(Note...please dont slam me for the following views. they come from the school of studio hard knocks...lol..
note below "gas" is gear acquisition syndrome.)

RE..MODERN MASTERING AND OTHER TOOLS.
1. whenever i get "gas", and i must say up front lots of these modern tools are very good, i ask myself "am i fooling myself ?"..."do i really need this "?..."am i trying" ...to quote a studio engr i once knew "to put lipstick on a pig" ? to quote him.."if the darn source traks arent there, your out of luck buddy".
2. i also remind myself that loads of world class songs were done in past music eras when these tools hadnt been created. so why do i need them ? maybe i'm just not good enough in my creation of the original song track ?
i'm always beating myself up like this..lol.
3. there is always the danger if one doesnt fully understand the dsp based software tool, that actually i might be doing more harm than good to the song. there is also the aspect that my application of the tool , although it might make my song sound groovy on my speakers etc etc,..it might not on other peoples systems. been there done that.
4. given the above, i think of the word "paranoia". this is the root of our continued "gas".
yes, i, like everyone else wants the best result for our songs, but i feel we get too paranoid.
sometimes. we worry ..will people hate the song ? am i good enough ? and many other thoughts percolate through our minds. my goodness , in my paranoia ive even dreamt in my sleep...lol.
thus, given the forgoing we get into these cycles of worry and "gas"... and buying more and more stuff.
frankly i realised years ago this is unhealthy, both for my psyche and my wallet.

SO WHAT IS THE RESOLUTION ?..heres mine.
i just say to myself to do my best, and dont worry if i dont have all the latest tools, ...
and if people dont like the song...so be it.
i take my lumps.....then i go buy a nice present for my wife, who , crazily encourages my "gas"..all the time...lol.
ps..Note....if a big record label shows interest in signing you , probably they will take your song (or songs) and remix probably useing their own studio engineers and tools.

and heres a finance tip from my old grannie who i dearly miss and lost years back....
"let your eyes be your guide, and your money the last thing you part with". very wise was my grannie.
best and i hope i make some sense.
oldmuso

Last edited by justanoldmuso; 08/10/21 02:43 AM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..)
https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs
(90 songs created useing bb/rb)
(lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)