Mastering Engineer Wanted

[opium89]

Hi Mastering Peeps!

I have two songs I need some work done on. Was wondering if any of you would be willing to have a crack at one of them and perhaps we can work out some compensation for the second if I like your work. Would be very curious to see what this sounded like with some lay-back to tape, but I will leave the details to you.

About the files: There are four files of the same tune here. One is a .mp3 and another is a .wav which I have run through T-RackS24 for kicks. The other two are there for your disposal, one at 16/44 and dithered using powr-2 and the other is 24/48 which is what the tracks were recorded at. Do your thing and let me know what you think. I'll be looking forward to hearing what you guys can do!

Index of /downloads/finals


FYI, they are being uploaded as I type this in case anyone jumps right on it. They'll take a little while to upload to the site. Check back a little later this evening if you find some missing.

[Huntley Miller]

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/where/

[vintagelove]

I dont think you should ask for free work, very unprofessional. Sorry but its true. Come back with some money and i am sure you will get lots of responses.

[opium89]

"Come back with some money..." Could you be any more insulting?

Are you somehow visually handicapped or like George W., simply do not read? Go back and read the post.

"...and perhaps we can work out some compensation for the second if I like your work."

I'm not asking for anything free here and I would hope that any quote for compensation would be fair and include any charges to cover the first master if it's worth my bother. What's so "unprofessional" about that? If you're not interested in the work then keep your unfounded and illogical opinions to yourself jackhole.

Originally Posted by charlesaustin

I dont think you should ask for free work, very unprofessional. Sorry but its true. Come back with some money and i am sure you will get lots of responses.

[bcgood]

I did this sample for fun. First part is what you sent. Second part is my bcgood master, third part is in the key of A (440) as opposed to the key of life.

Natural bcgood master.wav

[George Necola]

Originally Posted by bcgood

I did this sample for fun. First part is what you sent. Second part is my bcgood master, third part is in the key of A (440) as opposed to the key of life.

Natural bcgood master.wav

wooaoahhhh... the 440 rulez

good work bc!

[bcgood]

Originally Posted by George Necola

wooaoahhhh... the 440 rulez

good work bc!

Yea, 440 is the new 880 minus an octave.

[zenmastering]

It was tough to understand your intention to pay for the first master, based on what you originally wrote.

Graemme

[opium89]

I don't think anyone that knows what they are doing would master a complete tune and hand it over to me for nothing. I would expect maybe a minute or two of the tune, which should be enough to base a decision off of. Reality is we're only talking about three minutes of music here so nobody's family is going to starve on my behalf. Might even make for an interesting competition and give an opportunity for some of you to "show your stuff". Us folks that are always looking for a good mastering engineer can have something to make a direct comparison to.

And if you're still are not sure how to work it out, there is always the PM button. No need to publicly humilate someone and drive off potential assistance <Right Charles?**cough**>. What's so tough about that?

Originally Posted by zenmastering

It was tough to understand your intention to pay for the first master, based on what you originally wrote.

Graemme

[Andy Krehm]

If you interested in why you are getting some of the reactions you are getting, check out this link:

http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/ind...430/#msg_23329

[doorknocker]

Originally Posted by opium89

I don't think anyone that knows what they are doing would master a complete tune and hand it over to me for nothing. I would expect maybe a minute or two of the tune, which should be enough to base a decision off of. Reality is we're only talking about three minutes of music here so nobody's family is going to starve on my behalf.

The 'logic' behind your reasoning reminds me of people calling studios and saying the want to book 1 hour to record a hit single, after all the song is only 3 minutes so why spend all that time......

[opium89]

Again, I never ever implied that I wanted something for free and if you're too arogant or busy to think that I as a potential customer do not deserve to hear some samples of your work based on my own, then you probably don't need the business anyway (and most likely charge more than I am willing to spend). Seriously, that's not what I am looking for here. The fact that you waste your time criticizing and nitpicking posts such as these are a testament to the fact that you have way to much time on your hands and probably need the work. I figure the more idiot responses we see here, the more people know who not to use. You must have all this free time on your hands for a reason right?

Is it easier for you to keep your inflated ego in tact, than actually investing such a small amount of time on loyal, honest, and responsible potential new customers? If you're not interested in my proposal then please keep your stupid remarks to yourselves. There's nothing unreasonable about what I am asking here and if you don't want to do it then PLEASE take your nitpicking and criticizing elsewhere.

[lucey]

Originally Posted by opium89

Again, I never ever implied that I wanted something for free and if you're too arrogant or busy to think that I as a potential customer do not deserve to hear some samples of your work based on my own, then you probably don't need the business anyway (and most likely charge more than I am willing to spend). Seriously, that's not what I am looking for here. The fact that you waste your time criticizing and nitpicking posts such as these are a testament to the fact that you have way to much time on your hands and probably need the work. I figure the more idiot responses we see here, the more people know who not to use. You must have all this free time on your hands for a reason right?

