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Space Cat's Mastering Skills (or lack there of)
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Colin OOOD
OOOD/Voice of Cod
Started Topics :
95
Posts :
5380
Posted : Jan 21, 2008 20:48
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I recently did some mastering demos for a relatively well-known dark psy label. Many of the tracks I was sent (that were intended to be on the label's next compilation) had very little bass in them at all - less bass than mids, according to my spectrum analyser. I got them sounding fat and punchy and clear and crisp, and the label asked me to redo them with less bass. I can only think it's part of some labels particular style that the music is meant to be this way.
IMO it is the label who bears ultimate responsibility for the sound of their releases. Mastering engineers are presumably chosen because the label likes their sound, and most are happy to redo tracks if the label isn't happy with their work, or wants a different direction for the mastering than the engineer initially provides.
If a release from a respected and experienced mastering engineer sounds bad, it will be because of the label's deadlines getting in the way of the mastering process, or because the label wants the music to sound that way.
  Mastering - http://mastering.OOOD.net :: www.is.gd/mastering
OOOD 5th album 'You Think You Are' - www.is.gd/tobuyoood :: www.OOOD.net
www.facebook.com/OOOD.music :: www.soundcloud.com/oood
Contact for bookings/mastering - colin@oood.net |
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maximjou
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
39
Posts :
297
Posted : Jan 21, 2008 23:51
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[quote]
On 2008-01-20 23:14, Fallen Angel wrote:
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Rather than slag people off - how about you post up one of your DJ mixes so we can hear just 'how' you mix if EQ is a problem for you
You can EQ can't you???
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well im not disagreeing but i mean if you buy a cd and its mastered like crap, i wouldnt use the eq id throw the cd out, we pay for good music ,why are we supposed to use our time trying to make it sound good if the artist who is selling the garbage is getting payed.screw that thow it out get good music |
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headyatail2000
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
27
Posts :
2304
Posted : Jan 22, 2008 00:23
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ok this might be the dumbest post - but can't artistes master their own tracks?? and then send 2 labels..!?
<~< "the best things in life aren't things" - art buchwald >~> |
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DETOX
Moderator
Started Topics :
296
Posts :
6194
Posted : Jan 22, 2008 01:00
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Not everybody has the right equipment and knowledge to master a track dear headyatail.
Hope this answers your question 
Toodaloo Motherfuckers!!!!! |
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Elad
Tsabeat/Sattel Battle
Started Topics :
158
Posts :
5306
Posted : Jan 22, 2008 05:36
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* v/a should have + - the same levels and eq , not all artists will concider the others......
* artist use certain room and monitors , it is highly reccomended to use another room and pair of ears working on the sound quality..
www.sattelbattle.com
http://yoavweinberg.weebly.com/ |
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rumble pack / motion drive
Rumble Pack
Started Topics :
23
Posts :
270
Posted : Jan 22, 2008 11:04
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i have to things to add here
concerning avi/space cat's mastering skills
As Detox sayd, Avi is one of the most skilled and expirienced Producers/Sound Engineer around. He mastered our album and the result was outstanding. As mentiont several times in this tread, if the mix sounds bad befor the mastering, it will still sound bad after...sometimes even worst because mastering uncovers the mixfaults sometimes even more.
my second point here is...
How can ppl say, a cd is badly mastered, when they dont know the unmastered versions? Many ppl mentiont here cds they bought and say it has a bad mastering...but how can they know? As said...the master can only be as good, as the mix befor. When the production is bad..it stays bad..simple as that. So maybe those who complain about bad mastering on a cd they bought..should rethink about it, coz in most of the cases its the producer who fucked up...and not the one who mastered the cd
www.myspace.com/motiondrive
http://www.myspace.com/rumblepacknaturalflowmotiondrive |
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mk47
Inactive User
Started Topics :
118
Posts :
4444
Posted : Jan 22, 2008 11:14
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so all artists on this cd have fucked up ? .. i wish someone with experience would give it a listen and give his inputs
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rumble pack / motion drive
Rumble Pack
Started Topics :
23
Posts :
270
Posted : Jan 22, 2008 11:31
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On 2008-01-22 11:14, mk47 wrote:
so all artists on this cd have fucked up ? .. i wish someone with experience would give it a listen and give his inputs
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i was talking in general, not about that avatar cd.
But its shure, when a guy like Space Cat master a cd, and it sounds shit after, then it sounded shitty befor aswell...simple as that.
www.myspace.com/motiondrive
http://www.myspace.com/rumblepacknaturalflowmotiondrive |
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Spindrift
Spindrift
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
1560
Posted : Jan 22, 2008 13:07
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On 2008-01-22 11:04, rumble pack / motion
my second point here is...
How can ppl say, a cd is badly mastered, when they dont know the unmastered versions? Many ppl mentiont here cds they bought and say it has a bad mastering...but how can they know?
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What journeyman complained about was the fact that he has to turn up the bass EQ when playing the CD in question.
I have not heard the compilation, but in principle it sounds like a valid complaint about the mastering rather than something that could be contributed to bad mixes from the artists.
The purpose of mastering is not only to make a release sound good but also to avoid that the listener have to adjust their levels and EQ's between every disc and/or track.
It could be like Colin explained that the label wanted to have less bass than other releases, but IMO that would still make it bad mastering even if it was the label that desired that result.
