As promised, the comparison is here!
I had it uploaded onto the CM server, just in the event that there are a lot of downloads, as I don't want my personal Dropbox to get overrun.
http://download.centurymedia.com/download.aspx?id=5464
Password: A-i87L=
Expires On: 4/14/2011
Both files are at 44.1 kHz, my raw mix is at 24-bit, and I left Jens' master at 16-bit, as my understanding is that you should be able to import them both into any DAW and compare them side by side without having to do any kind of bit-depth conversion. Of course, turn down the mastered track to get a fair comparison- I found that backing off the mastered track about 9 dB in Pro Tools was just about right.
A couple relevant quotes from my e-mails with him...
I asked him if he used any EQ, or a HP/LP, and he replied:
"Yes, I've used some EQ, not too much though. Nothing in general, but subtle for each song. A little HP, but no LP".
I asked him what he clipped the snare with, and he replied:
"For volume I run the mixes through a Thermionic Culture Phoenix with no compression, just to get a touch of saturation and energy. Then I clip through either my System 6000 AD's or my Lynx, whatever suits the material. In this case the Lynx. It's really good for transparent clipping.
The snare will always get a bit lost while mastering, especially if the ME use limiters (no limiting on this material though). Perhaps you do that already, but I usually have a limiter strapped to my listening chain while mixing to emulate what's gonna happen during mastering. That way I'm a happy camper when the ME (usually myself) squash the living soul out of the mixes.
"
All the differences are really quite subtle to my ears, which is flattering to me as a mixer, but also speaks highly of Jens' mastering ear. The raw mix has a bit more snare smack (which is totally expected), and a little bit more high frequency air (which doesn't really help the material), and I think Jens' master just sounds slightly more cohesive and punchy than the raw mix does. Overall, I'm very happy with what he did with it.
Anyway, enjoy the clips, I know I'm in a bit of a unique position to be able and interested in posting something like this, so I hope this is educational for many of you. Excited to hear your thoughts as well!
I had it uploaded onto the CM server, just in the event that there are a lot of downloads, as I don't want my personal Dropbox to get overrun.
http://download.centurymedia.com/download.aspx?id=5464
Password: A-i87L=
Expires On: 4/14/2011
Both files are at 44.1 kHz, my raw mix is at 24-bit, and I left Jens' master at 16-bit, as my understanding is that you should be able to import them both into any DAW and compare them side by side without having to do any kind of bit-depth conversion. Of course, turn down the mastered track to get a fair comparison- I found that backing off the mastered track about 9 dB in Pro Tools was just about right.
A couple relevant quotes from my e-mails with him...
I asked him if he used any EQ, or a HP/LP, and he replied:
"Yes, I've used some EQ, not too much though. Nothing in general, but subtle for each song. A little HP, but no LP".
I asked him what he clipped the snare with, and he replied:
"For volume I run the mixes through a Thermionic Culture Phoenix with no compression, just to get a touch of saturation and energy. Then I clip through either my System 6000 AD's or my Lynx, whatever suits the material. In this case the Lynx. It's really good for transparent clipping.
The snare will always get a bit lost while mastering, especially if the ME use limiters (no limiting on this material though). Perhaps you do that already, but I usually have a limiter strapped to my listening chain while mixing to emulate what's gonna happen during mastering. That way I'm a happy camper when the ME (usually myself) squash the living soul out of the mixes.
"All the differences are really quite subtle to my ears, which is flattering to me as a mixer, but also speaks highly of Jens' mastering ear. The raw mix has a bit more snare smack (which is totally expected), and a little bit more high frequency air (which doesn't really help the material), and I think Jens' master just sounds slightly more cohesive and punchy than the raw mix does. Overall, I'm very happy with what he did with it.
Anyway, enjoy the clips, I know I'm in a bit of a unique position to be able and interested in posting something like this, so I hope this is educational for many of you. Excited to hear your thoughts as well!
