First Mastering Job

lopere · 13th October 2010

Hi there!!!

After several years in electronic music production. I have my first mastering job. I have to mix-master some house tracks. They are going to send me 6 stereo stems because I own a Neve 8816 summing mixer and it's better to do the summing through it.

My set up: Samplitude, RME Raydat digital audio interface, Apogee DA, Neve 8816 (plus AD converter option), and coming back to the pc. Have a pair of ADAM P-22A and two UAD-1 cards with Neve plugins collection, pultec, precision limiter, Focusrite Liquid mix, Izotope Ozone and Oxford plugins.

For the mastering bus I usually use the next chain:

Izotope loud enhancer, Pultec, Neve 88 (colours the sound)or Oxford (more flat in my opinion), Compresor (liquid mix, neve 33609), limiter.

Is it good to use the loud enhancer?? Is it better to use multiband compression? Maybe two diferent compressors doing different things? There is any plugin you suggest me?!?!

Cheers!!!

I.R.Baboon · 13th October 2010

My advice to you is to first listen to the music before trying to decide what gear to use. That goes for the Neve summing mixer too.

recall · 13th October 2010

If using the loud enhancer i'd use it further up the insert chain.

lopere · 13th October 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by I.R.Baboon

My advice to you is to first listen to the music before trying to decide what gear to use. That goes for the Neve summing mixer too.

Mmmmmmmmmm. So when you don't suggest using the summing mixer?!?! The customer called me just for that. Thank you!!!

brethes · 13th October 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by lopere

Mmmmmmmmmm. So when you don't suggest using the summing mixer?!?! The customer called me just for that. Thank you!!!

When it will do more harm than good...

PureArtist · 13th October 2010

Ask the customer, does he know exactly what he wants, then just follow blindly, if he's happy, you don't need to do anything else now do you ?

huejahfink · 13th October 2010

I think what this boils down to is to use your ears and not introduce any processing that doesn't make a real positive improvement to the sound.
Don't try and plan your chain ahead of time. Listen carefully and make your decisions based on what is required.

13th October 2010	#1
lopere Gear interested Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 15 Thread Starter	First Mastering Job Hi there!!! After several years in electronic music production. I have my first mastering job. I have to mix-master some house tracks. They are going to send me 6 stereo stems because I own a Neve 8816 summing mixer and it's better to do the summing through it. My set up: Samplitude, RME Raydat digital audio interface, Apogee DA, Neve 8816 (plus AD converter option), and coming back to the pc. Have a pair of ADAM P-22A and two UAD-1 cards with Neve plugins collection, pultec, precision limiter, Focusrite Liquid mix, Izotope Ozone and Oxford plugins. For the mastering bus I usually use the next chain: Izotope loud enhancer, Pultec, Neve 88 (colours the sound)or Oxford (more flat in my opinion), Compresor (liquid mix, neve 33609), limiter. Is it good to use the loud enhancer?? Is it better to use multiband compression? Maybe two diferent compressors doing different things? There is any plugin you suggest me?!?! Cheers!!!

13th October 2010	#7
huejahfink Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,285 Verified Member	I think what this boils down to is to use your ears and not introduce any processing that doesn't make a real positive improvement to the sound. Don't try and plan your chain ahead of time. Listen carefully and make your decisions based on what is required. __________________ Contact : Rich Hughes / mastering@binaryfeedback.com / Discogs Technical Credits

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13th October 2010	#2
I.R.Baboon Gear addict Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 346	My advice to you is to first listen to the music before trying to decide what gear to use. That goes for the Neve summing mixer too.

13th October 2010	#3
recall Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2006 Location: west wales Posts: 1,756	If using the loud enhancer i'd use it further up the insert chain.

13th October 2010	#6
PureArtist Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2010 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 551	Ask the customer, does he know exactly what he wants, then just follow blindly, if he's happy, you don't need to do anything else now do you ?