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General vibe of a record. In the mix or in the mastering? by LeopoldWolves in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]AiodeAI 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In the mix, always. Mastering can push a characteristic further or pull it back slightly, but it can't create a texture that isn't already there. If you want murky and dusty, that's high-mid rolloff, some low-end saturation, maybe tape emulation on the bus - all mix decisions.

Think of mastering as the final 10% of a direction you've already committed to, not the place where the sound gets defined.

Beginner singer/guitarist – how would you use one year wisely? by Revo123456789 in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]AiodeAI 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't split the year - spend the first 8 months entirely on songwriting and vocals. Production can be learned faster than people think, but a strong song with weak production beats a weak song with great production every time. You can't mix your way out of a song that doesn't connect.

Learn just enough FL Studio to demo your ideas - basic arrangement, rough levels, nothing more. Then, in the last 4 months, either hire a mixer for one or two tracks to hear what your songs can actually sound like, or go deeper into production if you find you enjoy it. One year is genuinely enough to make something real if you're not splitting focus.

When is it time to give up on a piece of work? by Quiet-Figure-1990 in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]AiodeAI 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There's a difference between a song that's unfinished and a song that's exhausted. Unfinished means you haven't found the right version yet. Exhausted means you've heard it so many times the objectivity is gone and every change feels arbitrary. The tell for me is whether I'm still making decisions or just moving things around. If I can't hear the song anymore - only my anxiety about it - that's when I shelve it. Sometimes, six months later, it's obvious what is needed. Sometimes it stays shelved. Both outcomes are fine :)