OK, caveat: I've not had the experience than many of you have. Maybe you're more prepared for the changes that mastering provides. But, here I am, listening back to albums I've sweated over for literally years that have finally finished (OK, and other projects I sweated over for days), and I am STARTLED by the lack of dynamics. Where'd the snare go? What the F happened to the lead vocal? Why are the wide-panned BGVox now overtaking EVERYTHING?
To be honest, the tonal shifts I'm OK with. Some additional clarity, some brightening, and de-muddifying that I'm appreciative of. But seriously, the volume issues are outrageous. I have a super busy, highly percussive rock track preceding a nice piano ballad, and the vocal level is WAY out of proportion between the two. It's almost as if they just slapped a go-to limiter preset on the whole thing and said, "done: that'll be $1200." I've had to request volume automation, EQ shifts, mid-side processing - and don't get me started on the sloppy edits in and out of songs. Can no one fade musically? Segue musically? Is it so hard to imagine that someone with ears would get that two songs should begin their crossfade on a downbeat? Do I have to be so explicit with my instructions - and if I am, do I have to get so much attitude back from the ME?
The bands are largely oblivious. They're just so damn happy to be closing in on the finish line that they've lost objectivity. But this is my work as much as theirs (in my eyes, er, ears) and I want it to be right.
Now. Let me also say I've had some great experiences - but I've also never heard an ME make a suggestion as to how the mix could be altered to help the song, or the mastering, or to point out deficiencies that were brought to light in mastering (and believe me, an extra 6-12db of gain brings a lot to the fore). I really would appreciate that. For instance, I had a recent album done in which one room ribbon mic was high in the mix. It provided a nice vibe, but boy was it noisy after all that gain. At the behest of the band (and I agreed with them) the hiss and noise was out of place with the rest of the tracks and I remixed. Why wouldn't a "golden eared" ME mention something like that? Are we not in this together?
And while I will name no names, these are mastering facilities that have done major-label records. Oddly, the best customer service and attention to detail has come from the lesser names - albeit with some noticeable differences in (dare I say it) transparent loudness. Honestly, I have no idea what I'm paying for (or, rather, the bands are) when it comes to differences between mastering engineers.
OK. </rant>
L