I used LANDR once for free but didn't really feel the mastering sound was for me, I like to do my own mastering trying out different sounds of mastering on each new project because i feel this gives me the best results using my ears.The idea of auto mastering doesn't really appeal to me also tried AAM software

I prefer the human option of mastering what are your thoughts on the subject. if the software companies did manage to come up with an auto mastering software then wouldn't that mean that every record produced would sound the same losting its own identity

 

I agree, but I'm still (after 20 years trying) a novice at mastering, mixing or recording. I like doing it myself, because I actually want to learn what compressors, limiters and EQ do and how to those things out. But if it came right down to it and I needed to master something I really cared about, I'd go to a qualified mastering engineer. Stuff like LANDR has been around for a while. I bought into the hype early on and paid a great deal of money for Prosoniq's Dynasone, which was really the first "automatic mastering" plug on the market. It had a multiband compressor, a limiter, some built-in EQ contours (I think) based on what type of music you selected (it even had a "vinyl" setting) and a function called "Automix" that was supposed to analyze your mix as your ran it through the plug and automatically adjust all the plug's settings for you. As this was 2000 or so, the plug sounded like shit, very plastic-y and generic. Worse, like any other "automatic mastering" plug, it couldn't really compensate for a bad mix. If you had a bad mix going in, it just made that bad mix sound worse. And louder. I think that continues to be the problem now -- even with better algorithms and much faster computers, stuff like AAMS, LANDR, Ozone 8, IK's Lurrssen Mastering Console, etc. can't really compensate for a bad mix. Hell, a competent mastering engineer can only do so much to save a bad mix.

I think the appeal of "automatic mastering" is that everybody wants a shortcut to sounding "finished" without even knowing how LANDR or whatever works, or paying a professional to do it for them.

 

Hi I have used Landr for my two resent tunes and am quite happy with the results, I use it because by the time I have finished the mix down I just haven't got it in me to then master my work as I don't think I would ever get anything finished, I think the results are ok and in some cases better than what a human can do as I have had some of my work mastered by people and have completely not liked the results, I have also used Cloudbounce which is ok, there are also more online mastering services which might be worth checking out, but as with anything the better the mix down the better the master you get back.

Louis

 

I don’t think I’d use LANDR, not because I’m against it, but because I don’t think the difference it could make could justify paying up. It’s cheaper and more fruitful to try to up my game. When I mix for clients, I always advise them to pay for professional mastering if they can afford it. Otherwise, I finalize it, but mostly by means of a limiter on the mix bus. I hire a great mastering engineer in my city for 50 bucks a song, which is paid by the client. He has always delivered, and no one has ever been dissatisfied by his results. He’s actually a very busy guy and needs to be booked way in advance. However, budget almost always forces people to take my own mastering.

 

Wow! Thats crazy awesome

 

For the sake of information, this is the mastering house I go to:

http://www.hitmakersmastering.com

I’m located in the city of Lima, but I used to send them work online when they only had a studio in Barcelona.

 

That is some serious equipment they're using, can't believe 50 bucks is the number....

 

I guess that’s the price for indie local artists, one-man mixing studios, and paisanos (He’s Peruvian). It might be a higher figure for corporate or international work. Maybe I gave away the insider’s info . One another note, the equipment might say a lot, but what I appreciate the most is Aldo’s training, taste for music, and experience.

 

Last edited: Sep 23, 2018

Thanks for posting this Mixerman. I had never heard of LANDR, and usually use an older version of Ozone with hand made custom tweeked presets (Not the new Ozone 8 analyzer/master assistant thing, which doesn't really work for me either *O8 Deleted*). I thought I would give LANDR a shot, and have to agree ...Doesn't really do it for me as well. The compression was too high, the dynamics weren't present, and what gawd awful EQ'ing was that! My compositions aren't traditionally orchestral, but need to be mastered as such to bring life out of them. LANDR doesn't understand a simple "pianissimo" concept, and seems to master as if everything you upload is a "rave" track LoL. But yeah good fun to try anyway

 

Last edited by a moderator: Sep 23, 2018