Al
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« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2008, 11:00:02 AM »
I can't imagine you could learn mastering in a school. I went to an audio school, but I can't say I learnt anything about mastering there. Instead I got the sparkle to go for it and see what it's all about.
..Six years later my business is about to enter its 4th year mark, it's exponentially growing, I'm making a living out of it, and I have a feeling I might know something about this profession. Still there's so much to learn I feel like I've only just woke up.
Doing a record after another is really the only way. And I don't think you're ever "ready".
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« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2008, 02:48:43 PM »
For sure|! In fact I am in similar situation, but far from the main market and where are the top mstering professionals. Reading, researching, and testing stuff everyday is all that is left for self improvement.
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« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2008, 02:07:29 PM »
I know Nick very well and he's a good one. He's giving mastering courses for quite a few years. Why do you think one can't learn/teach mastering? Isn't it the same as learning an instrument or a language? Some are more talented as others, but only time and a lot of practice will make someone good at it. I think you can teach how to listen, how to keep an eye on details and the use of tools. Also teaching the technical aspects is possible. Will that make anyone a good mastering engineer? I don't think so. Learning Latin in school for 7 years, but I can't remember anything... But we're going to launch a new teaching method soon, stay tuned...
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-a- ___________________________ andreas balaskas chief mastering engineer www.masterlab.de___________________________
« Reply #7 on: May 07, 2008, 06:17:28 PM »
Read Bob Katz book on mastering (Second Edition). No course will give you more info than what's in that book.
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« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2008, 10:30:46 PM »
I have the first edition. Thanks!
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« Reply #9 on: May 08, 2008, 12:29:17 PM »
bblackwood wrote on Mon, 05 May 2008 21:37 | I can't imagine that serious mastering could be taught in a school room - if you want to learn, contact an experienced mastering engineer and intern/assist there for a while...
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Like most professions I believe that the basics can be learned in a school, but it takes years to develop the skills. Also schools are often helpful in gaining internships. FWIW I recently hired an intern here (part time) from a college where I teach.
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« Reply #10 on: May 09, 2008, 01:32:23 AM »
I'm actually teaching a mastering class at the local community college.
It covers very basic signal processing skills but it's mostly about listening, how to create valid listening comparisons and how to develop goals for mastering a particular project based on what that project would be compared to upon release.
In other words, how to find out where the goal posts are as opposed to how best to kick the ball.
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« Reply #11 on: May 09, 2008, 10:20:07 AM »
Hi, Bob Can you give me more information about your course? I have been junior mastering for 8 years. Got a modest set here, but do intend to grow.
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« Reply #12 on: May 12, 2008, 08:43:12 AM »
bblackwood wrote on Tue, 06 May 2008 07:52 |
Al
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Larry DeVivo Silvertone Mastering, Inc. PO Box 4582 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 www.silvertonemastering.comTo see some of our work please click on any of the visual trailer montages located at... http://robertetoll.com/ (all music and sound effects were mastered by Silvertone Mastering).
« Reply #13 on: May 14, 2008, 10:35:10 AM »
Any other inputs?
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« Reply #14 on: May 17, 2008, 12:51:13 PM »
I have developed and teach a 16 week mastering course at the college where I direct the recording program. 4th semester students take this course as a technical elective prior to the required internship.
I'm still tweaking the curriculum, but like Bob has stated, it's "listen, listen, listen", "do no harm" followed by "compare and contrast". We listend to and discussed a LOT of music. Every week students read a chapter in the Katz book which we then discuss and demonstrate the concepts. This is followed lab exercises on the same.
I've developed a form for students to use for each stage of mastering (eq, compression, limiting) that demands that they point out, say perceived mix deficiencies (if any) and tell me what their "action plan" is before even touching the gear (analog room (PT>MEA-2>VariMu>L2hardware>Masterlink) or ITB (Wavelab/plugins).
We also spend many sessions during the first half of the semester on the Golden Ears EQ exercises. The students dug it because I gave away a prize to both the best and most improved students. Of course the grand prize was Radio Shack SPL meter. Students spend at least 4 supervised hours in lab each week on projects. The coolest project was a Student Compilation E-CD for our record label. There were 13 master-able entries that ranged from death metal to folk rock. Each student had to master, on deadline, 3 different songs, and in every case two students would master each tune. As a group we listened to the versions, discussed each version and voted which one would be on the CD. After 15 weeks of the class, students were able to critique each mix in a sophisticated and learned way (in educator-speak we call this "synthesis"). I was impressed and proud of my ME grasshoppers.
Part of the final was THEIR evaluation of the course. Every one said that while they may or may not want to go into mastering as a livelihood, they A. are much better listeners than before B. will use concepts and techniques to become better mixers, and C. actually understand what dither, level, CDDB, UPC, and parallel compression, and a host of other stuff they've heard about along the way but finally get.
I've learned a lot by having to keep up with Dr. Brainiac Bob Katz. Maybe the next time I sit in the back of the control room when Dave Glasser or Dave Collins masters one of MY records, I may actually know what's going on!
All this said, my students are now ready for an apprenticeship. So how about it, mastering engineers of the world: are YOU ready for an intern???? Email me if you want to discuss it! tommy wiggins
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thestudioguy cleveland, oh
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