PROFESSIONAL MASTERING vs. INSTANT MASTERING

[@ad7or]

I can only express my gratitude to both Wytse and George. I’m truly humbled by your kindness and support. Sound engineering is an artform, both you and George showcased that in this video. The connection between the human mind and analog gear can produce wonderful results. Especially when the engineer can trust their own ability to enrich the music. “Don’t ever lose sight of your love of music”- Bruce Swedien I would also like to thank everyone that will, have and continue to give “Funk Heven” a chance. Your support is very much appreciated.

[@adirsab]

very cool track

[@johnisrael5183]

Really good song, I just mastered my first pre master mix through Analog Rack with Studio One's Pipline Feature on Export....and then used Landr against it...mine blew it away, His friend the master engieneer did the same thing...LOL....online mastering just sucks all the life out of your song...bad Idea....spend $5000 to $8000 on your own studio....its worth it...even if your start with Dbx compressor, BBE maxizer, mackie mixer, SSL 2+ and good headphones.....thats about $1100 and you can start making your own masters with Pro Tools or Studio one....

[@joshsmith7812]

Never mind the analog gear, that’s just extra gravy ontop, it’s the engineers ear and knowledge before anything else is even considered

[@1disturbedjunglist]

Lovely 80's MJ vibe on this track.

[@davewestner]

Cool tune....thanks for letting us hear it

[@Kkidzz]

George's AIR/SPARKLE and PRESENCE is amaaaaaaaazing.

[@goseason2343]

This video was needed for the music community. Nothing can replace a human being mastering your music.

[@ephjaymusic]

And that is why we need human mastering engineers like George. This was a fantastic video and excellent comparison! Thank you so much!

[@serhii-ratz]

That's it :)

[@dwightdeon2421]

I've sat in on a lot of mastering sessions, had a lot of songs mastered (by some well known ME) and this was above and beyond anything i ever seen come out of a final master. He actually improved the mix far beyond just making it brighter and louder, which seems to be the norm these days. Very disappointing to have something mastered, and when it comes back it doesn't sound BETTER than the mix just different. George nailed it. Well done

[@mickeythompson9537]

"Very disappointing to have something mastered, and when it comes back it doesn't sound BETTER than the mix just different." SO TRUE!!

[@LukeLjJames]

Hmm mastering done without askin you what ya aiming for , like the sound of . No 1st draft , 2 nd draft checks before the final result making sure your on board and happy ? Not sure what mastering places you been too but 100% go somewhere else lol ;p

[@muzk8887]

ive seen a lot of art but only some of it is good

[@LukeLjJames]

@@muzk8887 I saw a pelican try to eat a pigeon once 🤣🤣

[@LarryElectronica]

Mastering should not make your mix sound better, it should exaggerate all the strengths of your mix. And subsequently, it can highlight the weaknesses of your mix. As far as cosmetic 'treatments' go, that is a choice made by the engineer at the artist's discretion.

[@likenokevin]

George's master sounded so good. It is almost 3D!

[@AGDugros]

Audio mastering is an art, I work in music production since 2002, and I can tell that the experience is one important factor. Thanks for this video.

[@nepntzerZer]

ok try doing mastering and mix engineering while living out of a tent.

[@Casur1N]

Instant Mastering services and Mastering Engineers are like buying a suit in the fashion area of a supermarket and in a tailor shop. Both may work for someone but when you compare them you can see which is specifically made at the right fit

[@listenfidi]

nice analogy!

[@Streaky_com]

yep

[@ts4gv]

sure, but it won’t be long before AI mastering becomes indistinguishable from the work of humans

[@oldschooljohnny]

100!

[@delmixedit]

One of the best analogies ever!!!!! ✊🏾

[@LordTheeProducer]

I love this video!!! George is cool as hell and you guys have beautiful chemistry captured on this video

[@garrettjrussell]

This is definitely one of your best videos of all time. I know you did something like this about 3 years ago, but the they way George goes into major detail about the mastering process was beyond fascinating and informative. A huge thank you for the effort you put into this.

