Mastering - The Final Frontier

[T-Wrecks]

I personally don't allow the studio that does my recordings to master the project. I've noticed that the pros agree. Look at the liner notes of any CD. Even PRINCE sends his projects to a separate Mastering House. (We KNOW he can master his own!)

http://www.guitar9.com/columnist226.html

Software mastering is inexpensive and very popular.

Is it worth it to skip the Mastering Engineers and save $50-$100 per track?

[Foul Al]

Wow this is a good question, I guess it depends on your ear. I master my own music because I know how I want it to sound. Now and days with all this software you can cut them out completely T-Wrecks! A friend of mines has a software that can copy the mastering levels of any song, that's crazy!

[T-Wrecks]

OK. I see you.

I must be living on the edge because I'm the exact opposite.

I want someone with a "Fresh" ear, a person that is totally impartial, to master mine. I want them to stick to the international mastering standard and prepare my project for worldwide radio.

If I was to do it, the Bass would be the phattest part of the entire recording! I'm prejudiced!! :) I would enhance what I like and suppress what I don't.

That software comment is interesting. My mastering guys have me bring in a "favorite" CD and they use it as a guide. Hmmmmmm.......

[Dozi]

I think to get quality you should pay for quality. I to feel that a fresh pair of ears would do me justice. I am taking classes now for mixing and no matter how many times I work on something I hear it differnetly the next day. A fresh pair of ears wouldn't have that issue. They would just do what they do and get it done.

I believe that even when I feel I have mixing down under my belt I would still spend the money to have it mastered.

HEY, when you want chicken, you go to KFC.

[Kasino Brown]

For me, if I produce it; I don't mix it. If I mix it, I don't master it. Unless I absolutely have to.