The Dark Art of Mastering Music

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Is this a step forward from the loudness wars??

The Dark Art of Mastering Music | Pitchfork »

 

Very interesting.

What I got out of it was that mastering engineers have, for better or worse, way too much input into how the music should sound, as opposed to the artist and producer.

 

I like this description:

If rock stars are the sex gods of music, mastering engineers are its druids, the ones who work methodically and meticulously, and to whom people come for mystical wisdom and blessing.

But I'm sure a lot of SHMF readers would be somewhat stressed out by this comment:

The mastering engineers I spoke to for this story kept using the same phrase when describing their job: “to make the song competitive in the marketplace.”

 

I thought it was a good article
however i think MIXING
is the REAL ART.

mastering is reliant on whatever mix they get.

a good mix is the thing.

 

I have a very good friend who is a mastering engineer (and a lacquer cutter). He always, always pushes against brick wall mastering.

 

Actually a good recording is the thing....

 

not sure if i'm threadcrapping or not but here are some great tapeOP interviews with bob ludwig, greg calbi, and our host mr hoffman, on mastering …… please gort delete if this is inappropriate ….. regardless .. for now …. enjoy.

Bob Ludwig: Master of Mastering »
Greg Calbi: Sterling Mastering Maestro »
Steve Hoffman: Mastering The Beach Boys, Miles Davis, & More »