Mastering vs Mixing

niall1976

Can anyone give me an idiots guide to mastering vs mixing. Not how to do it but what is the difference and do you have to mix before mastering etc.

A bit new to all this so not sure if this is a pretty basic question?

GTE

niall1976 wrote: »

Can anyone give me an idiots guide to mastering vs mixing. Not how to do it but what is the difference and do you have to mix before mastering etc.

A bit new to all this so not sure if this is a pretty basic question?

Yeah, you mix before you master.

The mastering process at its most basic is tying up loose ends and using EQ's, compressors and things to refine the mix so it can be released to the general public.

Now, with that crappy answer out of the way wait for the real answers

EDIT:
http://musicians.about.com/od/musiciansfaq/f/mixingormaster.htm

DamagedTrax

in very basic form:

mixing is blending all the elements of a multitrack recording using various forms of processing and fx.

mastering is making sure the final mix translates onto many differant systems. it also involves laying out tracks in their given order and adding any imbedded information for the pressing plant etc.

you need to have a complete mix before you can master and you should aim to have that mix sound like the final product.

mastering is not meant to be an additional "fix it" for the mix, although all to often it turns out to be due to sub par mixing.

niall1976

Thanks guys.

Thats sort of why I was asking. I have 3 songs coming out of a studio session that are sounding very different to the sound we laid down.

It was our first time in studio so it was difficult to give the engineer very clear direction, but it feels like the songs have lost something from the original recorded sound. Maybe deifinition or some of teh rawnees that made the song in the first place.

Do you think this could be fixed in mastering or would you re mix?

Heres a link to the nearly finished mix..... http://soundcloud.com/breakinglight/drift-away-230810-1

About 1 minute in, it kicks off!!

GTE

niall1976 wrote: »

Thanks guys.

Thats sort of why I was asking. I have 3 songs coming out of a studio session that are sounding very different to the sound we laid down.

It was our first time in studio so it was difficult to give the engineer very clear direction, but it feels like the songs have lost something from the original recorded sound. Maybe deifinition or some of teh rawnees that made the song in the first place.

Do you think this could be fixed in mastering or would you re mix?

Heres a link to the nearly finished mix..... http://soundcloud.com/breakinglight/drift-away-230810-1

About 1 minute in, it kicks off!!

Cant listen to the song now but all that should be sorted in the mix.

http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu330/cthulhu19887/forum/facepalm/Facepalm-2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://s660.photobucket.com/albums/uu330/cthulhu19887/forum/facepalm/%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DFacepalm-2.jpg%26sort%3Dascending&usg=__31KgPvzqsB3z_QMkB-o787_scNM=&h=600&w=750&sz=84&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=RHgYz6fb0nkoFM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=165&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfacepalm%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D607%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=988&vpy=110&dur=6766&hovh=201&hovw=251&tx=180&ty=89&ei=not1TInCAtW7jAegvc3hBQ&oei=not1TInCAtW7jAegvc3hBQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0

niall1976

CQD....I take it you don't like it then!!

DamagedTrax

niall1976 wrote: »

Thanks guys.

Thats sort of why I was asking. I have 3 songs coming out of a studio session that are sounding very different to the sound we laid down.

It was our first time in studio so it was difficult to give the engineer very clear direction, but it feels like the songs have lost something from the original recorded sound. Maybe deifinition or some of teh rawnees that made the song in the first place.

Do you think this could be fixed in mastering or would you re mix?

Heres a link to the nearly finished mix..... http://soundcloud.com/breakinglight/drift-away-230810-1

About 1 minute in, it kicks off!!

try to remember that the song, as you play, will never be ok for public consumption. mixing is sometimes a very lethal process to make frequencies fit together. if you heard the rough recordings on a cd you'd be horrified!

thats not the worst mix ever. i wont ask how much it cost but i will say that i presume it was somewhere between 100/150? anymore and its a little under par, any less and you got a bargain.

niall1976

Cheers Mate, Thats reassuring. It was less than 100 euro for the mix.

Appreciate the help:D

niall1976

niall1976 wrote: »

CQD....I take it you don't like it then!!

Oh sorry, i just realised i may not have read much more than the thread title and a bit of the op and facepalmed at the op, who i presumed to be an aspising producer..)..apologies..



//unfacepalm*

Oh, and I just listened to it..id mix it different..

niall1976

No Worries CQD, I had a good laugh at the facepalm.

I'm taking that as an offer to mix........

madtheory

The intonation on the guitar is out, and it seems to have affected the vocalist's pitch as he tries to pull the in tune piano over to the out of tune guitar. A bit of re recording is in order. Get that guitar fixed and see how the vocal sits then. If they're still off, take the opportunity to try a different vocal mic. The vocalist has a kind of Tindersticks tone, I think that should be brought out more in the performance by singing with more clarity. I think the piano comes in too soon in the intro. The drums are very well recorded. And I would've mixed it differently too.

TelePaul

Awesome spot by Madtheory! I wouldn't have pointed to the guitar right away but when the piano and vocals come in, things do get slightly dissonant. Not sure if I would have picked up on it if it hadn't been brought to my attention though I like the vocal style a great deal but I think it's hampered a little bit in the chorus - with the exception of the drums, the backing instrumentation sounds a little muffled, and the vocals aren't crystal-clear as it is. I really like the attack on the toms though, they work very well in the build-up.

ClutchIt

I like the song man. Well done

niall1976

Cheers, Appreciate the feedback.

I have another here if you'd like a listen. Same stage of mixing.

http://soundcloud.com/breakinglight/run23082010

All feedback is welcome.

TelePaul

Just FYI mate, the posting MP3s for critique is a matter of ongoing debate in this forum. Some people have labelled it as a means of shilling or self-promoting while others see the merits in providing constructive criticism. A dedicated sub-forum has been applied for but the jury is still out. Your opinion counts though, so you might want to drop by the relevant Forum Requests thread at http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056006340

niall1976

No Worries, Take the point.

Not looking for critique of teh track, but some tips on the mix would be good.

cvk

Only in an Irish forum...If u read the original post...whats being asked for is advice on mixing vs mastering and why the recorded version sounds different and what can be done. You can't give any real help without listening to the mix.

DamagedTrax

cvk wrote: »

Only in an Irish forum...If u read the original post...whats being asked for is advice on mixing vs mastering and why the recorded version sounds different and what can be done. You can't give any real help without listening to the mix.

i do agree with you cvk but you should probably read the rules for posting music for critique.

we're currently looking for a way to facilitate mix advice but until then what TP said is bang on.

TelePaul

cvk wrote: »

Only in an Irish forum...If u read the original post...whats being asked for is advice on mixing vs mastering and why the recorded version sounds different and what can be done. You can't give any real help without listening to the mix.

I agree entirely. I liked the song and was happy to offer my two cents. But I'm just telling it like it is. I assume one of the mods will swing by to give their take on this and move if necessary. If you feel strongly about this, by all means visit the link above and stand up and be counted - because the revolution will not be televised brother, etc etc

DamagedTrax

You will not be able to stay home, brother.
You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out.
You will not be able to lose yourself on skag and skip,
Skip out for beer during commercials,
Because the revolution will not be televised.[FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=+1]
[/SIZE][/FONT]

niall1976

I have added my vote to the link guys

TelePaul

niall1976 wrote: »

I have added my vote to the link guys

Good hustle! I didn't want to de-rail your thread or discourage conversation. just wanted to give you a 'heads up' in case this thread is moved or closed.

niall1976

No worries TP, every opinion is a valid opinion.

Appreciate the nod.

cvk

Thats grand my TV is broke anyway .