Does My Song Even NEED Mastering? 

Thanks Justin for another great episode! Pretty sure I NEED you to keep me sane while trying to finish an album..

This is Gold: "You can master in reasonable well in many different ways" ~ Sonicscoop

Very well made video. Just saw it at a time when I was really wondering whether there is an actual "need" of mastering for making world class songs. We had a fantastic mix track which was mastered and delivered today. At first it sounded intimidating with the volumes all raised but there was a noticeable difference in the quality of the track and how the vocals sounded.

Thanks Justin for the honest feedback...

Thank you

I think the point of the kick standing out too much due to the room is a pertinent point. One of the big advantages sending to a professional mastering engineer is the room they're in. They can hear and fix (if needed) elements you can't in your room. That along with the second opinion of a human professional makes it totally worth it!

I did not have my last record, 10 Songs That Happened When You Left Me With My Stupid Heart, mastered after choosing to use a few of my own pre-mastered tracks over the mastered versions on the record before it, Double Down. I do regret it, and also I'm glad I learned--years later--about what I was doing right and wrong at the time. I would not have learned as much about my own mixing tendencies if I had turned it over to someone else. I thought a few months of space away from the tracks would be enough to get some objectivity on the sonics. Some of them sound absolutely great to me, but not all of them. I will be pre-mastering the crap out of all my future records (just no limiting for volume) AND I plan on having it professionally mastered as well.

Your example of the client wanting your isotope settings made me think about how Billy Decker has given away his templates for mixing. He claims that the even though other engineers use his template, their mixes are all going to come out sounding completely different from one to the next. I agree that there is no harm in giving out your Ozone settings because your ears and your creativity are unique to you!

Surprised Justin didn't mention the release format, ie vinyl, as an area where human mastering engineers are vital.

Mastering provides you with another set of ears to listen to the mix and take action based on their perspective and expertise.

Thank you! Great video and explination 👌 In the end it's all about the money. I am nobody so i have that budget and poorer then most. I wish i could have a couple of extra ears around me everyday so my creative flow could work more freely. But at some point in life you just have to step back and say,"- it is what it is, i taken it as far as i can". AND if im lucky it sounds ... like music 😀 Im wondering if it's ok to release non-mastered songs ... sort of demo album on Spotify? All i care for is to be heard, but on the other hand you don't want to sound to off or blow up somebody's speaker 😢 Now, I don't think that many will want to listen or buy my music ... BUT if it one day do happen, i would wan't to get it mastered! Preferably with somebody who i can feel as a steady partner where both understands one and other... and then i woke up for the dream. No songs is sound of silence, music, even unmastered is at least sounds 😉 Again, thnx for the video. ... oh edit i forgott: Soundcloud mastering, have always ruined my songs.

interesting video I just want to say I found that mic you are using a bit essy, some automatic mastering services use deep learning and the more data they get on what a good master sounds like, they might be able to cater for more types of mastering and have better automated masters. If machines aren't replacing musicians then I don't think they will replace mastering engineers.

Those auto mastering sites are pretty bad. I heard some before and after. It made it worse. Yes, it was louder but worse. One mix had to much low end. The auto master added more! 😂

Good good good 👍🏾💯

I've had that experience of mastering gone bad...

The services literally let you upload reference material.

Don't anderstand why peaple believe the online mastering 1 Min mastering will not be called mastering ... Just don't use any landr. Or any .... Exetera ...they will kill you're audio quality 200/200. pay a good mastering engeneere if it need to if not learn it you're self at least with stuff like ozone that can help you forward the sound u need to achieve ..

AI is good but does it really have a brain AND ears?

Grow the beard back its gonna get cold in a few months

AI is good but does it really have a brain AND ears?