Hello everyone, hello John, this is my first post on this forum, and i want to make it a good one, so here it goes... I thought that it wold be fun to make a mastering tips list, so im going to start it, lets see if we can get it to 50, if not more...

1. You don't have to do every piece of material that you are given, be selective

2. Be comfortable, comfort can help you concentrate

3. When dithering don't upsample, always downsample

4. Get to know your monitors, although it often takes time, this is very important

5.Don't use T-Racks

As a part time mastering guy. Here is my list:

1) Educate your clients about LOUDNESS WARS. Louder does not mean better. Never in music history human beings have been submited to so much overcompressed material.

2)an L1/L2/L3 abused mastered track does not mean a louder hit on the radio. In fact the opposite will happen. It will make your track sound smaller when it leaves the radio limiter.

3)Listen your work at least in 3 different references. The Studio monitors, a crappy $50 stereo boom box and at your car homestereo. This can be a good combi.

4)Do not work more than 6 continuous hours with levels over 85dB. It really hurts. Make some pauses, let us say, 15 minutes every 2 hours of work so as to keep ears fresh.

This list isn't getting very long... Here's something:

In regards to gear, the "latest" doesn't neccessarily mean the "greatest" - KNOW your gear and what it does. That cool new box or bad-ass set of plugs might not be the best thing for your mix. Every mix is unique, and should be treated that way.

If the mix doesn't need it, don't just throw it on because it's available.