[@-IFFTI-]

Automatic mastering systems usually do not understand "musicality", algorithms are not able to add breath and life. The human ear and brain are still the best tool for this. Therefore, it is good to find a mastering specialist who has his own approach to the music styles we are interested in. I have some material in my collection that has been mastered by people who don't understand certain nuances. The effects were disappointing. George, a big thank you for the show of the possibilities and the excellent job ... and for fighting with the "sound botulism" ;). Dear Wytse ... in my opinion, this is one of your the best episodes on YT. :) MORE! :D

[@NeverduskX]

I don't think I've ever fully appreciated mastering as much as it deserves to be before watching George work. Hearing all of those changes in real-time was magic.

[@storkontheroof]

The difference indeed is ENORMOUS! What i would love to see/hear now, is George making a master with (hi-quality) plugins only and compare that to the analog version he did. Any chance on that one???

[@annekedebruyn7797]

I like how George's mix was wider but in a very balanced way. The other mastering services didn't really added much in the wideness.

[@ayeapprove]

So much this! Listening with my reference headphones I could tell just by the stereo image which one was done by George. It's a very different approach but sounds so much better.

[@Andre_Kolodziej]

Danke!

[@MrPerfectpizza]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching this video and hearing the differences in sound while marvelling at the gear! KZbin needs more videos like this one. Big respect to you both for sharing this! Thank you.

[@MarvelJAM]

Watching you two interact was a treat. Thank you

[@johnc.4625]

Thanks!

[@fadamusik]

¡Gracias!

[@AlexReidStudios]

I don't care about the comparison, this is one of my go to guides on mastering mindset. George is a gift

[@connollytunes]

Great video!! You missed one factor though about the instant mastering (which I have never used) - George will usually be charging a little more than $19... But it really was an enjoyable video. George was so fun!

[@losangulos]

a bedroom producer going to a mastering process online will go to whaever sounds best to him with limited experience, and of course George knows whats best and whats happening in the entire balance of things, you are paying for that knowledge, and it shows, of course its going to be pricier, its really a no brainer.

[@ChrisTuttle]

To my ears, the audio mastering done and the dynamics adjusted is subtle yet orgasmic. What a joy to watch and listen to.

[@fortheoneswhocare]

Perfect way of demonstrating the differences between a mastering eng and instant services. Really enjoyed this video !!

[@ubercoolboy]

Bro just discovered you, your content is fire! Appreciate your work frfr!

[@davidbiangles7324]

Hi, I just watched this and have to say that I learned more about mastering from your friend and you together than the hours of 'tutorials' over several years - I think I finally 'got it' (knobs, ears, gut!). Loved the track before - magic after. Many thanks.

[@Emanero]

great video!

[@FrancoAmorto]

That's not a suprise to me BUT George's work is BY FAR the best Mastering... no picture !

[@johnisrael5183]

Really cool watching your friend master...it was mind blowing....in a good way...tell him...I learned alot from him....!!! and I really appreciate all your advice as well

[@Genolexis]

Aha! Got George dancing at 20mins! Mission Accomplished 🤣 Great video, truly enjoyed every minute. Entertaining and very informative. Thank you

[@LaurenPassarelli]

Artists doing what they love…George is a gem.

[@busyworksbeats]

Song is Fire 🔥

[@Skibosski]

Busy works beatssssssssss ❤️

[@LeoDaShaman]

The value in this video is THROUGH THE ROOF!!! thanks alot

[@nanob0zo]

We need more Lennard and George guest appearances!!! Awesome video!

[@pedroarechigamorfin1228]

I think this is the best video on this channel yet. Thank you so much!!!

[@gardvord]

I am speechless over what the mastering engineer was able to achieve. The track as well mixed before, still enormous difference. Impressed!

[@1erwayne]

Seemingly, pretty damn quick too. I totally take them at their word, no prep was done. Hardware settings that is.

