Mastering a brass band

[Dave Rose]

Well it's actually a silver band apparently. Any tips, hints, reference material to look out for? What's your experience with mastering brass only music? Haven't heard the mixes yet, but I'm thinking it'll probably be best to remain as transparent and natural as possible...

[PBM]

Originally Posted by daverose

Well it's actually a silver band apparently. Any tips, hints, reference material to look out for? What's your experience with mastering brass only music? Haven't heard the mixes yet, but I'm thinking it'll probably be best to remain as transparent and natural as possible...

I've done a fair bit of brass (haven't made much though). I'd treat it as all classical, don't mess too much with the dynamics, keep the tones real etc. Main thing there: talk to the producer: does he want biting brass or smooth.

Contact me off-list if you like - this might be a minority interest

Cheers,

Eric

[Mastering7]

Originally Posted by daverose

Well it's actually a silver band apparently. Any tips, hints, reference material to look out for? What's your experience with mastering brass only music? Haven't heard the mixes yet, but I'm thinking it'll probably be best to remain as transparent and natural as possible...

I've mastered several brass projects. The mastering method depends on the recording /micing technics/ and the quality of the mix. In most cases you should consider it as a classical music project but sometimes more agressive sound needed.

[Dave Rose]

Thanks guys, well I've just received the mix and he want's it loud, bright and wide. I tried to advise him against having it loud, but apparently the powers that be have requested 'as loud as possible, just no distortion please.' On a brass band....really???!

[Kayo]

Yup.. that’s how it is, even in classical, would you believe it!

Some personal pointers:
Try avoid excessive gain reduction, EQ out excess wherever possible.. that, in itself will give you more clarity and a feeling of wideness etc.. M/S could be a widening ticket too.
Also, go parallel if possible .. and find gain in the parallel chain. Avoid noise suppressors or gates, and work on a good limiter for gain, you don’t want a harsh type limiter adding more to the infusion already present..
Also.. don’t over analogue the mix, try a combination of analogue and digital...

Good luck
KAyo

[Dave Rose]

Originally Posted by Kayo

Yup.. that’s how it is, even in classical, would you believe it!

Some personal pointers:
Try avoid excessive gain reduction, EQ out excess wherever possible.. that, in itself will give you more clarity and a feeling of wideness etc.. M/S could be a widening ticket too.
Also, go parallel if possible .. and find gain in the parallel chain. Avoid noise suppressors or gates, and work on a good limiter for gain, you don’t want a harsh type limiter adding more to the infusion already present..
Also.. don’t over analogue the mix, try a combination of analogue and digital...

Good luck
KAyo

Thanks, great advice. Can't believe that's the case with loudness, I've tried my best to advise against it, but what can you do. Yeah I tried parallel, that seemed to work well. Bringing up the upper mids with some mid side eq added a bit more space and clarity, as well as getting rid of a little low/mid honk. I got scared using widening as it seemed to effect things really extremely, tried 3 different types but it just took the beef out the whole thing and made it sound like a soggy biscuit. I see what your saying about analogue, too much saturation and colour and the whole thing sounds too thick and confused.

Cheers for the pointers : )

[Adam Dempsey]

Originally Posted by daverose

Well it's actually a silver band apparently.

(Possibly silver or platinum plated..)

Another tip: no decrackle process - it wouldn't really work anyway.

Bagpipes, on the other hand.. you can play them backwards and they sound the same.

[Jesse Graffam]

Yep avoid gain reduction whenever possible. Horns are highly asymmetrical, so for most dynamics processors you will run the danger of introducing IMD earlier than for many other types of instruments.

If you have Kjaerhus' MPL-1 limiter, that might be your best bet if you need to lob a few "strays" in the name of loudness. That limiter is the only limiter I use anymore, if my clipper isn't appropriate or needed for something. It's so free of distortion, even in distortion tests it walks all over all of the other limiters I've seen tested against it.

Has anyone confirmed if his plugins are actually abandonware?

[Dave Rose]

Don't own that one unfortunately, ended up using Flux Pure Limiter 2...but it was only clipping the tops off the transients from the drums...the waveform looked like it had just had a little haircut. I used a bit of parallel compression to bring up the quiet sections, with slow release and low ratio. Just waiting to hear back from the client so we'll see what he says!

[Kayo]

Originally Posted by Jesse Graffam

Yep avoid gain reduction whenever possible. Horns are highly asymmetrical, so for most dynamics processors you will run the danger of introducing IMD earlier than for many other types of instruments.

If you have Kjaerhus' MPL-1 limiter, that might be your best bet if you need to lob a few "strays" in the name of loudness. That limiter is the only limiter I use anymore, if my clipper isn't appropriate or needed for something. It's so free of distortion, even in distortion tests it walks all over all of the other limiters I've seen tested against it.

Has anyone confirmed if his plugins are actually abandonware?

You don’t say…!
I’ve had that limiter for yonks, and never tried using it. Your glowing appraisal for the same, has onset the urge to try it. Must give it a whirl …

KAyo

[Dave Rose]

I pointed out the difference between the loud and more dynamic masters and the client ended up going for the dynamic ones. Happy days! Why doesn't everyone do this?!

Parallel mid side EQ and the gentlest of (parallel) compression worked well...all digital but run through the HEDD tape saturation, just a little to give some warmth to an all digital mix. I left the studio and found myself walking home in a strange marching manner...the by-product of listening to a brass band all day I think. dfegad

[Kayo]

Good to hear, and well done mate.
Some clients do understand and appreciate good advice, when given one..

KAyo