On 01/18/2011 12:26 AM, Renato wrote:
curious: mix engineers suck but mastering engineers don't and they even
know how to mix better than mix engineers.
well, there are many self-taught mixers who might not be that good
(often band members who drew the shortest straw).
you don't become a mastering engineer unless you're really really good.
but also: mixing a session (and editing, for that matter) is terribly
hard. you keep fighting hasty overdubs, pronunciation gaffes,
intonation, timing blunders, sub-optimal arrangements, and misjudgements
during tracking, and toil for days selecting takes and editing. it's
very easy to get carried away, tweak minor flaws endlessly and lose the
big picture in the end.
when mixing, i often find myself retaining too many options until too
late, and then being overwhelmed by all the decisions i have to make.
a mastering engineer does not constantly think "hmm, maybe i should take
an insert from take 42 here", or "maybe i should change the mix balance
again here". the mix is done, only the big picture is left.
the mastering engineer can kick back and relax, safe in the knowledge
that the mixing engineer sucked and mastering has to pick up the pieces,
as always. and there's only so much you can do.
that is a very nice and comfortable starting point to work from :)
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