[@MrClaywell]

Awesome vid. Can’t remember the last time I sat and watched a full 30-minute plus video straight through without stopping. Well done George knows his stuff for sure!

[@klexen]

Impressive Results from the "manual" masterting. Would be interesting to see/hear how close to this he/you could get working only with plug ins.

[@myproductionadvice]

always 99% 😄 all this equipment exists as a plugin version, so it's only a choice of a master

[@toobvu]

Thank you for taking the time to create this informative video. I concur that George clearly has created the best master - smooth, open and spatial compared with all the others. LANDR sounds pretty good to my ear, and certainly better than the other mastering services you've tested.

[@elwoodroadsmusic9639]

Ja ja ja ja ja :) Loved this little glimpse into mastering with George. Thankyou!

[@ocularrecords]

From the moment that Neve turned on, @7:50 I knew it was over. Amazing video. Learned alot.

[@purvue]

This video and George just taught me alot. like seriously. i have a good ear i just didnt know what the differences were called i could always just hear it. but George explained aspects of the audio and help me link it to my ears. I subscribed. please feature George on more uploads he is awesome. my kind of music man

[@johnellers]

I'm following you for some years now and this is one of your best videos. It is for me more clear than it already was, nothing beat a real human regarding to mixing and mastering! Yank you so much for this video and greetings from Rotterdam.

[@eternity..]

THIS IS AMAZING. GREAT VIDEO, FOR THE TIME CAPSULE. THANK YOU. 👑 👑 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@DanBires]

For me the massenberg eq really did it. Like he said he was able to bring the song more closer and that was cool. There is a huge difference. I would really like to get my next rack mastered by world wide master.. Thanks great video. I used land a few years back and tried that master. I thought they both sounded dull and lifeless. I started using a mastering engineer out in LA myself and He does great work. I am always open to finding out new mastering engineers to work with. I will be getting in touch with him.

[@adampeters9684]

This video does an incredible job of illustrating the value of mentorship in the audio community. No amount of KZbin can replace the experience of taking your mix to a mastering engineer who knows what they’re doing with a pimped out setup. I always walk away with an enhanced perspective. Cheers to you both!

[@Gilwtt]

Oh Men!!! I listened to the mastering studio session in my homeStudio and I'm lterally blown out by what I heard even in youtube. This is a huge demonstration of mastering process... Really!

[@therealdjap]

George is absolutely amazing. Best out of all by far. He is incredible. I can't wait to come out that way and check you both out.

[@LaidbackSounds]

Super dope video !!! Nice to see an engineer feeling the tracks first and then working on it, real super skills too the final sounds excellent

[@jellemeeuwsen9842]

Haha the switch between SC and George literally made me giggle. As if my speakers got instantly upgraded majorly. Great vid Wytse! Keep up the good work!

[@AndyKingCo]

Wow what a great mastering engineer!!! George

[@chrisharrison809]

This channel is great. I really appreciate this.

[@gaboquintana3628]

I've seen a lot of videos where it says "let's talk about mastering" and that's exactly what they do they just talk about what mastering is, but fee videos show somebody actually doing it. Thank you for your effort to produce this video it is very helpful.

[@tonychristopher1852]

I think doing your own mastering would even be better than the on line route. Then again it's always best to get an outside engineers ears (that you can trust), especially if you want to keep your sanity. Great video!

[@snubdawg1386]

but it's so hard to find one who you can trust....and afford

[@jhohanmusic]

* Hire a master engineer to keep your sanity 🎯

[@adamslawson]

Amazing job making this video, this might be the best mastering video I've ever seen. Being able to hear the mastering process while you're both talking and the camera work and being honest with your process. You're helping the industry for other future high-level engineers to also grow to this level. Love seeing and hearing your mastering chain. Thank you for sharing! Lots to learn here.

