I've been psuedo mastering live 2trk mixes of live bands, and now that I
have decent monitoring, I hear how lousy some software compression is.
For example, I've been using the iZotope mastering system as a DX plugin,
and after playing with all the presets to get an idea of what they were
packaging as "good" and tweaking each one ad infinitum, am a bit surprised
at the gunk that's being poured onto the recording. I'm not expecting
miracles here, but I would like tighten the bass and kit a bit more, and
give a little little edge to the guitars and vocals. Nothing I do (even in
small increments) seems to really satisfy my ears, as it just suffocates the
airiness and details, and boxes up the cymbals and snare. Am I just simply
using the wrong tool? Should I think about a piece of outboard gear, or
still give this kind of software a fighting chance?

Maybe move over to the Waves stuff?

"offpeak808" wrote in message ...

I'm not expecting
miracles here, but I would like tighten the bass and kit a bit more, and
give a little little edge to the guitars and vocals.

Not to be strident here, but these items need to be tended to in the mixing
process rather than in the mastering of a completed 2-track mix. I'm not
saying that these things can't be accomplished in mastering, but I tend to
believe that it would have to be a series of high quality tools and a great deal
more time, rather than a series of software plug-ins. If this much 'tweaking'
work remains to be done on every song, then you are essentially asking a
lifeless algorithm to do what needed to be done several steps earlier than
the point where you seem to be now. You have to remember... no matter
how 'selective' you try to be with your tweaks, they are now affecting every
single element from which the mix was comprised.

Live recordings are a great deal more demanding when it comes to having
gotten the best mix possible before hitting record... you really don't get a
second chance, no matter what it says in the literature. ;-)

--
David Morgan (MAMS)
http://www.m-a-m-s DOT com
Morgan Audio Media Service
Dallas, Texas (214) 662-9901
_______________________________________
http://www.artisan-recordingstudio.com

No stridency taken! I've just seen mastering engineers add some compression
and EQ in the final mastering process to pump up a live recording a bit,
usually resulting in bringing the drums/bass to the front a bit more. Don't
know if it's standard practice or not.

I'm dealing with "better than bootleg" live recordings off the stage in a
small club- stereo 2trk with 4-5 spot mics (6-7 channels), mixed realtime
down to 2 trks. Nothing fancy between source and HD (just sends from the
board + ORTF). It sounds real close to what a person in the 3rd row hears.
Don't have the luxury of adding a compressor to the kick or bass on a
separate track, or even live. The application doesn't call for it. So
essentailly I'm trying to make what was captured live sound a bit more
upfront and closer to the CD listener, without compromising the airiness of
the recording.

I'm not expecting
miracles here, but I would like tighten the bass and kit a bit more, and
give a little little edge to the guitars and vocals.

Not to be strident here, but these items need to be tended to in the
mixing
process rather than in the mastering of a completed 2-track mix. I'm not
saying that these things can't be accomplished in mastering, but I tend to
believe that it would have to be a series of high quality tools and a
great deal
more time, rather than a series of software plug-ins. If this much
'tweaking'
work remains to be done on every song, then you are essentially asking a
lifeless algorithm to do what needed to be done several steps earlier than
the point where you seem to be now. You have to remember... no matter
how 'selective' you try to be with your tweaks, they are now affecting
every
single element from which the mix was comprised.

Live recordings are a great deal more demanding when it comes to having
gotten the best mix possible before hitting record... you really don't get
a
second chance, no matter what it says in the literature. ;-)

--
David Morgan (MAMS)
http://www.m-a-m-s DOT com
Morgan Audio Media Service
Dallas, Texas (214) 662-9901
_______________________________________
http://www.artisan-recordingstudio.com

"Mastering Presets" is an oxymoron.