MASTERING! The Sticky!

[Red Mastering]

Mastering question -

When a track is mastered as well as the loudness being increased, is the punch and bass also increased/added?
I know that the louder something is the more bassy and punchy it seems. But this is not my query

Example - If I played an unmastered track at the same RELATIVE volume as a mastered track (so both are at the same perceived volume and for arguements sake the track is the exact same tune), would the mastered track sound more punchy and bassy? and also would the mastered track sound more upfront?

The reason I ask is because I want to know if I need to increase the bass and punch in my mixdown even more so before sending it for mastering or weather the mastering can take care of adding these factors.

Thanks for anyones help on this.

from my experience, I'd say master should not change mix at all,
mostly not in negative way,
but clients sometimes demand it, (tonal/dynamics change)
it really depends of your expectations,
generally when you level mix and master, master should always sound better, bit more punchy and also bit louder (fletcher-munson curve comes to my mind)
I think what you saying is outcome of compression,
anyway I had a client who demanded to have super loud master, and when I sent him first master - he asked for more,
after another attempt, he asked me why snare lost it's punch?, well....
some people start like that - I want this master super dynamic and loud - which is obvious contradiction,
but I think one of very important part of my job is to communicate with clients and also explain to them all issues;

so getting to topic,
I offer mastering services in dedicated studio :
Red Mastering Studio
combination of analogue and digital;
free sample for 'first timers':)
25 UK for 1 song
99 for EP
199 for LP
any questions - feel free to ask

welcome!

[drake1813]

I'm curious to actually see the amount of difference mastering makes, it seems logical that if you get your mixdown right, then very little difference in the song would be necessary- maybe only a limiter and a volume boost?

Would someone be able to link a song here straight after the mix down, then as a finished product after the master, so we can hear the difference?

[Red Mastering]

for one a small change in EQ could be perceived as minimal and insignificant, for other - a big one
mastering most important part and mostly overlooked - is sound quality check - a fresh pair of ears in properly treated acoustical room,
with great monitoring and top end converters
many mixes I got sound fantastic, but this does not mean I don't have to work,
sequencing it, and giving 12 songs coherent sound so they sound as an album and not a bunch of different songs is 1 of the thing,
I think that most important tool in processing would be EQ (apart of ears/monitoring, etc..)
answering to second part of your question - http://redmastering.co.uk
under portfolio are audio files before and after mastering process (peak leveled), actually few of mixes peak at 0dB FS, where my masters never get over -0.3dB, as when you convert it to mp3 file, 0.3 dB headroom is minimal to avoid digital clipping

[safeandsound]

I have 11 x before and after files on this page:

http://www.masteringmastering.co.uk/onl ... ering.html

More dubstep related work I have done here:

http://www.digitalsanctuaryrecordings.com/?p=1830
http://www.our-dubs.co.uk/
http://www.bzerq.com/

Before and afters are an odd one really because the results often take into account client taste/input/reference as well as purely translation/subjective enhancement but I am also completely happy to demo my work as well. (as should anyone good)

As a side note single track mastering at SafeandSound Mastering is now £28.00 (£3.00 increase) Bear in mind for dubstep you want to get your tracks mastered with someone who has a full range system, not small loudspeakers (often no better than those the client is already using). The mastering engineer needs to know how your music is going to scale up and if the bass response rolls off around 50Hz thats not going to cut the mustard.

[Red Mastering]

i must disagree with you on this one,
I spoke few weeks ago with Mastering Engineer, top shelf guy, hundreds of albums mastered,
over 20 years of experience,
He master in smallish room on average monitors (yamaha ns10 plus sub) and using average converters,
mastering with plugins only
it's all about skills and experience, equipment and 'cutting mustard' as well as big ego comes later:)

[NinjaEdit]

I would master your track for credit.

Here's a sample.
Soundcloud

[safeandsound]

it's all about skills and experience

Skills and experience is what bring about the understanding that offering mastering services using small speakers is inappropriate.
Why not find out for yourself first hand, instead of reciting another persons view. Don't confuse hearsay, with knowledge.
When you have worked with the people I have worked with, in the position I have worked then you have basis to chat about skills and experience.

SafeandSound Mastering
Online mastering studio

[Littlefoot]

it's all about skills and experience

Skills and experience is what bring about the understanding that offering mastering services using small speakers is inappropriate.
Why not find out for yourself first hand, instead of reciting another persons view. Don't confuse hearsay, with knowledge.
When you have worked with the people I have worked with, in the position I have worked then you have basis to chat about skills and experience.

SafeandSound Mastering
Online mastering studio

I'm going to put it out there that of all the (quite a lot) mastering houses I've visited over the years, all of them were breaking at least one massive "rule".. poorly treated rooms, small monitors, dodgy cheapo converters.. now, I am not saying this is good, it's not, it's bad, BUT these guys are generally too busy getting paid to master their happy clients music to worry about that stuff, so all the power to them I say!

[safeandsound]

I put together a short video touring the studio, it's about D&B but kind of overlaps with dubstep and other dance genres to a degree, you may find it of interest, tours the studio and has an off the cuff chat about mastering such genres..

Mastering drum and bass video by Barry Gardner

cheers