…I mean, unless I’m smashing drums or something. Then I’m good. But whenever someone talks about “tightening up a mix” or “adding glue” I’m hopeless.
I was watching reviews of bus comps. Every one of them they’d play some A/B tests, and then cut back to the reviewer who’d be on the ground and shaking in fits because of how expanded the sound stage was or how it really thickened up the low end or some such.
I’ve got good ears. I’ve got really nice headphones. I couldn’t tell you the difference if my life depended on it. I guess I need to learn what to listen for? Like it’s an ear training thing? But then also, if it sounds good, it is good… and if you have to really work to hear it, maybe it’s not that great?
So please help me, fellow Elektronauts. Anyone have lessons or examples they used to get good at hearing and recognizing compression? Is it even worth it? Or is it all an elaborate scam to sell $4k mastering hardware?