I'm busy Mastering Songs

quote:

Originally posted by ryanclement:
I'm busy Mastering Songs

I think at this point I'll just wait for John's feedback.

John , please let me know which one you think is the best sound for a problem mix like that.

Hans, this is John's forum, but I own and run the joint here. I'd ask that you cool it with the "witch hunt." This forum is not the place for it.

John's article gives readers a set of tools and things to consider when looking for mastering. Nowhere does he list individual services with links to their websites.

What you're doing here is pure speculation on your part. Different recording studios and mastering studios have all levels of gear and engineers, but that doesn't mean that studios with less gear and less-talented engineers are necessarily running "scams." Just because you personally don't like what someone does doesn't mean that they don't serve a niche in the market.

In Ryan's case, he came here under attack. He offered to master something for free - afterwhich you said...

quote:

He did it quick, and it sounds like it too. Frankly, people like him shouldn't be in the mastering business, I don't care if it's only 2 songs for $50.

The first thing you say is, "He did it quick..." Well, I'd call that good service. Whether or not you like the product is your decision.

You have been individually attacking people and services with which you have had no prior dealings.

IMO, I think McDonald's - where I have actually been a customer on numerous occasions over the years - makes some of the most vile and and poorest excuse for "food" on the planet. Top chef Anthony Bourdain - with all the crazy shit he's eaten - has stated that the worst food he's ever had was a Chicken McNugget. Does that mean McDonald's shouldn't be in the food business?

Hans, what you're doing with your witch hunt could probably be deemed in some courts as "libel," and I would caution you, because you might attract someone who could actually bring a case against you and sue you. It happens all the time. And, yes, even to people posting on the interwebs.

Ryan seems to have a reasonably good attitude - in the face of your unprovoked attacks. So, I'll leave the links to his site in your posts - unless he asks that I remove them. But I am deleting the posts with links to other mastering services you've posted.

FWIW, when I've been involved in the decision-making process on mastering, it's fairly common - after listening to the first submission by the mastering engineer - to ask them to make further adjustments. If Ryan submits something to you for the first time that you think is too heavy on the base, then you simply ask for another run through with less bass, and go from there. Rinse and repeat until you get what you want. Actually, that process happens at every level - whether it's songwriting, arranging, recording, mixing, mastering, selecting mics, instruments, preamps... The first result may not be what you're looking for, but it gives you a gauge from which to make the next decision. And you keep working at it - tweaking, communicating, and making decisions - until you're getting the results you want.

FWIW, I don't think the Shade track that was "Mastered by a Pro" sounds very pro. It sounds thin and harsh with too much high-end. Maybe they should get out of the mastering business, too? FWIW, the only version I hear that sounds acceptable to me is the "Master II," but that's just my opinion.

FWIW, I provide "professional" services out of a few facilities - one of which happens to be in my home. I've had a few people who I didn't know contact me in the past asking to see my personal studio and ask me where it's located. I basically gave the same response that Ryan gave, i.e. it's a private studio and I don't work with outside clients physically in that studio.

Hans, you're welcome to post at SF if you decide to pull up a chair and have some reasonable conversation. But if you want to continue with your witch hunt, I'll ask you to take it somewhere else.

Dot

First of all, I want to thank you for being so professional. We would indeed give it another run to meet a clients specifications. I have found that it is not good to make drastic EQ changes without a request, sometimes the bass is what the engineer/artist liked about their mix. I will adjust the highs if I feel the mix is too bright. Good communication is vital if the client does not sit in. Alot of our clients like thickness and as much bass as possible within reason of course. We do a lot of Urban and dance music although try not to limit ourselves. If the problem is drastic we ask for stems or that they fix it in the mix. If any client has a question about mixing, we take the time to answer them to the best of our ability. Conversations include gear upgrades, levels, reverb, panning, masking or whatever. We are still human and every project is different.

Thank you Dot!

Most good mastering engineers have been good recording engineers before to get experience
Jim
www.johnvestman.com

Great Article!

Makes me take a fresh look at my own website

I agree that many sites will offer cheap rates and brag about all the VERY expensive gear they own, which most of the time probably is too good to be true. I must say though, i own the Waves bundle and charge £15 per track. Its not getting my cash back anytime soon, but as a mastering engineer with a reasonably small client list, its helping me to draw in fresh clients and hopefully more future customers.

As time goes on ill be re-housing and starting a partnership with a local studio, then im afraid my prices will go up!