Starting my own masters-advices

[anne_paranoid]

Hi all,

I own a small studio and want to improve it by making my own mastering. My idea is to master only my recordings, not to accept external works to mastering. I thought to buy:

- waves bcl as limiter
- manley massive passive as eq

or, in a small budget,

- waves l2 as limiter
- langevin minimassive as eq

My idea is to master but not dramatically master, just give up the " touch " to the music.

The master recorder would be Alesis Masterlink and the console is SSL 6032

Any advices about gear? Some other options ?

What is best?
1 - ssl-->eq--->lim analog in----> limiter analog out----> masterlink analog in

2 - ssl-->eq--->lim analog in----> limiter digital out----> masterlink digital in

Thanks!

[JCM]

You probably have read it here before that self-mastering is not a good idea. Instead think about partnering up with a mastering studio or someone in your same situation so that you master their mixes and they yours.

[Bob Olhsson]

That stuff will do just fine. The massive passive is a great tool to just use on your mix buss. If you are considering not having your mixes mastered, I'd invest in a high end playback/monitoring system to give you an additional perspective.

I actually got back into mastering because of friends coming over to hear their mixes and mastered mixes on my home playback system and wishing they could touch them up a bit.

Mastering is lots more about listening than about signal processing.

[anne_paranoid]

I agree about external mastering, but my clients have such a restricted budget ( and i mean really restricted! ) that it´s simplyt impossible!

[finetuner]

Compared to the L2, i consider the BCL's extra features more as last resort repair tools for adding bass that's not in the mix. I wouldn't use it for 'souping up' your fresh mix. If you think your mix can use some extra bottom, you'll have far better control over it at the mixing stage.

The MiniMassive is a nice clean extra eq that i use on some masters. But never just for the sake of adding an analog eq. It's used with great care and only when a mix asks for something i can't quite accomplish with the Weiss.
I choose the Mini over a MassivePassive because i didn't like what the Massive does to the low end (even in 'neutral').
Generally speaking, a Massive will most likely add a signature sound to your masters more than with a Mini.
But to me, mastering is not about adding signature but adding (or removing) what's needed only.

Saves you a little money doesn't it?