Reference Mastering CD/Music

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:54 pm

I did a search here but no luck.

Is there a CD that gives examples of pre-and-post mastered music one could listen to. Maybe with notes about each example and techniques used to create the final.

Rick

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:24 am

I'm not aware of any commercially available CD's or DVD's that do what you're asking.

The problem is that most artist / producers / engineers would not want their music to be used on such a CD, so that the material used on such a CD would most likely be from more amateur type projects, which would limit its usefulness.

A lot of mastering studios provide before / after samples on their websites, though I would take these with a pinch of salt, as I heard of people intentionally making the "before" version sound bad!

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 3:06 pm

DvanH,

Well it sure would be a great learning tool. Too bad.

Rick

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:26 pm

You know...about 10 to 8 years ago when I was looking for an ME on a project, I sent out some inquiries and one particular mastering house sent me a sample of before and after mastering. I wish I could recall the company's name or find the disc, but I can't.

It might be worth a google search to see (that's how I found them then - although at the time I think it was Excite or Yahoo).

Anyway, in this particular case, they clearly did not "worsen" the original audio - most of it was very good to begin with and just better after mastering.

I don't think I helped at all other than to say it exists...sorry.

Moderator Joined: Sep 12, 2002 Posts: 1880 Location: NYC

The best thing to do is to hire an ME to do one song. Then you'll know for sure what can be done with that song.

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:37 am

A couple of years ago Bob Katz did a CD where there were both mastered and unmastered cuts. I think he did it for Weiss Electronics. Maybe you can still get a copy from someone. I know we have a copy but darn if I know where it is at the present time. I think Michael's idea is the best one and simply go to an ME hire him or her to do one song and see how it sounds.

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:17 am

Not looking for any Mastering right now nor to compete.

Just more learning.

I may post all the books listed on Amazon and see which ones people recommend.

thanks for the ideas.

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:31 am

i think there's onlyone book you'll need. the one from bob katz. plenty of information, both technically and musically.

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:54 am

Well John Script at Massive Mastering said:

<<It's *NOT* a book about "how to be a mastering engineer" or anything else of the sort. It should be required reading - But it's not a training manual for mastering.>>

I've read abt 3/4 of it so far.

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 12:31 pm

I have read the Katz book as well; it was one of the best books on Audio I have read.

But it left me wanting more detail. I really wish he would have explored more of the knitty gritty level.

Often I found his electrical explanations needlessly unclear. I think this was because he was attempting to make the book friendly to a larger audience base, and subsequently using analogies that were crude at times.

But all and all I really enjoyed it and continue to re-read sections.

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 1:35 pm

It was never meant to be a book on HOW TO it was meant to be a broad overview of mastering, music and engineering.

Here is what Bob Katz had to say about the book.

This book is for everyone who wants to increase their mastery of digital and analog audio: musicians, producers, A&R, mastering, recording and mixing engineers. It is suitable for all levels of students and professionals. To master audio you must become a master of audio. Producers and Mix Engineers: Find out the best ways to prepare your files and mixes for further mastering.

From the Digido website.

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 2:12 pm

of course it doesn't make you a professional mastering engineer, but it helps to get an insight into the process, and i think that's what blueraven wanted all along. maybe i misunderstood his intention.
nevertheless, i think it is the book to read about mastering, cause it will help to make you understand what's happening in the process. i think the lack of technical detail comes from the fact, that there is no one way to do something and no one way to do everything.

if there is another book that will make you a professional ME, please tell me! Wink

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 2:32 pm

ouzo77 wrote:

of course it doesn't make you a professional mastering engineer, but it helps to get an insight into the process, and i think that's what blueraven wanted all along. maybe i misunderstood his intention.
nevertheless, i think it is the book to read about mastering, cause it will help to make you understand what's happening in the process. i think the lack of technical detail comes from the fact, that there is no one way to do something and no one way to do everything.

if there is another book that will make you a professional ME, please tell me! ;-)

There is no such thing. Becoming a mastering engineer takes time and talent and lots and lots of practice. It also takes a GREAT room and good equipment. There are other books on mastering written by other people here are a couple

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Mastering-Quick-Start-Wizoo/dp/0825619378

http://www.fetchbook.info/fwd_description/search_9780872887411.html

and you might enjoy the one that Dave Collins is writting

Here are the titles of the chapters <GRIN>

http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/m/58695/0/#msg_58695

Best of luck! and let us know if reading a really good book helps you to become a better mastering engineer.

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:01 pm

i was kidding, of course. but thanks for the book recommendations. i'm gonna check those too.

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:10 pm

Well I have a feeling someone is cooking up a book on Hands-on-Mastering with an enclosed CD and typical step by step procedures that follow along with the CD explaining pre & post Mastering examples and techniques used.

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