Is this song ready for mastering?

SorrowsQuest · Post by **SorrowsQuest** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 6:26 pm

Well, it now has vocals and I have tweaked the mix. It sounds different on everything I listen to it on. It sounds perfect in my car. The vocals are low on my boom box and the drums sound high on my computer but OK on other CD players.

Anyway, is this ready for mastering?

I am shooting for a raw but polished sound. I hope that makes sense.

http://www.savefile.com/files.php?fid=5480888

Thanks!!!

Post by **Acoustica Eric** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:48 pm

Before sending it in for mastering, I would recommend you take out the compression on whatever it's on. There seems to be a overcompressed feel to the drums or something where the guitar pumps more when the drums stop. I can't tell if this is on your final mix or from use within beatcraft.
Also, to my ear the drums are burried.
Vocals are plenty out front.

SorrowsQuest · Post by **SorrowsQuest** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:26 pm

OK, cool. I made the adjustments you mentioned...what is the link
I use to send it?

Greg

Post by **Acoustica Eric** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:53 pm

http://www.demondigital.com/mastering.php
That is the link. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

SorrowsQuest · Post by **SorrowsQuest** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:08 pm

Coolness...sorry, I forgot that link was in the other thread. My bad.

I will send it either tomorrow afternoon or very late tonight...still
tweaking the mix LOL

Post by **Acoustica Eric** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:19 pm

No problem, send any time you feel it's ready.
A couple notes, leave the overall effects to the mastering process. Like compression and equalizing on the final mix.
Do all your individual instruments as good as you can get them though.
A note about compression, I was told by a pro, wayyyy back when I first started mixing that if you can hear it working, it's too much. That has turned out true for compression and works for me. It's kind of a hard concept to understand at first, but once you do get it, you'll go oohhhh!

Last note, Mastering is not magic, it can only enhance what you have done. If the mix is bad, then mastering cannot make it good. The engineer who is mastering a song has no control over each individual track, only the song as a whole.

Looking forward to working on your file, and I have another one to do this weekend too so I'll probably have it back to you Friday or Saturday night.

Thanks for using Acoustica products and thanks for trying my mastering services!

SorrowsQuest · Post by **SorrowsQuest** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:36 pm

Thats cool, dude. I understand the whole concept of mastering...I am
not expecting you to perform magic. LOL I have had several recordings
mastered but this is the first time I have every tried to record ANYTHING
myself. I did this whole thing on a very low budget

Compression is the hardest for me to grasp...

All I am looking for, is to get an idea of what I can do in the future with
better mics and other studio goodies.

Oh yeah, This is death metal so it is suppose to sound a little raw.

SorrowsQuest · Post by **SorrowsQuest** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 3:35 am

File sent!

Post by **Acoustica Eric** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 5:47 am

Got it, I will send you an email when it's ready or if I (or Brad, my other engineer, have any questions)