Mastering Challenge - 01 August
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4083 posts since 29 Jun, 2011 from USA
I like listening to this guy
Aiynzahev-sounds
Sound Designer - Soundsets for Pigments, Repro, Diva, Virus TI, Nord Lead 4, Serum, DUNE2, Spire, and others
Sound Designer - Soundsets for Pigments, Repro, Diva, Virus TI, Nord Lead 4, Serum, DUNE2, Spire, and others
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- KVRAF
- 3817 posts since 8 Mar, 2006
Hey Guys 
Here's my entry:
http://soundcloud.com/3eesounddesign/ag ... ter-by-3ee
FL Studio 10, Yamaha HS80m, partially acoustic treated room.. so yeah, not ideal for mastering works!
I've used Ohmforce Ohmicide mostly to saturate and glue the highs a bit right before iZotope Ozone5 modules and that's it.
1st, the EQ module in M/S mode to correct the overall tone a bit:
MID EQ
-almost 2db boost around 115HZ (tight to med Q) to round the kick as it sounded a bit too deep and because of it's length, it sounded a bit sluggish too.
-a narrow cut of 3.5 db at 331HZ (right above the low end part of the snare) to keep the brass fundamentals in check a bit and not only (brass was mixed a bit too full and loud for this mix IMO)
-a gentle HS boost + a peak to focus the hi freqs totaling in about 3 db around 15k as mix was a bit dark to begin with. (used sparingly as the next modules would progressively introduce more, especially the exciter)
SIDE EQ
-cut the low end with a 12db/oct HP filter below 131HZ.
-mid to wide Q cut of 2db around 688HZ as brass was too wide and a bit-muddy loud for that reason.
-gentle HS filter to boost the high freq a bit (slope coming from about 5k although filter was set to 10k )
2nd, Multi-band, 3-band dynamics in M/S mode.
Crossover points for all MB modules: 10-215HZ, 216-2999, 3-20K
-blah blahs carefully tweaked to tighten the dynamics.
Why in M/S mode? ... I usually used Density MKIII in M/S mode to tighten and widen if necessary, imagine that done in multi-band by another great, updated unit.
...again, problems in the low-mids, despite of a good mix, instruments still needed some more separation and control especially in the low mids (when the brass and vocal and string/pads enter (+bass) it gets a bit muddy, so to fix this, the master turned out a bit less wide in that area but IMO, sounds better.
3rd, Harmonic Exciter in M/S mode
A bit of Tape for each band, especially the hi freqs. (Oversampling ON, of course)
4th, Stereo Imaging
Mix was wider to begin with and with all of the M/S procession (especially the mid-side excitation), I had to narrow it a bit:
Lows: minus 10%
Mids: minus 17%
Highs: minus 23%
5th, Post EQ in M/S mode
Had to correct the overall tone again. The modules did more as it seems from the text.
MID:
-33HZ low cut with a 24db/oct filter
-1.5 db cut @ 333HZ with a narrow-mid Q, (limiting required a bit less in that area to sound "louder" and cleaner)
-1.3 db cut @ ~ 2800Hz with a mid-wide Q to tame the lead guitar and bass GTR crunchiness
- 1 db boost @ 8K mainly to bring brightness back to snare (the crash cymbal is always in the way as it's a bit too loud.
- 16K LP rolloff with a steep 48db/oct filter.
SIDE:
-33HZ low cut with a 24db/oct filter
- 681 HZ, a whopping
3.5db cut with med Q to keep the wide stuff in that area under control
- 16K LP rolloff with a steep 48db/oct filter.
- 1.2db cut with med Q @ 7K, don't really remember why
- gentle HS at 15K ~3db boost to add sparkle (now I remember, the 1.2 cut @ 7K was to shape this HS curve)
Limiter
Did some "heavy" limiting IMO using IRC II algo (character smooth) with intersample detection on.... ceiling -0.3 db as usual. ..MBit+ dithering blah blah...
Since I'm no mastering engineer, I think it turned out pretty cool... more saturated and tapey for my taste but I guess/hope it's good enough for someone to say it's a good job!
Cheers,
3ee
Here's my entry:
http://soundcloud.com/3eesounddesign/ag ... ter-by-3ee
FL Studio 10, Yamaha HS80m, partially acoustic treated room.. so yeah, not ideal for mastering works!
I've used Ohmforce Ohmicide mostly to saturate and glue the highs a bit right before iZotope Ozone5 modules and that's it.
1st, the EQ module in M/S mode to correct the overall tone a bit:
MID EQ
-almost 2db boost around 115HZ (tight to med Q) to round the kick as it sounded a bit too deep and because of it's length, it sounded a bit sluggish too.
-a narrow cut of 3.5 db at 331HZ (right above the low end part of the snare) to keep the brass fundamentals in check a bit and not only (brass was mixed a bit too full and loud for this mix IMO)
-a gentle HS boost + a peak to focus the hi freqs totaling in about 3 db around 15k as mix was a bit dark to begin with. (used sparingly as the next modules would progressively introduce more, especially the exciter)
SIDE EQ
-cut the low end with a 12db/oct HP filter below 131HZ.
