Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Self mastering/getting that BIG sound

  • 08-09-2011 4:33pm
    #1
    eeloe
    Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 3,793 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I know it's frowned upon to master your own tracks in certain circles, but has anyone got any tips for mastering their own tracks?

    Do you use a different daw to master, rather than the one you use to produce?

    Discuss....


Comments

  • #2
    Anima
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,945 ✭✭✭Anima


    I'd say most people master their own stuff. I don't see whats wrong with doing that.

    I master in the same project. If you've got most of the mixing stage right (sounds work well, don't conflict, fill the space etc), you shouldn't really need to master too much. A few compressors here and there and some equing. Maybe some limiting/multiband compression on the master, et voila!


  • #3
    krd
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,455 ✭✭✭krd


    I do my "mastering" in a wave editor - not the DAW.

    I bounce down what I've done in the DAW, then load the wave file into sound a file editor. I used goldwave, as it's free, cheap and cheerful

    With the DAW you could really keep tweaking forever. And have the temptation to go back and rework something - change a hi-hat, etc. With the wave file, you're limited to what you've got to work with - so you do the work.


  • #4
    eeloe
    Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 3,793 Mod ✭✭✭✭eeloe


    Excellent bit of advice there krd, working in the daw all the time, you'd never get a track finished.


  • #5
    Logical Fallacy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,933 ✭✭✭Logical Fallacy


    I just go for a really solid mix down towards the end of production....the i load up a selection of the tracks i have produced that i regularly play at gigs and master against those to make sure the track is not noticeably quieter or weaker than them.

    I'll just load up the full render in the DAW, as KRD already said, it can be tempting to sit there tweaking stuff forever.


  • #6
    Kenny DNK
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 121 ✭✭Kenny DNK


    I usually dont bounce down the file, just stick a chain on a mastering channel, just in case something sticks out when you start to compress..

    The chain I use is multiband compression, EQ, PSP warmer (for the fat feature and a tiny bit more compression) Limiter & Spectrum. I stick a similar style reference track in a seperate dry channel for comparison in tone and levels. As already mentioned it shouldnt need much of the above if the mixdown is done well.


  • Advertisement
Advertisement