Would anybody like me to master their track?

Atlantis · April 28, 2011, 01:14:57

Hi ModPlug Central, sorry to leave you till last! I'm open to mastering tracks free of charge for anyone who wants it! I've mastered a bit in the past and use a range of plug-ins to deliver a clean, professional master, free of charge. I'll need to hear the mixdown prior to you sending me the high-resolution wave file, just to check levels and listen whether it's ready for mastering. Make sure the level is kept well below clipping and bypass any mastering effects you may have. Then just send me an MP3 sample or post here! Also I prefer EDM (electronic dance music) but I'm open to anything provided it's in my range of expertise...

UPDATE:

Please follow these simple steps:

Ensure any master effects are bypassed and the mix level peaks well below clipping (I prefer at least 6 dB of headroom).
Send me a ~190 kbps MP3 preview so that I can check the levels and listen whether it's ready for mastering; we can make any necessary changes at this stage. Of course, you can bypass this step if you're confident your mix is ready.
Render a high-resolution WAV file of your track typically at 44,100 Hz, 32 bit float. If this option isn't available, use 24 bit. If you're looking for a slight, possible increase in quality (that is if you think your mix utilises frequency space above 22,050 Hz), you can render at 96,000 Hz or anywhere in between, but please check this has worked OK because sometimes it can mess any timings up.
Please check the rendered file doesn't clip.
Compress it with .7z, FLAC, RAR or ZIP. I can't stress this option enough, as it not only saves bandwidth but also ensures a 1:1 copy due to error checking.
Upload it to a site such as MediaFire (preferred) or WeTransfer, unless you can provide your own hosting.
Turnaround will be a couple of days, and I'll send you a preview first before sending the 16 bit file, as well as a 24 bit version if required.

About the mastering process:

I use a range of plug-ins to deliver a clean, professional master. You can expect your sound to be balanced, polished, sound more consistent, warmer, and least of all louder. I don't partake in the loudness war but I will push your track as far as it will go, all while retaining pristine dynamics.

A typical mastering project will consist of:

Fine-tuning the frequency balance using linear-phase equalisation.
Using compression to optimise and tighten the dynamic range.
Using shaping or colouring EQ to further enhance the sound.
Using harmonic excitation to add warmth and sparkle.
Widening the stereo image.
Fades and offset correction.
Limiting for maximum loudness.

Your master will be processed at 96,000 Hz, floating point, and will be resampled and dithered to 44,100 Hz, 16 bit. I use Dynaudio near-field monitors, AKG studio headphones, and a home theatre setup for monitoring.

Samples:

Still to come!

How to speed up the mastering process:

Follow the above steps.
Don't clip your mixdown and ensure it sounds as good as possible.
Compress your file! Being in New Zealand I have limited bandwidth.
Contact me at my email address instead of by PM (listed in my profile); it allows me to better keep track of things.
Do let me know what you expect from mastering; this way we can usually skip the preview step and I can upload the master right away.
I download and upload best during off-peak hours, which is between 4:00 and 8:00 a.m. NZST (UTC+12 or +13).
Some days I don't work so well, so please be patient if I take a little longer (my acute hearing comes and goes).

Louigi Verona · April 28, 2011, 07:30:15

Hello!
Can you please look into this album. I wanted it mastered a long time ago by a good mastering specialist.

http://www.disc-shelf.com/?album=39

LPChip · April 28, 2011, 11:07:43

Hey Atlantis,

Good to hear from you again.

How are you in mastering New Age music?

KrazyKatz · April 28, 2011, 19:37:57

Atlantis, this is like a God send. Welcome back.
Are you just doing this for the tracking community... I mean I'm just wandering why you're doing it for free?
Would orchestral music fall in your range of expertise?
And I definitely 2nd Lougi's Album getting mastered! It's an amazing EP that deseves it.

Rakib · April 28, 2011, 20:44:55

Long time no see, nice to have you back!
I don't have any new songs that needs to be mastered but its nice to see that you are willing to do this for free. I remember from old days that you were always talking about mastering and complains about the overuse of compression.

Atlantis · April 29, 2011, 01:35:56

Quote from: Louigi Verona on April 28, 2011, 07:30:15
Hello!
Can you please look into this album. I wanted it mastered a long time ago by a good mastering specialist.

http://www.disc-shelf.com/?album=39

Hey, this sounds like a great project! I'm just not sure about tackling albums yet, since I work meticulously and much slower than normal. I've had a good amount of interest so far but only one track was ready for mastering. I hope it doesn't all hit me at once when I do receive more tracks, but I could certainly fit it in at this stage.

