Super DVD For the Intermediate Engineer! 
by D.J. from Monterey, TN U.S.A., October 2008
Music Background:  Recording Engineer, Live Sound Engineer, Vocalist

This DVD is a great reference when it comes to actually trying to master your first track. You will need to be more than a first-time DAW user to get as much out of this DVD as you possibly can, but if you have at least 6 months of pretty steady experience with whatever DAW you use, I guarantee that you will get something useful out of this video. The thing I appreciate most about Mitch's presentation during this tutorial is that while he uses plug-ins and techniques that he personally prefers, he is very good about not trying to push you towards a particular plug-in and gives you several different variations of most of the techniques so that you can use what works or feels best for you. At no time did I even feel the slightest inkling of a sales pitch during this video, and that is very important to me. What I did learn, however, was how to simplify and get better results from what I was already doing during the recording and mixing stages through the PROPER (key word, there!) use of EQs, compressors, and limiters (yes, there is a difference between a compressor and a limiter!). I would recommend buying and watching the Secrets of the Pros videos "Basics of Recording and Mixing" and "Pro Tools Volume I" before tackling any mastering, however; because if you do not have a very solid grasp on these earlier stages of the recording process, all the mastering prowess in the world will be for naught. Like the old saying goes: "You can't polish a turd". If your recordings or mixes are poor to start with, the best mastering engineer in the world will not be able to save them!

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