-mid to wide Q cut of 2db around 688HZ as brass was too wide and a bit-muddy loud for that reason.
-gentle HS filter to boost the high freq a bit (slope coming from about 5k although filter was set to 10k )
2nd, Multi-band, 3-band dynamics in M/S mode.
Crossover points for all MB modules: 10-215HZ, 216-2999, 3-20K
-blah blahs carefully tweaked to tighten the dynamics.
Why in M/S mode? ... I usually used Density MKIII in M/S mode to tighten and widen if necessary, imagine that done in multi-band by another great, updated unit.
...again, problems in the low-mids, despite of a good mix, instruments still needed some more separation and control especially in the low mids (when the brass and vocal and string/pads enter (+bass) it gets a bit muddy, so to fix this, the master turned out a bit less wide in that area but IMO, sounds better.
3rd, Harmonic Exciter in M/S mode
A bit of Tape for each band, especially the hi freqs. (Oversampling ON, of course)
4th, Stereo Imaging
Mix was wider to begin with and with all of the M/S procession (especially the mid-side excitation), I had to narrow it a bit:
Lows: minus 10%
Mids: minus 17%
Highs: minus 23%
5th, Post EQ in M/S mode
Had to correct the overall tone again. The modules did more as it seems from the text.
MID:
-33HZ low cut with a 24db/oct filter
-1.5 db cut @ 333HZ with a narrow-mid Q, (limiting required a bit less in that area to sound "louder" and cleaner)
-1.3 db cut @ ~ 2800Hz with a mid-wide Q to tame the lead guitar and bass GTR crunchiness
- 1 db boost @ 8K mainly to bring brightness back to snare (the crash cymbal is always in the way as it's a bit too loud.
- 16K LP rolloff with a steep 48db/oct filter.
SIDE:
-33HZ low cut with a 24db/oct filter
- 681 HZ, a whopping
- 16K LP rolloff with a steep 48db/oct filter.
- 1.2db cut with med Q @ 7K, don't really remember why
- gentle HS at 15K ~3db boost to add sparkle (now I remember, the 1.2 cut @ 7K was to shape this HS curve)
Limiter
Did some "heavy" limiting IMO using IRC II algo (character smooth) with intersample detection on.... ceiling -0.3 db as usual. ..MBit+ dithering blah blah...
Since I'm no mastering engineer, I think it turned out pretty cool... more saturated and tapey for my taste but I guess/hope it's good enough for someone to say it's a good job!
Cheers,
3ee
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- KVRAF
- 4585 posts since 2 Nov, 2006
Tried to upload my version and I've broken SoundCloud 
Sorry, this track is too hot for us!
Oh, damn! We couldn't create the waveform for your track. We're checking it right now and will try to fix it asap!
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4083 posts since 29 Jun, 2011 from USA
Maybe its clipping too much? Perhaps SC can't handle the heat.MaxSynths wrote:Tried to upload my version and I've broken SoundCloud
Sorry, this track is too hot for us!
Oh, damn! We couldn't create the waveform for your track. We're checking it right now and will try to fix it asap!
Anyway so far this excursion has taught me: this is not even a fraction of mastering. The guy in the video was saying he's been in the same room for 12 years!
Aiynzahev-sounds
Sound Designer - Soundsets for Pigments, Repro, Diva, Virus TI, Nord Lead 4, Serum, DUNE2, Spire, and others
Sound Designer - Soundsets for Pigments, Repro, Diva, Virus TI, Nord Lead 4, Serum, DUNE2, Spire, and others
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- KVRAF
- 4585 posts since 2 Nov, 2006
Deleted the track and reuploaded, now it's upAiynzahev wrote:Maybe its clipping too much? Perhaps SC can't handle the heat.MaxSynths wrote:Tried to upload my version and I've broken SoundCloud
Sorry, this track is too hot for us!
Oh, damn! We couldn't create the waveform for your track. We're checking it right now and will try to fix it asap!
- KVRAF
- 4176 posts since 2 Feb, 2003 from lost in music
@ maxsynth:
would you let us know what you did with the track?
would you let us know what you did with the track?
sound is vibration, vibration is life
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- KVRAF
- 4585 posts since 2 Nov, 2006
Uh sorry guysrsmus7 wrote:@ maxsynth:
would you let us know what you did with the track?
- Stereo widening to enhance the stereo image just a bit.
- Graphic Equalizer: cutted a lot of things in the low range (almost everything below 50Hz has been cutted); enhanced clarity and presence on the strings and percussions (wild stuff on the mid-high range, lots of tweaking); cut at 400Hz to correct muddiness.
- Psychoacustic processing on the low and hi-end.
- Hard limiting.
