Apple Logic Pro /LogicExpress Discussion

Greg,

This is Man Parrish. I'm an artist, producer and remixer. I've worked on over 200 records in the past 25 years [www.ManParrish.com has my info]. Let me help out a bit.

So many people get "hung up' on the mastering issue.

Just like song writer may be different from a producer, mastering is different as well. But if you've already written, produced and mixed your material, you can probably master it yourself. You know what you want, you can easily figure it out.

Mastering was critical back in 1980 when we had vinyl records God I'm dating myself..lol ! If you had too much bass in a record, the bass grooves would touch and the needle would literally jump out of the track. Also depending if it was a 12" inch @ 33 or 45 rpm, it would have to be mastered differently. High frequencies would clash and distort, etc.. Mastering was critical to get the best sound in ratio to the media it was delivered on.

Today, we usually have digital outputs, so things are different. If you are going to vinyl, the pressing plant will usually make a "Master" anyway and you can ask to sit in on the process for an extra, usually expensive charge.

If you are going digital output [cd or mp3] then you can easily do it yourself. Comes down to a few things....  

First you need to no longer think in "Emotional Mix Mode" when you master. So, after you have your mix happening, you take a break. Come back another day with a clear mind and sit back objectively and say.. "As a listener, what does this track need?" 

Pretend you never heard it before. Is your great solo annoyingly loud? Is that cool bass part overpowering or lost under the kick drum ? Can you clearly hear the vocals? Does the track have the punch you want, or opposite the loud and soft dynamics your trying to portray? Then you can objectively tweak your mix BEFORE mastering it.

Our ears get stressed during long mixes and literally need to rest before mastering. I can't emphasize that enough !  If you master right after mixing, you'll wind up with sh*t.  I know, I did stupid stuff like that in my past and learned fast. Nothing like chewing up your profit in a remix, by having to go back and re-master at MY expense, not the labels, because I didn't let me ears rest. Please don't forget this !

So, mastering today IS technical, but is also a last chance effort to "fix" elements you probably missed while you were "emotionally" involved with the mix. We all want to show off our cool riff we did. but does the public REALLY care? They probably just want a good clear track to listen to so they can get into your music. You only have a few minutes to turn people on to your music with a first listen. Take an unemotional approach. I never mix and master in the same day. If I have to, I take an hour or two break.

So for your output formats, you always have to consider your material.  Is it classical or ambient where soft and loud is important. Or is it electro, house or pop, where loud and "flat in your face" gives it punch.. Think about that for a minute. What are you portraying with your sound. Punch and pop, quiet and dynamic, etc? That will give you a basis to start your mastering.

What's your output format for delivery?

- Mp3 adds a few things to your mixdown. Less dynamic range because of the format. That range also largely depends on the "mp3 rate" you choose when compressing. [higher = better, but has larger files to up and download]  MP3 format usually compresses the audio a bit [like a compressor] and artificially adds some bass and high end to make up for the compression artifacts. Don't let this info confuse you, it will help you in the end if you understand this. I sometimes love the MP3 result. Not as "clear" dynamically, but tight & punchy for ipod dance mixes. Look you do an amazing recording job at 96k, 24 bit beautiful sound and WTF, it winds up as an mp3 on iTunes or your website anyway..lol

- CDs [aiff, wav or SD formats] have more room for dynamics, ie: soft & loud. But it also shows the flaws of your mix. Here too mastering can 'patch' things up a little, but not much. If your mix sucks, probably your master will too. You can add EQ and compression, but only so much will help. If it's not there, then back to the mix to fix it ! Better the mix, better the mastering.

If you are mastering for tv, video, film, or surround it's best to take it to a pro as they know the needs of their particular formats.

I would suggest you try mastering yourself. Logic has good basic tools with the adaptive limiter, multipressor and the peak limiter. Watch your output levels and LISTEN unemotionally to your mix. I can't stress that more. Pretend it's your first time hearing it. 

