Mastering mastered files

[One more time again]

Do you ever retouch the mastered files you get back from mastering ?

I find it very difficult to be 100 percent happy, especially spectral balance and levels…

…I often try to get things sounding more like I hear them.

Also many times files don’t translate that well… missing top end and full bottom, sometimes not as “hot” as I believe the music requested…

…Could mastering engineers possibly be “spoiled” by their super monitors ?

Don’t kill me
OMTA

 

[sniper]

maybe you should sit in on a mastering session.
let them know your opinions \"on the fly\".

 

[Eurocide]

If the mastering studio has got good references just trust them. They will do their best to let it sound good on ANY playback system.

 

[giles117]

I am with sniper, I personally sit in on all my mastering sessions.... listening.... Plus I can walk right out the door with a copy and verify I like it in my car before I drive away

They dont mind, they get paid by the hour.

 

[carlsaff]

This is one of the reasons why I don't accept payment unless the customer is 100% satisfied. If they can't use the master I deliver as-is, I don't feel like I have provided a truly valuable service. I also will adjust masters to the customer's specifications for free (I charge on project length, not hours of studio time).

OK, enough advertising.

 

[One more time again]

Guys I see what you mean, but I 'm under the impression mastering monitors oftentimes sound \"too\" good,

every time when I'm back home I have other listening \"realities\" and there oftentimes I hear some issues in my mixes...

OMTA

 

[TheEastGateMS]

i agree with carl. only work with a mastering studio that will fix the project so that you are happy. it should be as easy as a quick email or two. along these lines, my business offers a discount if you need to alter your mix after having it mastered. and if you catch them early on, changes are welcome before final mastering for no extra charge. as long as you don't get too crazy with how many times you alter the mix. i do have to pay for my bandwidth : ). anywho, it never hurts to have someone run your tracks at no cost to you. there's a lot of us online mastering shops doing free tests now.
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