Have a professional master your songs, do it yourself?

[Tarekith]

Just curious how many people are getting their songs mastered by someone else, versus doing it themselves. If you do it yourself, why? Costs too much, you like having total control of your music, you don't trust someone else, etc?

I think I asked this here a couple years back, just curious how much has changed since then.

[SubFunk]

well, everything that leaves the 'house' and is somewhere commercially in use, label or whatever else, goes to a mastering place. OF COURSE!!!
the second set of ears are not replaceable by anything!, no skills or whatever else you might have yourself. but well, i am not going to discuss that here, i only will get all angry and explode... you all know my take on it.

but i do master sometimes other peoples work. never my own stuff, it's the main point missed.

oh damn tarekith, what did you started again?, i can see already all those responses that will make me creep up the walls.

[ethios4]

well, everything that leaves the 'house' and is somewhere commercially in use, label or whatever else, goes to a mastering place. OF COURSE!!!
the second set of ears are not replaceable by anything!

+1

[SubFunk]

and because this will turn into a discussion again...

the point is that people simply do not understand (or don't want to understand!!!) what mastering is about and what the point is.

it is not just there to push the volume into the sky, it is exactly that someone else goes over it. someone who has not been part of the creational process. period.

if bob katz would create and write music himself and release commercially an album, he would never master it himself. he would probably give it to sterling sound to ted jensen or george marino or someone. that is the point that makes sense. and if he would not, well then he is an idiot that doesn't get the sense of his own job.

[Tarekith]

It won't turn into a "discussion" if you keep calm and let other people answer without getting all angry and telling them they are wrong You've stated your views, thank you.

I personally see both sides of the situation. Even though I master people's work for a living, I also understand that some people will never ever use another person for this, and I've written guides to help them too. My main interest with the question is not to say one is right and another is wrong, but to see what some of the reasons are why people use each method.

People are certainly entitled to feel strongly about the subject one way or the other, but I ask that (at least in this thread) they be open-minded enough to realize not everyone shares the same view.

[aj1978]

i dont really understand mastering. Some of the tools in ableton are good to get the feel of the sound you want to hear like boosting up a bassline. but sometimes everthing sounds too loud and still unprofessional. prob best bet is to get someone else to do it

[evernaut]

Always get it done by a pro....or at the very least by someone other than me. I mastered an album I recorded and mixed once before....took me nearly as long as the tracking and mixing combined and drove me nuts.

Getting my new record done at Peerless in Boston, Mass.

[SubFunk]

sorry, this topic is always getting me on the wrong foot.

sorry tarekith, i pull out! peace!

[aj1978]

Always get it done by a pro....or at the very least by someone other than me. I mastered an album I recorded and mixed once before....took me nearly as long as the tracking and mixing combined and drove me nuts.

Still getting my head around ableton 8 and motu bpm. Learning how to get a song sounding pro is the last thing i need. Takes me long enough to make a tune

[Tarekith]

sorry, this topic is always getting me on the wrong foot.

sorry tarekith, i pull out! peace!

No harm no foul. I know how YOU feel about it, looking for other people's opinions is all.

[dancing Ray]

I voted no, because up to now I never gave my stuff to a professional.
I am very willing to try, though.

@ Tarekith: How much was it you charge per track?

[LoopStationZebra]

and because this will turn into a discussion again...

the point is that people simply do not understand (or don't want to understand!!!) what mastering is about and what the point is.

it is not just there to push the volume into the sky, it is exactly that someone else goes over it. someone who has not been part of the creational process. period.

if bob katz would create and write music himself and release commercially an album, he would never master it himself. he would probably give it to sterling sound to ted jensen or george marino or someone. that is the point that makes sense. and if he would not, well then he is an idiot that doesn't get the sense of his own job.

I'm now going to limit you to one post per day.

Thank you.

[willdahbe]

No.. One reason is I'm not sure if my songs are good enough in the first place for a "master". Two would have to be money, although I have enough to get a decent mastering job, I'm not sure $50-100 is justifiable. Although I really do like some of the songs I make, what would be the point? If someone likes it enough to pick them up and put em on a label or something, then I could start getting things mastered I guess. Hearing a decent job on one of my productions would be interesting though...

[Tarekith]

I voted no, because up to now I never gave my stuff to a professional.
I am very willing to try, though.

@ Tarekith: How much was it you charge per track?

Look at my signature.

[LoopStationZebra]

Hey, is this thread just a cleverly concealed advertisement?

No wait. That's what your sig is for..