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- KVRAF
- 3817 posts since 8 Mar, 2006
So far, I like how different all the entries are! 
Even fairly subtle changes bring out some "other" instruments and nuances thus the final result simply feels different... enjoying the diversity of colors.
To a certain extent, I think we are trying to correct room+speakers freq response without noticing ...maybe that's why some entries sound so colored.
Even fairly subtle changes bring out some "other" instruments and nuances thus the final result simply feels different... enjoying the diversity of colors.
To a certain extent, I think we are trying to correct room+speakers freq response without noticing ...maybe that's why some entries sound so colored.
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- KVRAF
- 1800 posts since 10 Feb, 2007
Ok, I found out how to upload it to this particular souncloud group. Looking forward to your comments:manducator wrote:Hello,
Here is my mastering attempt:
http://www26.zippyshare.com/v/23586102/file.html
Aiynzahev, feel free to upload it to the soundcloud.
I tried to get a master with commercial loudness, so yes, I messed heavily with the dynamics.
Here are the tools I used:
DMGaudio Equality
Plug & Mix Brightness
PSP Audioware mastercomp
Meldaproduction Mstereoprocessor
Sonimus Sweetone
Stillwell Event horizon+
Fabfilter Pro-L
Voxengo Span
Any comments and/or questions are welcome!!
Best,
manducator
EDIT; I forgot to mention that I rendered to 16 bit ot have it cd-ready.
http://soundcloud.com/demo-purpose/agen ... manducator
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- Banned
- 1076 posts since 15 Jun, 2012
just downloaded unmastered version and see its just free FX it is then. Will master and post list of free fx when Im done. Cheers Aiynzahev for starting the competition.
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- KVRAF
- 2236 posts since 25 Dec, 2005
so i remastered the original file a third time and i like the result so far.
that means i had fun.
less highs than i did with the file before,a bit widening and saturation,limiting but trying to keep the dynamics and not smashing it.
the snare is punchier.
no equalization but a little bit more highs.
i did not went for a more surgical a attempt like automation.
overall i'm fan of crisp and sparkling highs,not overdone of course.
i realized that there are some "errors" coming up,for example there is a hi-hat that sounds like a mp3.
also on one or two parts there are some overlapping frequency's which should be corrected in the source session.
i don't like to master a final track but it is quite challenging to do so.
that means i had fun.
less highs than i did with the file before,a bit widening and saturation,limiting but trying to keep the dynamics and not smashing it.
the snare is punchier.
no equalization but a little bit more highs.
i did not went for a more surgical a attempt like automation.
overall i'm fan of crisp and sparkling highs,not overdone of course.
i realized that there are some "errors" coming up,for example there is a hi-hat that sounds like a mp3.
also on one or two parts there are some overlapping frequency's which should be corrected in the source session.
i don't like to master a final track but it is quite challenging to do so.
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- KVRAF
- 2236 posts since 25 Dec, 2005
no,that was written in the old thread,use whatever you want.Trakstar wrote:just downloaded unmastered version and see its just free FX it is then. Will master and post list of free fx when Im done. Cheers Aiynzahev for starting the competition.
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4083 posts since 29 Jun, 2011 from USA
Yea stuff changed since you been gonet3toooo wrote:no,that was written in the old thread,use whatever you want.Trakstar wrote:just downloaded unmastered version and see its just free FX it is then. Will master and post list of free fx when Im done. Cheers Aiynzahev for starting the competition.
Aiynzahev-sounds
Sound Designer - Soundsets for Pigments, Repro, Diva, Virus TI, Nord Lead 4, Serum, DUNE2, Spire, and others
Sound Designer - Soundsets for Pigments, Repro, Diva, Virus TI, Nord Lead 4, Serum, DUNE2, Spire, and others
- KVRAF
- 12141 posts since 13 Mar, 2009 from UK
Do you guys mind if I take a swing at this?
I was thinking about just running it through my fave default chain in T-Racks.
That EQP-1A will be nice on here I think.
Should only take 10 minutes to master (and about 30 minutes to upload):lol:
How do we upload it? Do I just put it on my own SoundCloud and share to the group? Is Geoff cool with this being downloadable?
I was thinking about just running it through my fave default chain in T-Racks.
That EQP-1A will be nice on here I think.
Should only take 10 minutes to master (and about 30 minutes to upload):lol:
How do we upload it? Do I just put it on my own SoundCloud and share to the group? Is Geoff cool with this being downloadable?
- KVRAF
- 2177 posts since 12 Nov, 2009
I needed like 15 mins to do the master, but 30 for joining and uploading to soundcloudseismic1 wrote:Do you guys mind if I take a swing at this?
I was thinking about just running it through my fave default chain in T-Racks.
That EQP-1A will be nice on here I think.
Should only take 10 minutes to master (and about 30 minutes to upload):lol:
How do we upload it? Do I just put it on my own SoundCloud and share to the group? Is Geoff cool with this being downloadable?
Finally!
