Mastering Fail - Thinking about giving up now after 7 years.

[regretfullySaid]

There's way too much compression going on.

[Grappadura]

fcuuuuuuk impressing anyone though.

stick to that advice its crucial. forget the dreams of becoming famous and stuff. they will only blurr your artistic vision.

[Jekblad]

Hey, pwolly, how are you? Hope you had a great weekend.

I've listen to your track, and you're right. It's shit. You have no talent and you should give up ASAP. Trust me.

Bye.

oh boy did i chuckle

[antarktika]

I compare my music to the producers that I consider to be the best... What is their secret??... are they just much better than me? At 24 I feel utterly worthless, I don't know what to do with myself. I've sent dozens of tracks to labels over the past 7 years with nothing signed. Maybe this just isn't for some people?

you're right, this isn't for people who are making music to get themselves signed! Especially in the current state of the recording industry. Is that really your motivation? because if it is, that's probably part of your problem.

[Nicknackerski]

Hi Pwolly,
I would leave the mastering to somebody else.
Its always a good idea when you've spent so much time mixing a song, even if you are qualified to do so, somebody else's ears can't do any harm. (listen to that tune 100+ times over while mixing it and its easy to want to make changes.)

You've got eight songs on your SC account. Congratulate yourself thats more than most the cretins who may be quick to jump on your back.

My advice would be to buy a load of music composition books, listen to music! find as many interviews of your favorite artists as possible. Make 500 Quick tracks 10ish of them will be awesome.
Pay to get them Mixed (Re)
Pay to get them Mastered.
Release.

I like this one. Particularly when music tech is discussed (Or lack of). Performing musicians usually have much better advice than mr. X who has an ego to protect on a music forum.

Good advice

Kind Thanks
Steve.

[Centennialite]

I compare my music to the producers that I consider to be the best... What is their secret??... are they just much better than me? At 24 I feel utterly worthless, I don't know what to do with myself. I've sent dozens of tracks to labels over the past 7 years with nothing signed. Maybe this just isn't for some people?

I've watched tones of kids younger than me create classics and find success with their music while I waste away in this room.

Today I decided to master this track which sounded OK before mastering but now sounds garbage - http://soundcloud.com/supraaofficial/an ... iginal-mix


It's my first real attempt at a dubstep track but doesn't come close to sounding like the pro's that I admire and respect.

Someone else's perspective could help me here maybe even if it's being told to give up and try something else.

Thanks, Paul.

Hey, Paul. Without realizing it you've actually made me feel better. So I'm not alone in my musical production self-doubt.

Now, before I even read any other replies, I want to give you a response (if not a solution) that I hope will be of help. You are still so young, and you have LOTS of time to perfect your techniques!

I checked out your song, and there are a lot of cool elements in it. Here is my initial reaction - high end!! If you read my other post in here you'll know I'm not a DAW expert, and the technical terms often elude me, so just as a listener I'm saying this: turn up the bass and maybe low-mids, and turn down the overall level. There is something "tinny" about it that I think could be clipping or just too much high end. I don't know if more panning or effects would help, but maybe try that, too. Ableton (and others) has so much sound design possibility!

From a musical perspective (which I know a little more about than the techy side), that third time your chorus comes in (E flat, G flat, A flat (triplet?), half-note B flat) maybe add a layer of strings, or a counter melody. Since my son has gotten into it I've always wanted to try my hand at Dubstep, and I can tell you, you have more clue than I do.

One last thing - PLEASE don't give up! Don't wait until your 40s to do something with your music because you let all the rest of life get in your way. Here I am at 47 just learning Ableton Live and getting back into all this stuff after years of being away. Remember, it's better to feel like you're struggling and keep trying than it is to just put it off until 20 years have gone by and you don't know where they went!

(This is a link to my first "techno" song and my first and only Ableton song so far - http://fireandair.org/wp-content/upload ... pe_web.mp3 Give yourself kudos for at least knowing how to do drums!.. I'm still trying. Remember, we're all figuring this thing out in different ways, and don't be so hard on yourself.)

[Reversoulmusic]

You want to sound professional first step is Ascoutics and Speaker placement

[muthafunka]

I compare my music to the producers that I consider to be the best...


Today I decided to master this track which sounded OK before mastering but now sounds garbage -


It's my first real attempt at a dubstep track but doesn't come close to sounding like the pro's that I admire and respect.

You pretty much answered your own question/conundrum.

First attempt at a dubstep track but you're comparing yourself to the top producers who've been doing nothing but that for...a long time. Look at any other skill, it takes practice and time.

You mastered the track now it 'sounds like garbage', so your mastering needs work. I very much doubt the pros you admire do their own mastering either.

Look what you need to work on and get back at it. While it's not my kind of thing the overall arrangement, mix and production sounded better than I expected, just needs some tlc.

Don't take it the wrong way, I remembered this. Have a laugh and get back among it.

[c33]

Hey, pwolly, how are you? Hope you had a great weekend.

I've listen to your track, and you're right. It's shit. You have no talent and you should give up ASAP. Trust me.

Bye.

But his girlfriend listened to it and liked it, so don't listen to him.

[jestermgee]

Hey, don't forget too that most "Professional" mastering suites employ someone who has themselves a degree in audio and mastering and probably knows a hell of a lot more than anyone here. They also use some very expensive gear and proper treated and setup listening environments.

I wouldn't become too discouraged. If you just feel sick of it, put it down for a while. Take up reading and bettering your skills. Watch videos. Ask questions. Look at getting into an audio course or something. Don't rely on it making you famous and rich because chances are, it just won't happen.

It is possible to turn something sub-standard into something much better but you really need to know your effects and the way your choice of processing works. If you can, do what someone here suggested and get one of the self proclaimed mastering dudes here to have a crack and see if it gets better. If anything they might be able to point out some changes you could make.

I have been a tracker and producer for over 15 years. I keep ALL my old material and sometimes listen to stuff from when I was 15 and that instantly tells me I have improved and progressed. Which is the main point. I am not perfect but another 15 years and I may be. Famous? No but I do have fun.

[c33]

A lot of the producers you're comparing yourself to are probably working in major recording studios with top of the line equipment, or, as others have said, not even mastering their tracks. IDK, it's a fine line between comparing yourself to another and holding your music to the same standards as any other music you love. I'm sure most of us have been deluded by our own work at one time or another.. thinking it's better than it really is simply because we've created it. It's good to be critical and honest and have high exceptions, but to also accept where you are right now. That can get you somewhere. Quitting doesn't get you anywhere.

[Bagatell]

Moby's advice for young artists (1m39s)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmpHfsBP ... r_embedded

How do you get this to embed?

[Rabalder]

forget the dreams of becoming famous and stuff. they will only blurr your artistic vision.

This took me 17 years to fully realize.

[condra]

There’s 40 and 50 year olds selling tracks on Beatport.
I’d fucking love to be 24 again.

Keep at it man. I listened to a few of your tracks on Soundcloud and IMO you have some promising stuff. It’s as good or better than a lot of stuff I’ve heard on most Forums. I think you could benefit from adding much more variation to your beats, hooks and arrangements. Your stuff has tons of attitude, but I feel it could do with a bit more soul. I think you could benefit a lot from exploring some sample based stuff like hip-hop and melodic stuff like chill out.

Take from that what you wish, because WTF do I know. Just enjoy it and...
..... <cliche>make music for yourself </cliche>

Good luck.

[c33]

Moby's advice for young artists (1m39s)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmpHfsBP ... r_embedded

How do you get this to embed?

That's great advice.