[@pdamasco]

Watching George was a lot of fun! It reminded me of being in rehearsals at University for our performances. You can tell how intricately he knows each piece of equipment in that mastering chain. He dials thins in very quickly and you can instantly hear the improvements in dynamics and overall width of the track. It has more impact and sustains the "mood" of the music because of how he dialed in the roll-off of each punchy and dynamic instrument in the mix. I really can't get over how effective he is in such a short period of time. It's very impressive!!

[@mikepaynt4436]

It's night and day! Also - The gear in his studio is such a wonderful selection.

[@pabloriverafernandez7799]

Wytse thanks for make this happen. It helped me to go with George as mastering engineer, and what a pleasant surprise! He was great player and delivered on timely manner. Regarding the quality of the product, there are no words to express how the song sounded after his magic touch.

[@RaphaelLoopro]

Weer een hele goede en informatieve video. Het maakt de keuze voor ons muziek producenten makkelijker. Liever iets meer betalen en een te gekke sound krijgen als weinig uitgeven en de kwaliteit hebben van goedkope muziek. Dank je wel man

[@BlackWeaponsBench]

Fantastic. Not only very informative but FUN to watch. Thanks!

[@Barnsey87]

Just a beautiful insight for upcoming mastering engineers bless you.

[@emlispbeatz3576]

My best mastering tutorial so far, so good Thank u George for this tutorial.

[@kgbmusicproductionpublishi724]

so exciting and seeing the passion while working...feels really good. thank you for the video

[@sodiumlights]

truly fantastic video. Would love to see more of George in the future, so enjoyable watching you two cool dudes. Thank You!

[@KelbyThwaits]

Great comparison video. I loved hearing the mastering services next to each other and especially George’s work (which was excellent).

[@travislrogers]

Now that’s entertainment! What a great video! George is a brilliant musician / engineer. Such a pleasure to watch the process and get to see the difference that such skilled ears can bring to the final product. More session videos please! 🕺

[@ProducedBy10A]

Awesome video as usual!!!

[@tim.van.emmerloot]

George is insane!! Super musical and tasteful, knowing precisely how to get the result he wants

[@simonhestermann]

Hey everyone, this is Simon from Masterchannel. First of all, thank you for reviewing our service! We are well aware and equally disappointed that our master fell behind in this comparison, and we are grateful for the feedback we have gotten through this video. A lot of updates have already been made since the recording of this video and your honest feedback is much appreciated. We'll continue improving our service to tailor it to your needs. For those interested, you can now try our service for free when you create an account. If you have any further feedback, we're open ears and happy to hear from you :)

[@oldschooljohnny]

nice 1

[@marlondeagle]

Thanks for giving the community such opportunities! I really appreciate your work, keep it up guys - you're doing a phenomenal job.

[@DiscoTuna]

What an awesome video - to see a mastering engineer go through all the tweaks on their kit and then all the work on this comparison - thank you. Amazing stuff. Would be good to see a shoot out between analogue gear and in the box gear - though it would be hard to tease out the differences between the humans involved vs the gear on that one.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Amazing eye opener.

[@gooshie3]

Thanks for this Wytse, and George. Very insightful.

[@raumskaya]

Thank you! 🙌

[@yesmanasia123]

I loved this video. Thank you so much Wytse and George!

[@doubler4433]

One of the most interesting videos about Matering I´ve seen, great content

[@driesketels805]

Great video. He touched the track on the right places. I noticed especially the highs. So much better. Thank you!

[@benhj]

Thanks for this video. I found the comparison really useful. I actually use emastered for my tracks but I do find it to over compress stuff generally. As such, I usually put their compression on the lowest setting (all music on my channel was put through it). Thanks!

[@beatprocess]

i always come back to this video. great work.

[@radiovalkyrierecords5102]

Well done. And not surprising. But nice that you found out the same things I've casually found out for myself a few times. Thanks for taking the time and spending the money to do so!

[@ulrichhermes1315]

thx for sharing this, nice to see inside a professional workflow.

[@discowolf25]

Ayyyy appreciate the love 😂 💯!! So many auto masters are absolutely insane (in the worst way).