Is it easier for you to keep your inflated ego in tact, than actually investing such a small amount of time on loyal, honest, and responsible potential new customers? If you're not interested in my proposal then please keep your stupid remarks to yourselves. There's nothing unreasonable about what I am asking here and if you don't want to do it then PLEASE take your nitpicking and criticizing elsewhere.

I don't love these requests but they're fair trade.

I like your responses so much that I'm going to do one. Tomorrow. I was part of the 14 person CC: and I found the annoyed responses so typical ... condescending and rude, as if the bottom is falling out of the profession from all these cheap/jerk clients. It's free market capitalism folks ... if you don't like an offer you can walk away. I wasn't thrilled about the CC but I understand the artists' position ... it's a wide world of options out there and people are just looking for a connection.

There are more clients than ever before, plenty for everyone, there's no need to bitch about them like a bunch of junior high girls if they don't approach us in an ideal fashion.

[Sunbreak Music]

Sounds like a match made in heaven..........

[opium89]

Thanks for your gesture and remarks. To add some clarification to your view below, my goal here is to actually hear first hand what someone's mastering interpretation of this tune sounds like. I've been making music the better part of twenty years and I've had plenty of masters done going in blind and never once been pleased. Even from some that claim to have worked with "so-and-so" and have tons of verified credits. Funny how despite all their claims to fame, the masters still come out sounding like complete shite and all my hard work is ruined in one foul swoop. More often than not, the budget has usually fallen out the bottom at that point and I am left with no choice but to live with the piss-poor mastering job.

For me, this "proposition" is two fold. One, as already mentioned, it allows me to hear the work first hand, in a realistic sense and form an opinion against my own work and not someone elses, or said "claims to fame".

Second, the sample(s) help set a standard. If an engineer presents me with a sample of their work that I like, then I know where to set my expectations and can hold the engineer accountable against something tangible if the final result turns out less than desirable This is the part of the equation that I think scares off (and weeds out) the undesirables. There's so many people out there (not just engineers mind you), who are more than willing to take your money in advance and provide a half-assed product.

If your work is up to snuff, prove it! I wasn't soliciting anyone's opinion. As you said, if you don't like it, walk <go> away. You "girls" can go start your own post and bitch-fest there all you like. All the while, I will be getting a REAL WORLD and HONEST feel for the talent of those who chose to participate and hopefully establish a relationship with those folks that we will make mutually beneficial for some time to come.

Originally Posted by lucey

I like your response so much that I'm going to do one. Tomorrow.

I was part of the 14 person CC: and I found the annoyed responses so typical ... condescending and rude, as if the bottom is falling out of the profession from all these cheap/jerk clients. It's free market capitalism folks ... if you don't like an offer you can walk away. I wasn't thrilled about the CC but I understand the artists' position ... it's a wide world of options out there and people are just looking for a connection.

There are more clients than ever before, plenty for everyone, there's no need to bitch about them like a bunch of junior high girls if they don't approach us in an ideal fashion.

[Spiralking]

I think peeps are paranoid that your'e after a free master - i'd say that they should have downloaded the file and maybe done their mastering on 2 mins of the track... then you get to hear A/B and they get to protect their interests? - or even send back 320bps mp3 which would show a decent representation of the material (if going to itunes etc)

Anyhows, here's your file! give it 30mins from this post time to download

Please let me know once you've grabbed it and i'll delete it

[opium89]

Got it Spiral, thanks!

Originally Posted by Spiralking

I think peeps are paranoid that your'e after a free master - i'd say that they should have downloaded the file and maybe done their mastering on 2 mins of the track... then you get to hear A/B and they get to protect their interests? - or even send back 320bps mp3 which would show a decent representation of the material (if going to itunes etc)

Anyhows, here's your file! give it 30mins from this post time to download

Please let me know once you've grabbed it and i'll delete it

[mirochandler]

Here is mine:



Does this suit your taste ?

[opium89]

Well done Chandler! That really sounds nice and I can really hear why I need to throw the VC-64 at the vocals =)

Originally Posted by mirochandler

Here is mine:

Natural

Does this suit your taste ?

[opium89]

BTW, in case anyone was interested....

Recording was made with the following gear:

Echo Audiofire 12
Preamps were a combination of Mackie VLZs and the FMR RNP, with the FMR being used for all the overdub tracks.
Mics included Audix D6 for the kick (which was ultimately replaced in the mix w/ Drumaggog, not becuase of the mic, but because of the drummer and the 70's Ludwig kit was using). We used the Audix D4 and D2 for the toms, I5 on the snare top and Beta 56 on the snare bottom. Blue 8 Balls were thrown over the kit, which BTW, were sold very soon afterwards. I would have much preferred to have the SM81s that we purchased shortly after the drums were recorded.

The I5 was also used on the most of the guitar tracks, and there's a few guitar tracks with a little AT 3035 and a CAD 179 on them.

