Getting Caught In The Trap (for Steve)

[Doug Hess Jr.]

In the case of a favorite group, I'll take the mix that sounds the best to me, mono or stereo. Example: "Can't Buy Me Love", or "I Want To Hold Your Hand". Both stereo mixes are very weak. The mono's however, really kick ***. Amazing difference.

That said, do you find it easier or harder to master things you are famliar with or like. For example, would you approach the Beatles differently than say Marilyn Manson (assuming for this question you don't like Marilyn Manson) or can you be purely objective?

[J Epstein]

I remember Steve being asked a similar question in an interview and he said that he always ends up liking the artists he works on once he is done. After listening to their work over and over, he said that he always finds SOMETHING to like about them.

-j

[Doug Hess Jr.]

J,
I wish you could tell me where that article was. I either reprint or link every article I can get permission to on www.netassoc.net/dougspage/interviews.htm (http://www.netassoc.net/dougspage/interviews.htm)

[J Epstein]

I THINK it was the recent Sterophile interview?

But my memory's shot. Let me see what I can Google up.

-j

[Steve Hoffman]

Well, I know I said that somewhere. It is the truth for me (as Claus would say.)

I approach mastering everything in the same way, actually. Music is music, and it must sound the best it can (to me).

What I do make a choice on, is what is the actual (IMO) most important element of the song. The drums, bass, vocal, strings, etc. I concentrate on giving the breath of life to one thing, and, if I'm lucky, other things start to fall into place. If I'm not lucky, I pick what I think is the most important thing and try to work with that alone...Example: Creedence. Impossible to get the vocals lifelike and the music lifelike because of the way most of the things were mixed. Since the Fantasy folks chose to "crisp up" the music/drums on their regular CD's, I chose on the DCC stuff to make the vocals less harsh and more lifelike. To me it works, but the percussion suffers. Oh well...