How much mastering (if any) should I use on my mix?

[jdownesbaird]

I'm relatively new to making mixes using Traktor, and I'm wondering if my mixes could benefit from some type of mastering. I use high quality tracks that have already been mastered, but I also add lots of effects and loops (courtesy of the F1). With all the "extra" sounds on top of the already mastered original track, would it be helpful to do some processing of the final mix? Sometimes the final mix seems to suffer from less clarity than I would like. I would appreciate any suggestions!

[JasonBay]

That's something you should really try and clean up while your mixing. Can't really go back and change that after the fact. And that's not really something you would fix with mastering.

[jdownesbaird]

That's something you should really try and clean up while your mixing. Can't really go back and change that after the fact. And that's not really something you would fix with mastering.

Thanks for the quick reply. There's nothing specific that I really want to clean up in the mix. I guess I'm just wondering about the whole concept of mastering a mix of mastered music, if I've added lots of other sounds and effects. Would the overall mix benefit from any tweaking, or it it really unnecessary (specially since the final mix would be enjoyed over headphones or at home, and not at a club or wherever it was originally recorded)?

[Patch]

I don't consider it necessary - but i know people DO compress whole mixes, use a limiter, use some Vintage Warmer - the lkist goes on and on.

There are a million guides out there...

[photojojo]

I don't do anything with mine. Are you recording in traktor? If you're using some type of external recorder check that it's set to hi quality.

[Tarekith]

I don't master my mixes either, but I do have some clients who want me to master all of theirs. More often than not it cn make things sound worse if you really don't know what you're doing.

[Tommi Bass]

For commercial mix c.ds you are going to sell yes they are mastered in the sense of cleaning up prior to dupilcation, this is the only exception.

For private use, no. Make sure you don't clip if you are using Trakor ... and any DJ worth their salt showl never have issues with mixing within the orange zone.