I've paid for mix+master and here's what I've got
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Posted on Apr 22, 2011 09:18 am
Topti
I've got a vision.
Member Since: Dec 05, 2008
Since I'm a composer and don't really know mixing/mastering rules I've decided to hire some1 to do the job for me.
Here's how it came out (0.00-2.40 my version, next is the 'final' mix):
dl.dropbox.com/u/1309497/Mars.mp3
I've got a strange feeling the guy didn't really understand the tune and asked him for corrections...
What U think?
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cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
Apr 22, 2011 01:47 pm your mix has a lot of dynamics in play that seem to mostly be lost in the final mix. They hit the limiter pretty hard, in my opinion, a lot of "space" seems to be lost... everything is full on aggressive all the time, and that wasn't the case in your mix and I'm assuming that's not what you wanted....
If you are not happy with the result, you should definitely ask for changes and tell the mastering engineer what you are looking for.
Quincysanhttp://www.unitedmusicians.infoContributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007
Apr 22, 2011 05:10 pm I can understand using someone else for mastering, but when I've got a vision of how I want the song to sound in particular I stick to mixing everything myself.
He definitely changed the mix to suit his personal preferences, which is what you paid him to do and probably won't pay him to do again. His career -1. You could find someone else whose work you appreciate maybe? I don't know if it was the mix that he messed up or the master but yeah you're missing space without a doubt. Your original was much more dramatic, in my opinion.
audioscomposer/sound designerMember
Since: Apr 24, 2011
Apr 24, 2011 09:32 am I agree with Coolo.
I have been a mixing/mastering engineer for over 30 years and it never ceases to amaze me that guys that call themselves "Mastering Engineers" are truly just slamming the brick wall compressor because all the airplay tracks do it.
Well compression is only a small part of mastering. In my work i listen to what the composer/songwriter was trying to say dynamically in the song. And if there is 'air" in the track it should remain just that. All i really do is look at EQ and the general sonics of the track through a scope. If it need a couple of Db push at 100Hz or needs to have a little sizzle at 12K then that's what's done. The only time I really compress a track in an overall 2-mix is to keep bass parts and drums in line with vocals or to keep the peaks in line with digital correctness. And that's really more for a peak limiter not a compressor.
IMHO- I would keep your mix and just do some basic EQ. if its for a film, leave it as is and let the mixing theater do what they will to it. Or better yet, send the producer Hi/Low stems and they can mix it as they wish. This is what i do most often when scoring for film.
Apr 29, 2011 05:19 pm Dunno who 'mastered' that for you but you wanna refund. It's one thing murdering a tune but that guy tortured it to death, slowly. I'm a complete noob but I think yours was fine the way it stood.
Don't use that guy again or, if you do, keep a very, very close ear on him!
Yours respectfully
ulrichburke
ToptiI've got a vision.Member
Since: Dec 05, 2008
May 13, 2011 04:37 am Well, that's the point... I'm a composer, not producer but I don't want my tunes to suffer due to a bad production, cause it kills half the pleasance of listening...
Going further: maybe someone on this site is considered pro and would like to earn some extra $ working for me? Seriously. :)
May 13, 2011 01:15 pm I know a mastering guy or two... ;-)
I know some mixing guys as well, but if you want to keep it "in the family" I'm sure others will chime in also...
GCTMember
Since: May 14, 2011
May 14, 2011 02:38 pm Did they mix it AND master it?
ToptiI've got a vision.Member
Since: Dec 05, 2008
May 15, 2011 08:25 am @GCT: I've send the guy all tracks in seperate ogg files, every track in both versions that is: naked (no eq, no reverb, well... naked :) and FXed by me. All in order to give him possibility to REALLY get life from this tune, so he could try his own reverbs, eqs and stuff...He did the mix sucking life out of the tune and then mastered it as You can hear via link above...
@Massive: considering Your help - how much would it be if we worked liked I did with that mentioned guy (all tracks in both version, separated, ogg)? Dunno if I can afford U... :P
May 15, 2011 12:05 pm You probably wouldn't want me to mix it (I only mix a couple projects a year and yeah, it can be a little on the "prohibitively expensive" side).
That said -- I wouldn't have any reservations sending you over to Jason Walsh ( www.farviewrecording.com ) or Bruce Valeriani ( www.bluebearsound.com ). Both do a lot of "remote" mixing, been at it for a while, nice gear selections, etc. And if you tell them I sent you, they throw in a free puppy.
Okay, I made that last part up...
ToptiI've got a vision.Member
Since: Dec 05, 2008
May 17, 2011 07:30 am Many thanks! Will check those guys sooner than later I hope! :)
