it to a mastering studio and they said no so I put a limiter on the master to raise the volume but I didn't abuse neither so it still sounded good.

Now it's not as loud as commercial cd's but hey, they can always turn the volume up on their system.

[JTR]

that's what my last ECG looked like;

be thankful it's not an MP3 as well

[chopstickkk]

Originally Posted by JTR

that's what my last ECG looked like;

be thankful it's not an MP3 as well

why, did your ECG reveal Mp3 compression artifacts lodged deep inside the brain from over exposure?

[Storyville]

Originally Posted by matskull

Best of luck to you.
Matering looks pretty fun to do, I wish I could...but I'm still learning how to mix.
I can get it loud, but mastering isn't only about that so I don't call it mastering.

Last time I asked the band if they were going to take it to a mastering studio and they said no so I put a limiter on the master to raise the volume but I didn't abuse neither so it still sounded good.

Now it's not as loud as commercial cd's but hey, they can always turn the volume up on their system.

Hey, don't forget to compare it to something you like. A little tone balancing can do wonders too.

[JTR]

Originally Posted by chopstickkk

why, did your ECG reveal Mp3 compression artifacts lodged deep inside the brain from over exposure?

that would be an EEG

ECG is heart

MP3 artifacts were revealed during my last colonoscopy...