Masters

[RichardT]

I'm just listening to some masters from my mastering engineer Eric James.

They sound great - so obviously better than my mixes.

It's funny how now I've upgraded my gear a bit how clear the difference is - and how on my old gear it was sometimes not so obvious that the masters were better. They didn't sound worse, but sometimes not significantly better.

I think that really shows the value of a mastering engineer with good ears and good gear. It's easy for any weaknesses in our own monitoring to hide the benefits.

[amanise]

...
I think that really shows the value of a mastering engineer with good ears and good gear. It's easy for any weaknesses in our own monitoring to hide the benefits.

This whole foray (scarily a 20 year foray now!) into DIY music production has taught me just how much work there is and how many different skills there are to learn - to do it even passably. Your point highlights that aspect perfectly. We now have to be artist, composer, recordist, mixer (if I haven't forgotten any key stages) - and just when you think you can make a bit of a fist of all that - you then find out you've got to learn mastering as well. The mastering alone is a major skill requiring good science ability IMO. I tried to read Hugh's BS1770 loudness standard yesterday - and it hurt my brain! And that's just loudness.
There's never been a better illustration of the Dunning-Kruger effect than in DIY music production
So I agree totally with what you say.

[RichardT]

I usually master my own stuff if it’s simple, but once it gets complicated I really don’t know what to do.

I think mixing is an easier skill to learn.

You’re right, we wear a lot of hats these days.

[amanise]

I usually master my own stuff if it’s simple, but once it gets complicated I really don’t know what to do.

I think mixing is an easier skill to learn.

You’re right, we wear a lot of hats these days.

Interestingly - ? - about 30 seconds after I replied to your post last night I got an email from Ian Thingybob (names and me are parting company faster and faster) promoting a forthcoming mastering masterclass stream he's doing in the very near future. He wanted me to pick a track I thought was a monster of mastering (my phrase - not his) and from the suggestions he'd use one for the masterclass to show how it was done. I chose "Back To My Roots" by Odyssey. It's a monster! I love it, and use it for reference all the time. Haven't even got close to it yet.

[Martin Walker]

Interestingly - ? - about 30 seconds after I replied to your post last night I got an email from Ian Thingybob (names and me are parting company faster and faster) promoting a forthcoming mastering masterclass stream he's doing in the very near future.

That would be Ian Shepherd

[amanise]

Interestingly - ? - about 30 seconds after I replied to your post last night I got an email from Ian Thingybob (names and me are parting company faster and faster) promoting a forthcoming mastering masterclass stream he's doing in the very near future.

That would be Ian Shepherd

That's the dude! (Sorry Ian - it's an age thing)