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I Left a post in the mastering section tell those guys " mastering is Overated"... and that it's only a song .., I can just imagine what theyre really saying (aside from the sarcasm). Why I did it ?
Well to me, mixing is the most important thing in the process of a final product . matter of fact more time is spent perfecting a mix than actually mastering ., while mixing 10 songs may take 2 weeks, mastering 15 songs can take 1 day., If you have a great mix mastering guys have little to do except levels an EQ for cohesiveness. Some of those guy are just salesmen drumming up busines for those who dont know anything. You may get a master your happy with or you may get in your pick-up truck (shotgun in tow) hunting for the guy who messed up your mix...,and for this is say mastering is overated.., a great mix is more improtant, for without it how can you obtain a great master ?

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KurtFoster Sat, 02/08/2003 - 21:06

Lefty,
I couldn't disagree more. But I'm not peed off at all. I consider the source and from the things you posted it is apparent you don't know what you’re talking about.

(1) Mastering is Overrated"... and that it's only a song.
(a)Yeah, mastering is overrated! That’s why all the majors do it. In fact that’s why almost everyone except rank amateurs do it. Please tell us how you figured this all out on your own?

(2) I can just imagine what they’re really saying (aside from the sarcasm).
(a) Well normally at RO we don’t engage in that kind of behavior. Situations like your previous statement excepted. But you don’t have to imagine. Just go there and read the responses.

(3) Why I did it?
(a) Who knows, perhaps because you wanted to stir up some noise?

(4) mixing is the most important thing in the process of a final product.
(a) Wrong. Recording the tracks and the talent doing the recording is the most important thing. Your premise on this point shows that you are full of yourself and that you think you can take a piece of grunt flop and make it a masterpiece. The ultimate in a power / ego trip.

(5)...matter of fact more time is spent perfecting a mix than actually mastering .
(a) If you subscribe to your theory as described in your last statement. I can mix a well recorded album in one day.

(6) ...mixing 10 songs may take 2 weeks
(a) See my last answer

(7) mastering 15 songs can take 1 day.
(a) Perhaps if you do it. I have seen mastering engineers spend more or less time doing it. It all depends on how much turd polishing is needed.

(8) If you have a great mix mastering guys have little to do except levels an EQ for cohesiveness.
(a)Perhaps. But realize that what may sound great to you in your environment, might not “travel” well to other systems. It depends.

(9) Some of those guy are just salesmen drumming up business for those who don’t know anything.
(a) Yes, sometimes they are, Especially if your going to some guy in his bedroom that “calls” himself a mastering engineer. But the 10 or 20 cats that are “real” mastering engineers in this country are far too busy to engage in these types of practices.

(10) mastering is overrated.., a great mix is more important, for without it how can you obtain a great master ???????
(a) Wrong. Mastering is not overrated. See my answer to your first statement.

Now I admit my responses have been a bit outrageous but certainly no more so than your statements. I feel that your post warrants this reply. Peace out ….. Fats

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Tannoy, Dynaudio, Blue Sky, JBL, Earthworks, Westlake, NS 10's :D , Genelec, Hafler, KRK, and PMC
Those are good. …………………….. Pick one.
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Sebatron Sat, 02/08/2003 - 21:13

Lefty,
yes, a great mix is important for a great master
but
have you ever mixed a song on your system that sounds great, but on other systems sounds different (or not so great)?

have you ever mixed a song that has so much dynamics (not likely in hip-hop) that you had to compress it so that subtleties were't lost?

have you ever burn't yourself out on a mix so that you can't even bare to listen to it anymore, and you're not sure if the bass is sitting right?

A great mix will sound great....but a great master will sound great everywhere....from small transistor AM radio to big Sub woofered monitors.

ART for ART sake. :p

anonymous Sat, 02/08/2003 - 21:22

Yo flats , thanks for responding . I couldnt agree with you more ., yes mastering is important , very much so. I for one has learned a lot from you guys in the past few years ., I just know that you can actually master yourself with the right gear and experience. Yes I do it myself , and get results enough to get airplay . I just get tired of some guys making things sound impossible by kicking a lot of mumbo jargon. Ive been doing music since I was 11 i'm now 37. I just want it to get back to the stage where this site can actually teach new tecniques and help those who wanna learn. If me being controversial will get this done , then controversy you will get .

KurtFoster Sat, 02/08/2003 - 21:56

Lefty,
I went and read the thread on the Mastering Forum. I don't think you got everyone as upset as you think you did. If you want info you don't need to try to get everyone in a wad over it. The whole reason all of us are here (Mods and readers) is to try to further the exchange of information. So if you want to know something, if you have a particular question, please just ask the question. Now you may not get the answer you are looking for, or you may not like what someone says in reply, but at that point you have to understand it's how they feel. It's their answer and opinion. Just as you are entitled to yours, they are entitled to theirs. We are not here to validate everyone’s feelings and opinions but rather to help and aid if at all possible. I personally think that you don’t know as much as you think you do. I have had records that are available in retail stores, Amazon .com, Tower/ Virgin but I don’t know everything. What brought me to RO in the first place was a desire to want to learn new approaches. The music business is changing everyday and it’s a struggle to keep up with all the new ideas and techniques that accompany new technology as well as trying to retain the old school stuff that still rings true. Try to realize that Mastering is an evolving art also, there are a lot of con artists taking advantage of producers, engineers and recording artists but it is still a valid step in the recording process. It also is invaluable to have another set of ears listen to and screen your material. Open your mind rather than closing it. No one knows it all…… Fats
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tannoy, Dynaudio, Blue Sky, JBL, Earthworks, Westlake, NS 10's :D , Genelec, Hafler, KRK, and PMC
Those are good. …………………….. Pick one.
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