[@RocketToSleep]

George's master was clean, crisp, and accentuated all the frequencies that make me wanna groove to Funk Heven. All of the online ones had a "boxy" sound to them, like when you put your cell phone in a plastic bin to "amplify" the sound. Now, if you went in and tweaked some settings with the online programs, would you be able to get some better results? Probably. However, there is something or some things lost when trying to bypass the human element of mastering a song. Keep up the great work and thank you for putting this out there!

[@SSQUIRESOUND]

damn.... this was actually so insightful lol. Thank you for showing the process. 💪💪

[@chicagovoicelab]

Amazing! Thank you again for the best content!

[@Genolexis]

This just blew my mind and probably saved me time and money. I rather learn how to master my own music or have a professional master my music. Great work.

[@DigiMixAudio]

Wytse, George rules on this comparison! Thanks for another great video, and keep George busy!

[@fadamusik]

WoW man!!... THANK YOU , THANK YOU, THANK YOU, for such an amazing video. Watching all this jewels around you...my god. For me, it is a gift. I have been enjoying the whole video, sitting here in the studio. And in the moment that George started the magic...Come on!!. It has been pretty awesome. Feeling What a professional is doing....I repeat, this video is a piece os gift you have gave us. And, above all, I´ve really liked the relation that both have and that we could have seen. Thank you

[@MaraldBes]

so helpful thx ! Finally mastering explained well and step by step. The enthusiasm on both your faces is instant as you see master chain.. big ups on production too, best content yet Wietse & crew!

[@StarfleetOnLsd]

That was a really nice and informative watch, thank you! Oh and the Michael Jackson vibes of that track are 🔥🔥🔥

[@motofreak525]

Thank you for demonstrating the value of hiring an experienced mastering engineer. I know the online services have their place for those without the budget to hire someone, but the difference in results is night and day. I've worked as a mastering engineer in a Los Angeles mastering house for almost ten years now and often times potential clients really aren't aware of the potential difference in the result. Just because something has been "Mastered" doesn't mean it has been done well. This video does a great job of highlighting all of the care, time, and gear that goes into the traditional mastering process, and clearly shows the human care yields superior results. Thanks again for taking the time to show people what we do!

[@dontlooklistenmodular4742]

I really enjoyed this video, keep up the great work

[@maximrueegger]

Great video! Had to watch it twice to take notes throughout, super insightful, thanks.

[@smattc]

Thank you for posting this. it just proves what I and many other have said over and over, that it's people that make the difference. Real people mixing and mastering with their human ears, and emotion. Which could be carried even further by using real live musicians making the music rather than drum machines and synths, though I agree that that could still be considered a genre itself. Still once again it's nice to see man winning over machine.

[@beneversonmusic]

Very interesting to note the "a cappella" setting in Aria. (That's my main genre.) It's becoming more mainstream. I might try a few of my unmastered songs with them to see how they do.

[@jcleivaamoros]

Very eye opening video, not only when comes about comparing the services of mastering, but also we had a sneak peak at how a true master engineer works, something that we can apply in our home studios when mastering our own tracks.Thank you very much.

[@magiusicgician4102]

This was amazing Whytse!

[@djelvis1]

10 minutes in...already one of the sickest videos you've made. I recently bought Focal trio 6's and I'm just pumping out quality tunes....I will be contacting this man.

[@AuroraBPolaris]

You said it right at the end of the video "Why am I even doing this" haha, quality upload as always !

[@homestudioculture]

It was great watching the mastering session in the studio!

[@BastarB]

Thanks, you just got another subscriber! This was one of the most interesting music production related videos I've ever watched/listening too! So thanks:) Nothing compares to an experienced human mastering engineer, it just sounded so much better than the others.

[@vicneve1169]

Great Video. I will try my Rupert Neve Diode compressor as first in my chain. Other compressor, but also a Diode compressor. And the Distressors I will also try. Never used them like this.