Self Mastering Vs Professional Mastering

[TonyB]

The SPAM put up today in the Audio Engineering section...

http://forum.recordingreview.com/f8/...stering-18537/

... got me to thinking and I didn't want to do it in that thread. That SPAM thread needs to die.

Anyway, most folks on here I know can do just as a good job as the "CHEAP Online Mastering Dude with Pirated Software Plugins." (Okay I'm being a little facetious here, but it's Friday, and that's the mood I'm in).

I posted two samples: one self-mastered and one professionally mastered.

Self-mastered: I used all software plugins (UAD Cambridge EQ, Boost11).

Professionally-mastered: Sent to a physical mastering house that used some high-end outboard equipment; don't know what they used but from the equipment list it include Manley's, Crane, etc. Some comments I got from the ME was that some clocking errors were fixed and some EQ balancing was done.

So for S&Gs, here you go...

[EDIT: and oh by the way, I personally preferred the professional mastering job]
[EDIT2: To answer the question: No, I'm not plugging to do anyone else's mastering; I don't trust myself to master anyone else's work; and you wouldn't want me to! ]

[garageband]

Hey, stop self-mastering or you'll go blind! I hope you are now Master of Your Domain.

I enjoy the idea of getting professional results from some clown who can't spell.

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by garageband

Hey, stop self-mastering or you'll go blind!

That's the most enjoyable part of mastering!

Originally Posted by garageband

I enjoy the idea of getting professional results from some clown who can't spell.

I think that was "red flag #1!" for me.

[paul999]

Amazing how good mastering makes a song feel more dynamic eh. I am a particular fan of your female vocalist. Good song Tony B!

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by paul999

Amazing how good mastering makes a song feel more dynamic eh. I am a particular fan of your female vocalist. Good song Tony B!

Thanks. As you can tell, she had a bad cold! We kept it in for effect.

[EDIT: BTW, that's "TonyB" not "Tony B" A "Tony B" just became a member of this forum a few weeks ago. UGH. Confusing!]

[mindundermatter]

Night and day, my friend. Night... and... day.

[brandondrury]

The professional job is smoother and less aggressive in the upper midrange. I suspect that if you were attempting to completely emulate the pro mastering you would come pretty damn close. Then again, that "knowing what to emulate" part is what makes the big difference between the pro and the not so pro.

I have to say that I miss the cymbals in the pro mastering mix. Pretty much everything on the pro mastering is big, but the cymbals have been busted to private. In fact, the song may even lose creativity points because of the "private cymbals" (I'll have to think about that one).

You did excellent on the chick singer (I can tell she has a cold). What mic / rig did you use on her voice?

Brandon

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by mindundermatter

Night and day, my friend. Night... and... day.

Agree. That's why I send it out to a specialist for proper surgery.

[garageband]

It's funny which elements are improved and which get shoved around a little bit. The steel is massively improved and comes right out. I can live with the drums either way, I do miss the prominence of the cymbals. The singer is flattened out a bit, not unpleasantly. Guitars are now way back, not a bad thing, just a bit of a different feel. I do like the feeling of evenness the whole deal imparts to the finished product.

[mindundermatter]

Just thought of this, do you send them stems to master or just a stereo track?