New poster, some critique would be lovely :D

Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:14 pm

Hello all, I've been a lurker on these forums for a fairly long time. I'm soon to start the 3rd (last) year of my Ba music degree as a fairly mature student after switching from a Bse audio system design. I hope that dosn't count as trolling!

Long story short I've grown closer to the university studio than the grand stave, teenagers who goto university to study music seem to do so at the expense of having developed social skills so I'm more into playing live with people not on a degree, working in many bands, recording, helping out with band nights, live sound, that sort of thing.

I'd like it if anyone with time could pass a professional ear over some recordings I recently did with some friends and ex band mates, offer some advice and critique, I seem to learn something new every single time I use the studio which while nice seems to workout unfair for some of the recordings I've done. I've only been in there alone twice however.

I'll give some details of the setup incase you are a gear fetishist!

Drums / Tuned to the best of my ability
1x 58 pointing 45' angle right side of the beater head
1x AKG D112, 4 feet away from centre of drums, vertically aiming kind of at the top of the kickdrum skin/bottom of rack toms
2x Octavia 0C-112, one around two feet from the top of the snare, another over the drummers right shoulder.

Bass / some Aria / some Marshall valve amp
AKG D112 about 4 feet away from the amp

Guitars / les paul copy / weird gibson single pickup SG / Marshall TSL
58 without the cover on, various placement, 4x12 1960 cab

Sax / ?!
AKG 414, aimed above and pointing down towards bell

Vocals
58 with pop shield

Organ Kurzweil K2661
DI

Vocals went through a Drawmer 1960 compressor, desk was a yamaha o2r, recorded onto pro tools with 8in8out, various rack of stuff, god knows about most that that stuff, I didn't touch any of it other than to turn on the clock sync thing.

The room is a terrible large basement with a hollow floor though there are various looming panels to use as long as you don't get to excited because they are a death trap and will crush you without reason. Mixed later using adobe audition, the digital fish plugins and the built in adobe ones.

Links for the tracks

http://www.box.net/public/thoxsfx0nx
http://www.box.net/public/c2xnhlmx4k

Thanks then, I'll check back here and there!
Chris

Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:44 pm

I guess from the lack of replies I either put this in the wrong place or something else went down. Please advise either way..

Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:55 pm

I didn't try the links... but there is a section called "AUDIO PROJECTS" for exactly what you want.

Very Happy

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 1:16 am

I'll try moving it over there y'know, but maybe I wasn't totally clear with what I was after but I was more after a discussion on the merits/failures of the mix job and the final mastering process to be honest. Apart from some minor tweeks which I'll usually do after having another listen I was generally hoping for some extra ears to listen to the tracks and say helpful or unhelpful things.

The critique of the musical side is what I imagined audio projects to be, but I'll give it a go!

Cheers

Chris

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:38 pm

From what you mention above though, there was no mastering performed.

J.

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 3:16 pm

I usually mix to buses and the final mix was exported as several bus mixes. These were again put back into a multitrack, mixed again with more effects and the final master bus put though a chain consisting of:

reverb (only a tiny tiny bit)
multiband compression (it needed to be loud and sound like a CD)
parametric EQ (restore my cack handed multiband technique)
limiter (loudness)
2 band EQ (roll off below 40-50Hz, above 16.5kHz)

and 'tweeked' this was whilst using PC speakers, speakers with a sub, a 600W PA, terrible walkman portable speakers and headphones to monitor along the way, mostly to cover all ranges and setups and to make up for the fact I don't have decent monitors.

I guess that is my 'ghetto' mastering process Sad

So no, no real mastering, although my desk is actual wood if that is a prerequisite! Wink

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 6:12 am

There are lots of studios around here that advertise that they do mastering. Most of them have a t.c. electronics Finalizer or a compressor/equalizer that they strap across the two track mix buss and call that "mastering" They do not have the proper monitoring equipment, the proper room or the equipment needed to do a good job of mastering.

Mastering is more than tweaking a mix. It is giving the music life and depth it is, for want of a better comparison, putting the final detailing/polish on the mix before you make 1000 copies. It is also about making sure that the CD will play correctly (technical) as well as will sound good on a number of different systems ranging from PC speakers to a club sound system.

A lot of what mastering is can be summed up in one word EXPERIENCE. and the only way you can get that experience is to do a lot of mastering on a lot of different material over time.

Best of luck on what you are trying to do but it is really not mastering in the truest sense of the word.

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:13 am

>>this was whilst using PC speakers, speakers with a sub, a 600W PA, terrible walkman portable speakers and headphones to monitor along the way, mostly to cover all ranges and setups and to make up for the fact I don't have decent monitors. <<

You obviously have no intention of taking this seriously so, why should people take their time responding to a "critique request"?

Get serious and you'll get better replies...

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:12 am

Hey guys -

I don't think this guy isn't taking it seriously. I just think he may not be aware of what mastering is. I run across a lot of people who think strapping some 2-channel units on the mix bus and playing it through multiple speakers IS mastering.

First off - stz - welcome to the boards.

Mastering is a touchy subject. There are a lot of misconceptions about it and as such, we get very frustrated by those who attempt it without truly knowing what it is. In essence, it weakens the concept of what we're trying to do and how we make a living.

I have yet to listen to the files personally, but I will and give you my honest opinion when I get the chance.

J.

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:23 am

Wouldn't it belong in a different forum then?

The question, as originally posted, said nothing about MASTERING. In fact, it had some production notes but, nothing about MASTERING. It seems a production critique request.

That's where the confusion comes in.

You can disregard my comment about being serious, if you wish Smile

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:33 am

No, you're absolutely right. It belongs in the 'Audio Projects' forum.

But, it doesn't hurt to clear up the confusion.

J.

Moderator Joined: Sep 12, 2002 Posts: 1850 Location: NYC

I moved it out of the mastering forum.

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 7:09 am

Thanks Cucco, I'd appreciate the feedback.

I'm not adding wood to the fire or anything, but I am indeed at least trying to be as serious as 'not for profit' gets, I am trying to make the best recording I can with what I have. My aim is a better sounding mix, not much else. I don't want to undermine anyone who makes a living doing this or is trying to keep a clear and pure definition of their input.

Real mastering > than what I can do. That said if anyone wants to wear out their ears I'd love more comments.

x

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