>>Don't listen to the composition, listen to the OVERALL sound spectrum !!<<

It's a different way of thinking, thats all !  

Is it punchy? Can you hear the lead vocal or instrument. Are the highs annoying or need a boost?  Logic has some built in presets in the mastering tools to play with. Just because you're not doing hip hop, doesn't mean that setting won't work for you. Try them all, watch your output levels [NEVER peak red] and do some sample mixes.

Mix for CD and then Mix for MP3. I do one or two  "save as" copies of your project for cd & mp3 mix as I often have to change mix levels t suit the format. That's an advantage over sending it out for mastering, because you can bring up the vocal or drums if needed in one format and not the other.

You will have one mix for CD and one you made into and MP3 for that format.

Take those mixes and play them on your MP3 on your iPod, CD in your car, on your stereo, on your friends stereo, on your mac speakers, in your headphones. That's how others will be hearing it. Does it sound good, or is that vocal or punch overbearing or are you loosing syllables in the voice track across all formats? If you you have a MIX problem, not a mastering problem. And guess what, its FREE to go back and fix it !

It's NORMAL to do a few mixes until you get it down. Damn, I still do a few at times, and I've been doing this crap for 25 years... lol @

Here's the old skool way of thinking. You basically have 3 "ZONES" for mixing in the audio spectrum. Low, Mid and High.  The human brain can process a lot of info in each area, but if any one area gets too 'crowded' we seem to have trouble focusing on the mix as a whole. If your guitar, strings and vocals are all competing in the mid range, you have to make a decision, what;s most important. Is that vocal critical to the song [and not your ego] or is the groove and riff the meat of the song and make it work? Same goes for bass and the drums. Will the punch and the groove carry the track more than the bimbo singing it..lol?

Keeping a non emotional mindset with help you really LISTEN to what's there. I come back the next day or two to master. A little 'dabbling' and listening again will start to make sense.

Look you can spend $1000 mastering, and NOT get what you want. Doing it yourself is FREE and you can try more than once for no extra charge. Chances are you'll get something you like if not a great master. The only time I send out for mastering is vinyl, surround or film and even then I do a VERY LIGHT mastering for levels and leave the EQ to the professionals in that particular format. 

Just like you learned Logic, learning mastering is an art, but not that complicated.
But remember this is an artform and not a dry science, so the old saying goes here as well.."Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one"..lol [including my own opinion here as well]  What that really means is, follow your heart, you'll know when its right..

Let me know if you guys have any questions.
Hope this helps ! 
Best of luck!

-Man Parrish
http://www.ManParrish.com


--- In Logic_Cafe@yahoogroups.com, Gregory Anderson <glists@...> wrote:
>
> Greg, or anyone else, I think I'm to the point where my need to  
> release some music is at odds with my ability to mix or master with  
> any competence.  I know online mixing and mastering has been  
> discussed in this forum before, but a google search shows hundreds of  
> options ranging from just mastering for $15/song to multi-thousand  
> dollar mixing/mastering operations.
> 
> I have no idea how to pick one.  Does anyone have any experience with  
> anyone they would recommend?  Unfortunately cost is a huge factor,  
> but if I can't afford anyone better than me, there's no point in  
> farming this out in the first place.
> 
> Obviously I will listen to online demos of previous work, but don't  
> know how that will compare to my own work and recording blemishes.   
> I'm doing instrumental piano, flute and cello celtic-ey / new age-y /  
> classicalesque stuff.
> 
> Thoughts?  Recommendations?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Gregory
> 
> On Jul 1, 2008, at 1:38 PM, GAmoore@... wrote:
> 
> > There are some famous studios (e.g. Abbey Road) and famous  
> > engineers who will
> > master your stuff via online submissions, and its not that  
> > expensive. I think
> > the real pro's use hardware rather than software though. I suppose  
> > you can
> > use the Precision series of plugs from UAudio if you want to do it  
> > in the box,
> > but I feel its a specialized art and if you want it done right, you  
> > probably
> > have to go to a pro.
> >
>