The CAD 179 was also used for all the vocal tracks along with the FMR RNC to smooth things over a bit, but we also tracked the vocals with the AT. Most of the AT tracks were crap.

Finally, mixed with Sonar 6 PE and my plugs include Waves, Kjaerhus, Sonitus, and I like to use the Colortone plug on the mix buss. I have some other plugs but looking over the tracks, the only other thing I used was the old Cakewalk plugs that came with Sonar 2. I have an affinity for the old FX2 tape plug =)

Incidentally, the tracks were taken in a VERY cramped rehearsal space crammed full of vintage gear including three seperate drum kits. We solved most of the rattles by throwing blankets over most of the spare kits and amplifiers. Oddly enough, the drums sound really good in this room. Frankly, I am shocked the recording came out as good as it did!

I almost forgot to mention that the mixing was actually done using a Fireface 800 I purchased recently. Speakers are Event ASP6s and I use a Central Station for monitor control. A picture's worth a thousand words right? Notice, that there is NO TREATMENT WHATSOEVER on my walls. Nevermind the fact that I haven't gotten around to building the doors and drawers for my new cabinets yet.

[lucey]

Originally Posted by mirochandler

Does this suit your taste ?

Some W I D T H ! I like that idea microchandler but not to that extreme, as the center channel punch was lost in the bargain: Lucey's Natural

(I'd also like some minor de-essing in the mix, and that tom fill at 1:50 needs attention.)



When comparing be sure to align and level match the files by ear! If you like one that you deem to be too dynamic that's fine, but give them all a chance at the same volume else you'll be confused with liking the hot ones.

[PettyCash]

Lucey Kicked Some *Ss on that master. No suprise there though.

[mirochandler]

Originally Posted by lucey

Some W I D T H !

I like that idea microchandler but not to that extreme, as the center channel punch was lost in the bargain: Lucey's Natural

(I'd also like some minor de-essing in the mix, and that tom fill at 1:50 needs attention.)



Please be sure to level match these by ear, and everything, always for that matter!

Hi,
yes, i know it was a little too much, but the mix have extremly less width.

A typically "Fix it in the Mix" Situation.

The Snare have now less punch - i know.
And i have De-essed (only in the Mid-Signal) - more ?
also the Drum-fill was attenuated at 80Hz - only in this (Time)-Region.

I listen here (on my Net-PC) only on internal Soundcard, and Lucey, your File Distort a little bit, when you listen very carefully tho the sound on headphones! And thats not an Effect of my Soundcard, because my Windows-Mixer is only at 25% on both Faders. I haven´t listen at my Studio-Setup!

Was this File run through your Fairman, Alysia and the Microsonics ?

[bcgood]

This time the tones are in G (97.999) in honor of the tonic of this best song eva.



I just can't help myself. This is way too much fun!

Natural bcgood master nothin but a G thang baby.wav

[opium89]

What would you do with that Tom? All I did was compress it slightly with a little EQ bump around 250. I believe it's also run through the Parallel Compression bus with the snare and kick. It's not the greatest sounding of tracks, again, based on the fact that the kit is 35 years old. I'm open for suggestions! Thanks Lucey and I'll give this a listen this afternoon.

Originally Posted by lucey

Some W I D T H !

I like that idea microchandler but not to that extreme, as the center channel punch was lost in the bargain: Lucey's Natural

(I'd also like some minor de-essing in the mix, and that tom fill at 1:50 needs attention.)



Please be sure to level match these by ear, and everything, always for that matter!

[lucey]

What's the song bcgood? Larry David is hilarious, "married forever AND EVER? .... I thought after we died I might, you know ..."

Yes micro, EQ, 3db wider, sidechain M grabbing the low end only, Limit. (and yes we're all adding some distortion or another if compression, limiting and plug in phase issues are in play, it's a matter of the payoff and the client's taste.)

Originally Posted by PettyCash

Lucey Kicked Some *Ss on that master. No suprise there though.

Thanks dude ... now who's the hottie!? Every time I see her I feel like I should apologize to my wife.

[mirochandler]

Originally Posted by lucey

What's the song bcgood? Larry David is hilarious, "married forever AND EVER? .... I thought after we died I might, you know ..."

Yes micro, EQ, 3db wider, sidechain M grabbing the low end only, Limit. (and yes we're all adding some distortion or another if compression and limiting and plug in phase issues are in play, it's a matter of the payoff.)

yes, - ok !

But what i mean was dirstortion from overlimiting !

[lucey]

That link is giving me a different track ... am I nuts? oh wait ... don't answer that.


Limiting distortion you say, microchandler? Oh, sure there is. Backing it down is easy and client driven ... for example: Natural down a db

[bcgood]

[brethes]

Here is my test. It is loud but in my opinion, this kind of track can take it.

https://download.yousendit.com/EB3DA0881B92B555