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[Alécio Costa - Brazil]

Hi,
In order to learn advanced/new/different mastering techniques, would you guys recommend me such courses like the "quick" one below?

http://www.legendaryaudio.com/school.html
http://mixonline.com/news/headline/masterpiece-schoolofmaste ring-opens-092206/index.html


thanks

[jfrigo]

I don't know... leaves me feeling a little skepical that you would get what you want out of this. Ask Alan Silverman if he knows anything about it past his one hour conference call that the course advertises. It appears most of the participants would be beginners in mastering, and if you're looking for advanced techniques, they may never be adequately covered in three short days. You'd be better off interning or assisting for an established engineer over a longer period of time.

[Dave Davis]

For me, value depends how many people attend, and the approach taken.  Glenn Meadows offered a similar program in Nashville when he was still at Masterfonics, and it was very well regarded, not only because it was led by Glenn, but also because class size was small enough to get 1:1 attention.  As a teacher I can't tell you how important that is.  When I started teaching, my class was limited to 10 people since we shared the same studios, and people didn't have DAWs.  My current class is often as large as 20, but everyone has a DAW for homework.  At the end of the day, the old class was better, even though the new class provides much more "hands on" experience.  The larger the class, the more watered down the content.

In terms of approach, any method that doesn't begin with listening, and provide explicit instruction and practice in that skill is teaching the wrong things at the wrong time.  Listening comes first.  One can't know if further processing is needed without experience listening, comparing.  The ability to talk about one's work with clients, engineers and others is critical too.  In many respects, the more a program focuses on gear and knobs, the less value it has long term (since gear and knobs change all the time).

Given that the course is being put on by a manufacturer who is also an ME makes it impossible to guess which approach might be taken.  You need to look at the syllabus, and consider the benefit based on that.

Finally, I'd second J's concern: time is important.  You might be better served with a longer-term experience, or something more broad.  Don't forget that virtually every AES convention has a host of GREAT programs with the best ears in the world, and a full-show pass is 1/3 the cost of this program.  You'll meet more people, be exposed to more new ideas and techniques, and have great 1:1 opportunities by attending a convention and hitting all the seminars and workshops you can stomach.  The programs in total yield more instructional hours for much less cost, with potentially equal or greater quality.

-d-

[Alécio Costa - Brazil]

Thanks, Dave. I have also considered something like this.

In fact, just watching some of you guys working would already be a great learning experience.

In fact I also teach but basic recording, mixing and music production. Never more than 6 students.

There are some courses where the main goal is to sell gear, very biased approach.

I have gone to a few  AES conventions here in Brazil but to me most  have been a total loss of time concerning mastering.

Funny that a client of mine stopped at the last USA AES by accident.LOL

[Jerry Tubb]

I think Billy Stull's Legendary Audio mastering seminar is mainly centered around using Mr. Rupert Neve's "Masterpiece", but I could be wrong. Either way, Billy's a good guy, & South Padre Island is a nice place to hang out for a few days.

Should be some great comida Mexicana del mar!

JT

[lowland]

I would agree with Jerry, Billy Stull is probably one of the good guys: I interviewed him about a year ago and he came across as a very thoughtful, nice man with much to impart about what he does.

Yes, he is a manufacturer, although what he manufactures (the Masterpiece system) grew out of his own requirements as a mastering engineer. Although I wouldn't want to put words in his mouth, I would doubt whether he sees his mastering course as more than a fairly intense jumping-off point for students to take it to the next level through their own study or placements.

Hopefully Alan S or Billy himself will pop up here to field questions.

[Dave Davis]

Still... for the cost of the course, you might do better attending some short sessions (ideally singles) with your favorite ME's, and paying attention!

-d-

[djwaudio]

We train people to safely ride motorcycles in a weekend. The combination of a well thought-out, and proven knowledge portion, along with hands on experience featuring individual coaching can and does provide students with a solid foundation.

The key to all of this in my experience is to have well organized printed materials with all of the  information the students will be presented. Then using guided discussions so the students discover answers for themselves.

This is what I would look for in an audio seminar as well.