My Controversial Mastering Chain
7,702
Published 2023-07-13
All Comments (21)
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Graham once said one of the wisest pieces of advice I've heard in my time as a producer. Track like it won't be mixed, mix like it won't be mastered, and mastering will improve the song greatly with subtle and small tweaks.
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I get great results by using the same simple approach. Most of the time I only have 3 plugins on my Mastering chain; EQ, Compressor, Limiter 👍
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Said it before, and I'll say it again: mastering is all about optimizing your final approved mix for your intended medium. That's it. I can add an additional statement that's similar to how I define mixing. If mixing is about bringing together different elements within a track to form a cohesive whole, then mastering is about bringing together different tracks to form a cohesive whole, either an EP, an LP or even longer.
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I love your less is more approach. This totally makes sense. Thank you!
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Helpful as always. Thanks Joe! Reminds me of a great advice I got many years ago - "Don't create a solution that leads to another problem."
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Some day when my recording, mixing and editing skills, and even more important, my ears, reach higher levels, I'll be able to mix and master like Joe. Thanks for the encouragement and the great lessons.
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Advice I got from an experienced mastering engineer is to just leave the true peak off if possible. I’ve tried both on and off and I tend to lean toward off more times than on. Don’t forget there’s no mixing or mastering rules etched in stone. As the old adage goes use your ears which is the best piece of equipment you’ll ever own. Keep up the great work Joe. Wow I’m getting old. Seems like it was just yesterday when you and Graham were doing dueling mixes. Now I have grandkids.
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Focus on the best mix possible and mastering doesnt take long and very little needs to be done. If you have to start "fixing" stuff in the master, you should go back to your mix. Maybe, laymen opinion lol
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Even if the mix is perfect a mastering engineer is there to enhance it even further. Mastering isn't just fixing mixes, infact thats pretty ignorant thinking. If a mix is really that bad a mastering engineer can only do so much. Ultimately the song will need to be remixed.
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Joe you are absolutely correct. your advice on this and your other videos are spot on I follow you exclusively. you're truthful and without an agenda
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Thanks Joe. I've been using the ozone mastering assistant, and it has really simplified the process for me.
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“Wait, Master, It Might Be Dangerous… You Go First.” — Igor
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i tend to not use the true peak limiting, I go for oversampling. you should try, the difference is HUGE
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This is great advice 💯
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This video just made my day, because its my feel.... like If on the mix you already did 1000 things, why does the master need 1000 more? :P
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Turn off True-Peak on the limiter and just bring your ceiling down a tad more. I find it messes with the low-end with it on. My masters started to sound way better without it.
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I love your lessons
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Amen brother!
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If your just a mastering engineer then it can require anywhere from 1 plugin to as many as it takes to make it happen. It all depends on what happen in the mix.
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Do you have any songs on Pandora by your band?