Quote from: LPChip on April 28, 2011, 11:07:43
Hey Atlantis,

Good to hear from you again.

How are you in mastering New Age music?

Hey, I'd say that should be alright.

Quote from: KrazyKatz on April 28, 2011, 19:37:57
Atlantis, this is like a God send. Welcome back.
Are you just doing this for the tracking community... I mean I'm just wandering why you're doing it for free?
Would orchestral music fall in your range of expertise?
And I definitely 2nd Lougi's Album getting mastered! It's an amazing EP that deseves it.

I've posted on a number of forums I frequent. And I'm doing it for free because I've got extra time that I'd like to spend mastering, yet don't want to turn it into a profession. Orchestral I wouldn't be so sure about. I mean, it will be easy enough but does it even require mastering?

Quote from: Rakib on April 28, 2011, 20:44:55
Long time no see, nice to have you back!
I don't have any new songs that needs to be mastered but its nice to see that you are willing to do this for free. I remember from old days that you were always talking about mastering and complains about the overuse of compression.

Yeah I still complain a lot about that.

LPChip · April 29, 2011, 07:13:07

Cool!

I'm working on a project and for one of the songs in it, I'd really appreciate your feedback.

I'll prepare you a preview mp3.

kit beats · April 29, 2011, 21:09:00

Verry cool! Gonna send you a PM

KrazyKatz · April 30, 2011, 12:45:44

QuoteOrchestral I wouldn't be so sure about. I mean, it will be easy enough but does it even require mastering?

Well in short, Yes

. The difference is more subtle for orchestral, but it still makes all the difference in my experience having sent some orchestral pieces in for professional mastering.

In fact a few years ago I actually E-mailed Casey Stone, the recording and mix engineer for a lot of feature film soundtracks, specifically asking him how much of a difference there is from the Mixdowns and the Masters. He pretty much said the same thing: "Actually, mastering plays a rather small role in the sound. Although some 'pre-mastering' that I do on most albums has a bigger impact. ...From there, Dave Collins usually just touches up a bit more EQ, does more leveling track to track, and hits it with some L2 peak limiting. Most of what he does with my mixes is pretty subtle."

So there you go. Always good to have an extra set of ears hear the product.

P.S: Is there anywhere we can hear some of the work you've mastered?

Atlantis · April 30, 2011, 22:59:53

Quote from: KrazyKatz on April 30, 2011, 12:45:44
P.S: Is there anywhere we can hear some of the work you've mastered?

I'm still trying to work on that. I don't really want to put up anything I did years ago, and currently I've done too few masters to really showcase anything. And those masters I have done all had very good mixdowns so the difference is really small. I'll PM you one of a track that had already been released previously and I've now done mastering on...

KrazyKatz · May 01, 2011, 22:45:46

I have to say Atlantis did a beautiful job on the piece he sent me. You can hear that he takes great care and is meticulous with detail. From all the subtleties I realized that tremendous effort gets put in to get the piece sounding pristine.

Atlantis · May 02, 2011, 01:15:40

Quote from: KrazyKatz on May 01, 2011, 22:45:46
I have to say Atlantis did a beautiful job on the piece he sent me. You can hear that he takes great care and is meticulous with detail. From all the subtleties I realized that tremendous effort gets put in to get the piece sounding pristine.

Thanks! That's exactly what I'm going for. If the treble needs a clean, 0.1 dB boost I'll make it with a pristine linear-phase EQ (otherwise I use a different EQ that colours the sound). I approach a track to make it sound louder and more consistent, in any case!

Atlantis · May 02, 2011, 18:40:12

Due to popular demand I've uploaded a before-and-after sample here. The track is by Voci and since the mixdown was almost spot on it pretty shows much the least I can do.

Atlantis · May 28, 2011, 03:46:48

Original post updated.

Louigi, still interested in your album if you are.

LPChip · May 28, 2011, 08:51:45

2 questions regarding your update:

* Compress it with RAR. I can't stress this option enough, as it not only saves bandwidth but also ensures a 1:1 copy due to error checking.
Can we use 7zip? (.7z) winrar can extract those too, and many people can archive to 7zip over rar. 7zip has a slightly better compression and offers the same fault tolerance.

* Upload it to a site such as MediaFire (preferred) or WeTransfer.
Can we use our own hosting too if we have one?