Is it such a bad thing sending your track off to an engineer?

[ScorchinBeats]

It's not bad. It's highly recommended.

[HIMbeats]

It is not a bad thing at all and if you explain your situation to the engineer and you are going to give him or her regular business then they should work with you. For example I have a couple of clients that make beats to sell on soundclick, I don't charge them my regular rate because they are sending over beats on the regular so we worked out a deal for a group of tracks every month. Even if you learn to mix it is good to have a professional engineer you can rely on because you never know when you will need one.

[chris carter]

Some people in this thread are confused about the difference between MIXING and MASTERING. They are two different things.

Second, there is nothing wrong with mixing your beats. But I don't think most people realize what the competition sounds like when they pitch beats to artists. The beats that get pitched to major artists and indie artists, and heck, even popular UNSIGNED artists, they are MIXED TO THE FREAKIN' NINES. They are NOT "okay" sounding mixes. They sound like a finished freakin' record. That's why guys often hire mix engineers to mix their beats, or at least the beats they feel really good about. Because it's a massive uphill battle to place your beat with an artist when the other 999 beats they are listening to sound perfect. So bottom line, either be really good at mixing your own beats, or hire a pro.... or be happy with this has a hobby.

[tcooney]

probably beneficial

[J4YM5]

too many cooks spoil the broth,
if you learn to do it yourself and it will always be better

[everbeatz]

too many cooks spoil the broth,
if you learn to do it yourself and it will always be better

kind of wrong actually - have you seen how the kitchen in the pro environment is organized? everyone is specialized in own task and there are many working as one to bring you the one perfect dish

[J4YM5]

you're making me hungry now!!!
Anyway, 1 person who can conceive and idea, record mix and master it himself to a high standard will always turn out better than 3 people of the same standard compartmentalized to each bit.
Too many mastering engineers i find just boost and compress to a given formula and seemingly not give much thought into the emotional content and ideas that are trying to be conveyed in the track.

[everbeatz]

Too many mastering engineers i find just boost and compress to a given formula and seemingly not give much thought into the emotional content and ideas that are trying to be conveyed in the track.

Formula approach seems to be very present after internet expansion

I'm always criticizing any 'recipes for mastering' as it ruins what it's all about

It's great when someone can find someone that shares and expands his own taste - in that case collaboration is something that can lift his own ideas to the next level

[J4YM5]

cool your defo one of the good guys then!

http://soundcloud.com/j4ym5/big-bad-wolf-part-1

[chris carter]

you're making me hungry now!!!
Anyway, 1 person who can conceive and idea, record mix and master it himself to a high standard will always turn out better than 3 people of the same standard compartmentalized to each bit.
Too many mastering engineers i find just boost and compress to a given formula and seemingly not give much thought into the emotional content and ideas that are trying to be conveyed in the track.

Hmmmmm.... that must be why VIRTUALLY EVERY MAJOR LABEL RECORD has a mix engineer mix the record who is different from the artist/band/producer/etc. yeah, those major labels have it all wrong, which is why you NEVER hear major label records on the radio..... LOL