mix and mastering isn't even done by the producer. say i go on soundclick and buy a beat... that's the BEAT MAKER.. he made the beat. depending on HIS knowledge, and what I will pay and accept.. that's all in a contract and why some beat makers, not knowing any better, get ripped off.
for arguments sake, i paid him $300 for a fully tracked out beat. meaning the horns come separate, the drums, etc. every layer is a separate wav file instead of $15 for one mixed complete mp3.
i take that to the studio and meet the PRODUCER. he sits there with an ENGINEER. a person simply pressing buttons he's told. he puts in input too. cause he went to sound school and knows technical shyt. but really he's the one cutting this, looping that, turning that higher..
the PRODUCER is the one telling him what to do.. raise the drums, lower the bass, add in some chimes.. he's also telling the artist what to do. stop that, say that louder, don't come in like that, redo that verse... that's where you get a Dre making you do 100 takes till he hears the right one. tweaking a beat for hours after you already laid your verse.
the beatmaker ain't there doing that. maybe he is.. either way, your paperwork ain't right, and you ain't getting credit for it. death row was famous for that. not giving people their credit.. then they get called "ghost producers" cause either they did help out in studio, and never got credit. or they sold the beat but never was in studio, but still, never got credit
this is the exact same for writers. you can have one bar and get credit. or write a whole song and get none. depends on your paperwork and what you accept. don't ever think you'll just get it cause you think you should.
oh and to finish the original point.. MIX & MASTERING is the last step. you usually master a whole album together when its all done. that's done by an engineer but one that specializes in mixing and mastering. that's always listed on the album somewhere.. usually just once because its mixed and mastered at the same place. sometimes the producer sits in on that session too. the album also gets sequenced, or put in order. that's when the executive producer title comes in. but like always, that can be taken too. you think suge knight was in the studio doing that? kim gave hers to biggie after he passed. nore made capone his when pone was locked up. all about business.. never forget it
That's why it's important to have your paperwork in order if you're gonna be making beats. Cause nikkas will try to jip you.
