What is a good master? 

A good master sounds fine. Alright, but does it has to sound well on itself or just relative to other tracks? Because music is relative, right?
And why do people have the intentions to prefer track A above track B, only due to the loudness of track A (in comparison with track B)?
Can the mixer do the master, or do you need an independent engineer?

Lots of question and I don't know the right answer. I think it also depends on other factors. For example the weather or your mood.
What I do know is.. that mastering a tricky thing is. And it can be a pain in the ass, sometimes. Because what you hear depends on multiple factors. I already mentioned two, but the most important is of course the PA / SoundSystem / headphones. What is the power of the system, what frequencies is the range, or better formulated reach?

What sounds will reach you and what feeling does it mean to you?

Every track will sound differently on a different sound system. And the experience of what you hear depends on what track you've heard before or afterwards. A good DJ is able to play a bad track sounding well. Is this true? DJ-ing is art. Do not underestimate this fact..

Mastering is art, too. Okay, maybe it is more a science. Let's call it engineering! It is some kind of physics what you learn(ed) at school. But this is way more fun! And sometimes a real pain in the ass.

In my opinion a good mastered track is a track that sounds fine on every system and important words are loudness but clear, full range but not muddy, dirty but bright but above all clean!

Think of a beautiful naked girl, standing in the snow on a top of the mountain asking you on a sunny day, wanna a beer?

If the answer is yes, then and only then you are a master. Forget about the sounds...


Jssst


P.S. Nice wisdom from Buddha: If the student is ready, the master appears. #Buddha 

Good luck with mastering!


BTW: I remastered my album (10 100) 11 and it is available on Beatport.

  

One of the leading artists of Jssst Records actually has got a name, it is Noise Vector. He released two tracks on the label and makes really nice Techno. In addition to a lot of producers nowadays, he is still using hardware synths and drum computers. He's got a passion for that. Let's have a conversation with him. Where does he come from and who are his his inspirations?





Real Name: Daniel van Els

Artist Name: Noise Vector ( AKA: DJ Tremor / Dusp2k )

Place of Birth: Kerkrade, The Netherlands.



Jssst: Hi Daniel, nice to have an interview with you. Currently you have released two tracks on the label 'Jssst Records' and both are in the top 10 Beatport Chart of the label. How did you do it and what's your main style?

Noise Vector: I like Detroit/Birmingham/Dub and Tribal Techno. Also Deep house and Chicago. But most important is that it has to sound well, then the genre doesn't matter. 


Jssst: Can you give me some artists that you like?

Noise Vector: I like the 90's. Dave Clarke, Joey Beltram and Jeff Mills for example. Steve Stoll, Luke Slater, Steve Rachmad and Michel de Hey as well. But the list goes on. Also some harder stuff like Chris Liebing, Ben Sims, Gaetano Parisio, Shufflemaster etc. I like it a lot!


Jssst: Can you give me some labels, besides Jssst Records of course, that you do respect?

Noise Vector: I like Reload, Musicman, BUSH, Tresor, Drumcode, Primevil, Hydraulix, 100% Pure, R&S, Nervous, Strictly Rhythm, Groove On and the list goes on. Too many to mention here, but these are very important to me.


Jssst: Where does it all come from, how did you get involved with music?

Noise Vector: I started at a pretty young age. I think I was twelve when I started to experiment in Screamtracker. Beside that I also started to play Vinyl. Until 2008 I didn't do quite a lot with music because I didn't have the money and the time to work on it. But in 2008, I became obsessed again with music via Youtube. I met Simon Stokes (http://www.youtube.com/user/siedgey)  via the internet and started to produce music again. I also started to build my own studio. 
  

                                                                                                            Simon Stokes

Jssst: Alright, is there anything more you want to tell me?

Noise Vector: I'd like to tell tell that the real medium for music is and will be vinyl. That's the real thing!


Jssst: Okay, but we are a digital label;-) No, we do like vinyl as well! Thank you for having a nice chat with you and I wish you good luck and hope that you will release more tracks in the future on the label and last but not least have fun!


Noise Vector: Thank you, it was a pleasure. Cheers!
Jssst: Cheers!

    

                                                                           Noise Vector - Decompressed (Jssst Records)           

                                                                                              Download available here.

So, I decided to start  a label. Really nice! Hard work, takes a lot of time, doesn't pay the rent but it is fun! Besides mailing, promo, selecting tunes, listening, listening one more time, making Youtube vids, Youtube friends, haters;-) creating art works, upload everything and upload it one more time. I still can say it is FUN!

So, I'd like to introduce some artists of Jssst Records and their tracks:

Jssst Records 002  by Arno Burmania:

It is a very good catchy techno tune, I like it a lot. Arno could eat Techno for breakfast and that's only the start of the day. He's doing a radio show (Live From The Loft) as well and he has played on the Amsterdam Dance Event in 2011. I heard some other tracks by him and I can say that he's a talented guy. Keep an eye on him!

Jssst Records 003  by Steve Mos:




A very deep melodic Techno tune that reminds of some work done by the legend from London, Max Cooper. He has released some Trance/Progressive tunes and now he has reinvented himself with a more laid-back deeper style. And that's what we like! Talented guy as well. Steve is an active DJ in Montreal's underground scene and will release more tracks in the future.

Jssst Records 004 by Cloud_pilot:

A bit old skoolish (but in the GOOD way!) Heavily influenced by 'Acid House'. I also heard some other tracks and he's got a very distinctive and so good style! Influences come from the late 80's and Acid. Talented for sure. He's done some DJ gigs as well. More releases by him will follow!










Alright, these are the first three artists besides me that will represent Jssst Records. Artists that follow their heart and do what they have to do. Building frequencies, translate that into music and feed the world in a good way! 

Stay (de)tuned,

 Joost aka Jssst. 

@jssstrecords