Mastering classical music
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Posted on May 05, 2005 10:34 am
Topman
Member Since: Oct 25, 2004
Ok I can master teh usual pop/rock/indie
but now im getting in classical..I use at the moment I use Izotope and harbal to master.
Problem is , ive hear you shouldnt do to much with clasical music as you can alter dynamics etc?
So can anyone help?
Gareth
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May 05, 2005 11:14 am yeah you basically wanna make it sound as "nutral" as possible...i wouldn't compress at all if you can just bring up the faders....listen to some NPR durring the day to compair....i'd be real careful with eq aswell. how many tracks are you workin' with? mastering refers to one stereo track, so if that's the case, and if it was recorded and mixed well, a simple normalization might be all ya need to do...the goal here is to make it sound like it would in a hall. so maybe a smidge of dark reverb would suffice. i know nothing about this really, i'm just gooin' off of instinct.
wyd
TopmanMember
Since: Oct 25, 2004
May 05, 2005 01:15 pm Thanks , it's a stereo track ill be working from
But I thought normalising could change the sound?
or am i off the mark
Jason H.Jack of all trades master of ___Member
Since: May 28, 2004
May 05, 2005 01:21 pm <<<Jealous, lol
May 05, 2005 01:24 pm any processing will alter the sound, thats sorta the reason to use processing. Normalizing however will simply move the peak signal level to the desired point (generally -.3db) and move everything else accordingly. It will keep it's dynamics, but will raise or lower overall volume.
RigsbyUltra MagnusMember
Since: Nov 13, 2004
May 06, 2005 03:06 am Normalising shifts everything up or down the 'ladder' if you like, so your upper volume shifts, as does the noise floor.
Yeah, for classical stuff best to leave it largely alone in that regard, the dynamics are essential, though you may wish to check EQ etc as per usual. The only time classical music gets compressed is on the radio so you can listen to it comfortably in your car without having to constantly play with the volume control.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
May 07, 2005 12:42 am Yup as you move up the food chain from rock to classic (I'll probably catch heck for that crack) you will find yourself doing less pre-mastering processing for the most part. Find yourself a classical album that you really like the mix on and grind up the best track in both Harbal and Ozone and use it's general frequency curve for reference parterns.
You may want to get your microphone frequency response curves and use a graphic eq to 'flatten' the tracks after recording them for accuracy prior to mixdown.
As stated above everything becomes 'go lightly' as far as compression, eq, and any FX to retain the natural sound. There is always some work to do to make holes for sounds, get quirks under control etc. As far as loudness maximization, I go real lightly. A little bit of final compression will give a bit of a feel of loudness in 'fff' passages, but it is easy to add too much 'loud preception distortion' and turn it into a rock song.
May 07, 2005 12:12 pm [size=5]up the food chain!![/size]
j/k
May 07, 2005 12:14 pm I won't even comment on classic being somehow "up the food chain"...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 07, 2005 10:11 pm If you have ever wokred with classical musicians you would indeed agree with up the food chain.
If I am doing anything with even the slightest bit of classical touch to it I become like Jeckyl and Hyde. It is a mind set with classical musicians, they are somehow much better then the rest. I believe it relates to the training. It is so beat into you that you are a supreme being, highly trained in your art, there are none to compare.
Take Yyngvie Malmstein for instance. When he was just a guitar shredder who happened to use some classical lines, he was an OK person. Then when everyone started paying homage to his beutiful use of classical style, he became a pig headed premadonna (sp). It happens with all who are classically trained. Your head gets big when you are complimented on your use of such and such style.
So ya, Walt makes a good point there.
But back to the subject of the post, indeed as Walt stated, you must use any FX very subtly. If needed, only small amounts of any effect should be used. And never add any type of saturation effect to classical instruments, unless of course your me, then go ahead.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
May 08, 2005 09:28 am And Noise, I must admit that I like your renditions of classic music very much. I am sure however some classical musicians would have their noses in a snit for a good time. hehehehehe serves them right for taking themselves so seriously.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 08, 2005 07:35 pm Thanx, Walt. And yes I think my elelctronic arrangements of classical pieces has twisted more than one classical snobs undies in a bunch.
May 09, 2005 11:23 am i'd like to see a first chair violinist eat a rock god on stage...i'm sure the opposite is more probable. heck i think Gwar has done it a few times live.
cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
May 09, 2005 12:52 pm I'd put my money on a classically trained insano piano dude. Some of those cats are rediculous!!!
TopmanMember
Since: Oct 25, 2004
May 09, 2005 09:19 pm I just have one question...
Do classical musicians know how to jam?
May 09, 2005 09:23 pm probably better than anyone...Randy Rhodes was a classical musician...whats that tell ya...
TopmanMember
Since: Oct 25, 2004
May 09, 2005 10:11 pm No.. i mean together as in an orchestra?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 09, 2005 10:19 pm Oh yes indeed they do. Have you ever listened to Chick Corea and Return to Forever? All classically trained, and can they jam.
But yes, I have several friends involved in the classical scene. Its been years, but I was invited to several little Chamber Jams. Very cool to see the ones who can let their hair down or up. It can be confusing to listen to at times though, unless you have an ear for it.
TopmanMember
Since: Oct 25, 2004
May 09, 2005 10:21 pm im impressed, i never seen any classical musicians actualy jam ! Ill keep my eyes out!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 09, 2005 10:23 pm Oh jeez, I almost forgot the best of them all.
Frank Zappa, the album The Yellow Shark ensemble modern is a perfect example of what classical music would sound like in a jam situation. Although in Zappa'a case that album is not really a jam, but a well rehearsed vision of what an orchestra jamming might sound like.
I highly recomend it if your into something a bit differant.
