The inevitable Mastering thread

[recall]

Hi Tchad,

Thx again for all the info.

I thought i'd set up the "loudness wars" thread. As someone who mixes a lot of records and frequently deals with big records how do you feel about the red lining and limiting of your mixes?

I figure since you use the ML4000 on your master bus, and that you have excellent monitoring with the Linns that you get the track to where it should be before going to mastering. Do you do anything special when delivering mixes such as bass up/down, vox up/down versions, stems?

[tchadb]

Originally Posted by recall

Hi Tchad,

Thx again for all the info.

I thought i'd set up the "loudness wars" thread. As someone who mixes a lot of records and frequently deals with big records how do you feel about the red lining and limiting of your mixes?

I figure since you use the ML4000 on your master bus, and that you have excellent monitoring with the Linns that you get the track to where it should be before going to mastering. Do you do anything special when delivering mixes such as bass up/down, vox up/down versions, stems?

It is a battle. I'm often competeing with bedroom demo/ruffs that have an L3 slapped on max and the artist wants to know why my mix doesn't pump like the ruff. I've tried to say "turn it up, that's what the volume knob is for", to no avail. I've lost a gig because I didn't triple compress the drums and 2 buss. I thought I was a compression freak.
I'm now trying to find a way to give the artist his balls, me my tones, and Bob (mastering) something he can comfortably work with. I'm close, I think, but more experimentation is needed.
I don't do alternates when mixing in the box unless someone asks for them. With todays budgets I just don't have the time.

[Masterer]

Originally Posted by tchad blake

It is a battle. ..... the artist wants to know why my mix doesn't pump like the ruff. I've tried to say "turn it up, that's what the volume knob is for", to no avail....

A battle indeed, and it seems like it's being fought at every level of production. I recently lost a gig from an artist who complained that her record wasn't as loud as the last Coldplay record [when she listened to it on her laptop speakers!!] and I friggin' mastered the last Coldplay record! We spent all day talking about distortion and I did lots of demonstrations to prove that the record was as loud as it was gonna get without sounding like ass, but it was all for nothing. What a drag.


Anyway, Tchad your body of work is really priceless man. Incredible stuff across the board. I loved the last Gabriel record, and you're work with Soul Coughing is still in my "heavy rotation" all these years later. A lot of my favorite records are in your discography.

Hope you're enjoying that balmy weather in Bath.

Peace.

[tchadb]

Originally Posted by Masterer

A battle indeed, and it seems like it's being fought at every level of production. I recently lost a gig from an artist who complained that her record wasn't as loud as the last Coldplay record [when she listened to it on her laptop speakers!!] and I friggin' mastered the last Coldplay record! We spent all day talking about distortion and I did lots of demonstrations to prove that the record was as loud as it was gonna get without sounding like ass, but it was all for nothing. What a drag.



Anyway, Tchad your body of work is really priceless man. Incredible stuff across the board. I loved the last Gabriel record, and you're work with Soul Coughing is still in my "heavy rotation" all these years later. A lot of my favorite records are in your discography.

Hope you're enjoying that balmy weather in Bath.

Peace.

THX