(``·.¸(``·.¸(``·.¸¸.·`´)¸.·`´)¸.·`´)
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http://www.myspace.com/spindriftsounds
http://www.myspace.com/resonantearth |
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NIKTHEQUICK
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
422
Posted : Jan 22, 2008 17:50
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little by little the topic makes sense.....(without the idiots).....thanks spindrift and colin for the useful info!!
i think we all agree on the fact that as usual if we have to criticize someone is the label's choice of mastering (engineer or style) or choice of tracks (artist).....
even if for sure there are better at mastering than others....(equipment the same)???
it would be nice to have an answer to the initial question.....is that album really badly mastered?
and for night music...who is currently the most acclaimed producer??
....also i cant see how a label wouldn't like a fat and punchy bassline......this brings me to another question: is the quality of night music often influenced by what labels want or is it the artist that often dont achieve the much needed quality?
and lastly...if the quality of the songs is shit...why would a sound engineer still go ahead and master it???(especially if there is the risk of worsening the situation..
aum namah shivaya
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Spindrift
Spindrift
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
1560
Posted : Jan 22, 2008 18:47
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On 2008-01-22 17:50, NIKTHEQUICK wrote:
i think we all agree on the fact that as usual if we have to criticize someone is the label's choice of mastering (engineer or style) or choice of tracks (artist).....
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I guess sometimes an good engineer can have a bad day, but usually I would agree with that assumption. If nothing else it is the labels job to refuse the mastering if they are not happy with it, so ultimately it is their responsibility.
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On 2008-01-22 17:50, NIKTHEQUICK wrote:
it would be nice to have an answer to the initial question.....is that album really badly mastered? |
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I don't have it, but for someone who has it it should be easy to stick some of the tracks through and spectral analyser and compare the result with some well mastered compilations in the same genre.
If the level of the bass is obviously lower I would personally as a label or artist not be happy about the result of the mastering.
But that brings us to your next point:
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On 2008-01-22 17:50, NIKTHEQUICK wrote:
also i cant see how a label wouldn't like a fat and punchy bassline |
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Of course there is always a matter of taste, and the desired balance will vary somewhat from genre to genre.
For example in some kinds of rock you want it loud more than fat, and I guess some darkpsy artists and labels might think the same.
With a normal bass response for psytrance you are not getting maximum loudness and the low frequencies will take quite a bit of the available power.
Still, even if that's the intention I think you have to be considerate towards the listeners and DJ's. They will usually adjust their level and EQ so they get the spectral balance they are used to, so there is not much to be won by deviating from the norm and it only inconveniences the customers.
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On 2008-01-22 17:50, NIKTHEQUICK wrote:
is the quality of night music often influenced by what labels want or is it the artist that often dont achieve the much needed quality? |
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I think it's much about a difference in attitude.
Darkpsy is a bit more punk than for example full-on or prog. Highly polished production can IMO often be detrimental from the feeling that darkpsy like to convey.
Basically it's supposed to be a bit messy.
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On 2008-01-22 17:50, NIKTHEQUICK wrote:
if the quality of the songs is shit...why would a sound engineer still go ahead and master it??? |
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I guess it would depend from engineer to engineer if they would accept the job, and if so why.
Maybe money and pleasing the client (i.e. label) could be reasons in some cases.
Personally if a track is too badly produced to do a decent job with I would refuse to do it, but if the track is great but has inferior production why not try to do your best to make it as good sounding as possible?
If you know what you are doing it cannot get worse at least.
(``·.¸(``·.¸(``·.¸¸.·`´)¸.·`´)¸.·`´)
« .....www.ResonantEarth.com..... »
(¸.·`´(¸.·`´(¸.·`´``·.¸)``·.¸)``·.¸)
http://www.myspace.com/spindriftsounds
http://www.myspace.com/resonantearth |
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Soul Kontakt
Soul Kontakt
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
632
Posted : Jan 22, 2008 20:46
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Quote:
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On 2008-01-22 00:23, headyatail2000 wrote:
ok this might be the dumbest post - but can't artistes master their own tracks?? and then send 2 labels..!?
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Yes i am sure they can when years pass producing and they you buy the best equipment then it's normal that you master your own tracks...But as colin ood is saying not everybody likes his music in the same way! Many people have different perspectives to their music so the best would be to master them yourself if you can so you get the best result from your perspective. Then on the other hand when you master your tracks with someone like space cat who has been in the scene for all this time you get your tracks mastered by years and years of experience and this leads to an impeccable sound...
my 2 cents |
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Zman
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
14
Posts :
3784
Posted : Jan 23, 2008 07:34
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Time Schuldt is very very good & sometimes i have also been impressed by Xenomorph. Psykovsky's mastering on the latest Tantrumm Records CD is also superb, i love the way the sound turned out. Imo its worth paying those extra $$$ to get a good mastering job done, it makes all the difference 
BooM  |
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makus
Overdream
Started Topics :
82
Posts :
3087
Posted : Jan 23, 2008 19:15
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okay here's my 2 cents
if you proceed to the link i'm sharing, download and unpack the archive you'll find 2 samples of my track released on avatar's cd (nightvision).
'a sample.wav' is the track as it came from my sequencer;
'a sample mastered' is the same piece of mastered track.
sure this short sample isnt enough to judge anything however maybe it'll help someone.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/7trrip
www.overdreamstudio.com |
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Spindrift
Spindrift
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
1560
Posted : Jan 23, 2008 21:30
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A short sample is enough to check the spectral balance and i tend to agree with journeyman.
I would have to boost the bass when using it in a DJ set to make it fit with other tracks because the bass is lower than what would be considered standard in psytrance.
(``·.¸(``·.¸(``·.¸¸.·`´)¸.·`´)¸.·`´)
« .....www.ResonantEarth.com..... »
(¸.·`´(¸.·`´(¸.·`´``·.¸)``·.¸)``·.¸)
http://www.myspace.com/spindriftsounds
http://www.myspace.com/resonantearth |
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