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What Are The Benefits Of Mixing & Mastering?
By DICARLO (CEO Online Mixing and Mastering)
There are millions of talented Indie Artists online on 1000´s of music sites on the Internet.
Many of these artists are very talented, but are lacking in mixing and mastering skills.
Some of these artists are making CDs to sell on their websites, while others just want their songs to sound the best they possibly can, but can’t afford expensive studio prices.
If you are still determined to do the mixing yourself, here are some mix tips that will help give you an amazing sounding master.
These tips are standard in the business, can be found on my site on the FAQ´s page, (along with many more Tips) and on most professional mastering sites as well. Following these simple rules will make my job a lot easier, and will give you maximum results.
1. Don’t push the level in mixing. Just focus on making the mix sound great. The use of compression on the individual tracks is fine but minimal compression on the mix buss. NO Compression or Limiter on the Master Output.
2. Definitely no limiting or mastering plug-ins on your Mix Buss! It’s only likely to degrade the sound.
3. Leave 3-6 db of headroom. By this I mean the Master Output channel should be set at 0db, and the db reading of your mix should be -3 to -6db. This leaves the headroom that’s needed for mastering. Pushing the level to 0 db will only augment ugly distortion Mastering.
4. Don’t normalize your tracks, as this only degrades the quality of audio.
5. Try and record at the highest level bit rate (24 bit 48 khz, or 24 bit 96,if you´re processor will handle it). It’s not critical if you haven’t done this, it just helps. If you´re recorded at 16 bit 44.1, it´s ok, but you won’t get quite the same quality. The higher the bit and sample rate, the more dynamics your music will have.
6. NO DITHERING ! This is left to the mastering engineer.
7. Clean up your tracks. It’s a lot harder for me to get rid of the guitar player clicking on his EFX pedals before he hits a chord, or a singer clearing his throat, once the song has been mixed. Solo all live audio tracks and take a listen to what’s there before you start to mix.
8. Send songs as Audio Data files (.WAV or .AIFF). NOT MP3 files! Just compare file sizes between the different file formats and you will see that mp3 are only 1/10th the amount of data.
9. When mixing, keep in mind that reverb levels will probably be enhanced a little with mastering, so often times holding back a little with the reverb during mixing, yields nicer results.
Why Mixing & Mastering?
Mastering can only achieve so much and cannot create miracles to a poorly mixed recording. There are countless factors and relationships within a mix that can be easily overlooked. All these neglected mistakes will ultimately result in disappointing mastering results.
There are no shortcuts to achieving great mastering. The mastering results will always rely on the quality of your mix. A good mixing job is the ultimate key that will lead your music recordings to exceptionally superior mastering results. When you hire a pro mix engineer, you are mostly paying for his ears and experience to knock you a great mix. An experienced mixing engineer has the magic ability to make your mix sound broader. Imagine what a good mastering job can do to a great mix.
What Are The Benefits Of Mixing & Mastering?
Having performed mastering on hundreds of CDs, we have seen the problem first hand. At many times we wished we had the option to make minor to major adjustments to a mix that will help elevate the mastering result. In most cases with poorly mixed recordings, the rooted problem can only be fixed effectively by returning to the mixing process.
It is an added advantage for a mastering engineer to have the luxury of accessing your mix. Sometimes, a slight tweak or adjustment in the mix will make all the difference in the mastering result. At other times, it involves serious surgery. This luxurious option of mixing & mastering will allow us to return to your mix and make any necessary and vital adjustments. This simply gives the mixing & mastering engineer the flexibility and full control to problem solving. This convenience is very powerful. The difference is priceless.
Books & Tutoirials to help you;
Here´s a pretty good book with some valuable information in it;
Modern Recording Techniques, Sixth Edition (Paperback)
by David Miles Huber, Robert E. Runstein
4.3 out of 5 stars (31) $26.73
There are also many good video tutorials for whatever recording program you might be using.
macProVideo.com is a great one for Pro Tools, Logic Pro, and many others.
ONLINE MIXING & MASTERING
http://www.online-mixing-and-mastering.com
Online Mixing and Mastering is the New Solution for the Online Artist.
Online Mixing and Mastering is the new All In One production service for the Online Artist that wants top quality sound for reasonable prices.
There are millions of talented Indie Artists online on 1000´s of music sites on the Internet.
Many of these artists are very talented, but are lacking in mixing and mastering skills.
Some of these artists are making CDs to sell on their websites, while others just want their songs to sound the best they possibly can, but can´t afford expensive studio prices.
Online Mixing and Mastering is the solution to this problem.
Online Mixing and Mastering specializes in the mastering of CDs and individual songs, but also offers a bundle of other services, such as mixing, editing; remixing, online drummer, full production services and song and beat licensing.
We also offer mixing and mastering packages.
The solution is now here. If you are serious about your sound, this service is now available to you at an affordable rate. Get it right the first time. There are no shortcuts to achieving a professional sound. The mastering results will always point to the quality of your mix. We dare say that the option of mixing and mastering with us will yield perfection to superior results. Listen to our samples and be the judge.
We will mix and master to your satisfaction. This is a collaborative effort thus allowing you to review and request any necessary revisions to your mix.
Have fun.
Regards,
DICARLO (CEO Online Mixing and Mastering)
http://www.online-mixing-and-mastering.com
http://www.myspace.com/onlinemixingandmasteringcom
http://www.myspace.com/dicarloproductions
There are no shortcuts to achieving great mastering. The mastering results will always rely on the quality of your mix. A good mixing job is the ultimate key that will lead your music recordings to exceptionally superior mastering results. When you hire a pro mix engineer, you are mostly paying for his ears and experience to knock you a great mix
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Sep 08, 2010
