Well, Andy, you and I seem to like loud music. But I must point out the idea with smashing the single and then not smashing the album. To me, it is like cooking a great dinner, but not cleaning it up at all before and after. Or for those
that need a vile one, using the bathroom. You wipe but don't flush. All is well.
That is how I view smashing and not smashing....Does that make any sense?
I figure if they pay me for "soft" (not labeling it as quiet!), meticulous mastering, then that is what I'll do for them. I won't be taking a song and smashing it to hell.
They paid for soft right?
My logic is this: You get what you pay for.
Sure, there are pros and cons to both loud and soft material. But what I think most people on this board are concerned about is not "loud". It is the integrity of the audio
when trying to get "loud". (If I went beyond my place for seeming to speak for any of you, I wasn't. Just second guessing you)
With that in mind, I'm sure the simple solution of just turning the volume up works wonders. Take a "good" mastered song. It breathes, dynamic, good tone, no low threshold limiting etc. Turn the volume dial up a bit. Now take that snapshot. Would you guys still be complaining about loudness wars etc?
I would go further, but I won't. I'll let anyone answer from here on.
Again, I don't care either way. I'm young, I want to put food on my table and have a prosperous future. If I get
paid one way or another, I'll do it. Sorry if that seems callous to the whole awareness and reaching out for better audio.
So what is exactly bad about doing what a client says to do in the first place as a service? Whether the client is A&R, Artist, Mixer etc.
-John