Mastering 'Solar Power' by Lorde with Chris Gehringer

Chris Gehringer opens up on his go-to techniques when mastering 'Solar Power' by Lorde

Join us at Sterling Sound for the first MWTM series with distinguished mastering engineer Chris Gehringer!
This comprehensive workshop covers a number of topics pertinent to modern mastering, including studio design, monitoring, analog vs. digital workflow, loudness, and much more.
Chris shares his background and discusses the evolution of his workflow throughout the past decades, explaining why he eventually chose to work fully ‘in the box’.
He compares and contrasts hybrid versus fully-digital workflow, providing a number of pros and cons to each from the perspectives of sonic character, reliability, and convenience.
Further to insightful discussion, Gehringer demonstrates his approach and techniques on a number of highly successful projects by Lil Nas X, Dua Lipa, Lorde, Bleachers, and Machine Gun Kelly!

[michaelgraflmusic]

People giving Chris Gehringer shit about doing almost nothing to the mix are missing the point of what mastering is supposed to be. I'm paying my mastering engineer to do quality assurance. There's a lot that can be done in mastering these days to save a bad mix, but that should not be the default.

I actually find it very impressive to see a mastering engineer restrain himself from changing a mix by much. I don't think I could pull that off.

[LesonDeson]

That vocal tone Spike got... Everything Spike and his team mixes is amazing.

[jasongunner]

50 Cent: Thug Love (1999)
AJR: Neotheater (2019)
Avril Lavigne Love Sux (2022)
Cardi B: Be Careful (2018)
Chiiild: Synthetic Soul (2020)
Chromeo: Head over Heels (2018)
Demi Lovato: Tell Me You Love Me (2017)
Drake: Thank Me Later (2010)
Dua Lipa: Future Nostalgia (2019)
Harry Styles: Harry Styles (2017)
Janelle Monáe: Dirty Computer (2018)
Jason Mraz: We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. (2008)
Lady Gaga: Born This Way (2011)
Lana Del Rey: Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019)
Leon Bridges: Good Thing (2018)
Lil Tecca: We Love You Tecca (2019)
Lizzo: Cuz I Love You (2019)
Mike Posner: Keep Going (2019)
Nas: The Lost Tapes 2 (2019)
Nas: Stillmatic (2001)
Naughty by Nature: Naughty by Nature (1991)
Original soundtrack: Boomerang (1992)
Rihanna: Anti (2016)
Rihanna: Loud (2010)
Rihanna: Unapologetic (2012)
Selena Gomez: Rare (2020)
Shaggy: Hot Shot (2000)
St. Vincent: Masseduction (2017)
Twenty One Pilots: Trench (2018)
Wu-Tang Clan: Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
Edyta Gorniak: Your High (2014)

DO THIS guys, then talk.

[Genital.Wartzenegger]

I'm always so impressed how they know exactly how much or how little to do. I do wish mix with the masters did shitty recordings and mediocre productions/mixes since that's more what someone like me would be dealing with (as a hobbyist).

[LAVISHING]

Thanks to Spike and you Chris for helping me with the production!

[bcot]

Videos like this where there’s minimal processing you need to pick up on things like levels, where he has his DBs, there’s a loudness war and its interesting to see where he’s got his levels.

[josephhall]

Dude is a legend and you disregard sound. No cheat code for the "Ear".

[dominequemccool]

Came here from a Fabvl video lol. Great stuff man

[audiokemestry]

Always nice to see other mastering engineers processes and decisions. Kind of surprising that 2 or 3 dBs of limiting isn't a lot to Chris---but that just goes to show you the subjective nature of mastering. If it sounds good, its not too much. Lol.

[louderthangod]

His “a little” bit of limiting is definitely more than I typically go for but in the pop world if you’re not smashing the dynamic life out of the song then it’s considered light limiting.

[benn]

It's weird that he uses the 'default' setting on the limiter. Why not flick through all the great presets? Default is pretty bland....

[ScoreHeroMusic]

Is it me or do mastering engineers dress less colorfully than mixing engineers?

[jzg]

I wanna know how much he charged for this😂

[AngeloMerte]

I want a job thats as easy as his job lol

[dinar]

Ahahaha 😂😂😂😂 FFP limiter and Db plus bass in Fab Eq.
$2500 Please

[nothingmuchhhhhere]

Probably getting paid 10k to put an L2 on the track

[francescodonadelcampbell]

All those sibilants and those peaks on 10k left out?? Mmmm i would not call this mastering

[johansugarev]

He gets payed to make a track two db louder with a limiter?

[jeffo]

Barely hear any difference to be honest.

[youngmarcy]

This channel is becoming a joke to be honest. The truth is these engineers mixing and mastering alike are using analog gear and multiple people to produce these records . Ima keep it a buck and say that 90% of you won’t reach this sound with a laptop and Apollo . It’s impossible. I’d just focus on making good music overall and good beats if you’re a producer. When you get some buzz to get these resources then let them do the work . Just some free game for people who are like me who actually wanna be at this level but can’t wrap their head around what’s different .