Mastering & Creating Your Last Mix Like the Pros (Mastering Process).

The mastering process permits you to carry out last modifications after you have actually mixed your multitrack recordings down to two stereo tracks (we'll leave quad and 5.1 surround-sound scenarios for another day.) Some adjustments are made to improve a specific tune's sonic quality. Others are made within the context of an album - making sure that numerous songs strung together have a similar sonic "consistency." Typical locations of issue for a mastering engineer are: equalization (eq), compression, levels (volume) relative from one tune to the next, and spacing between songs. Equalization: Sometimes you'll wish to change the eq or compression on a mix after you have actually done the final mix. Or you may have 10 tunes blended by three different engineers in 5 various studios.

Each song's eq might appear ideal by itself, but if you series them together, all of a sudden one song sounds too bright (or too dull ...). Changing the eq can even whatever out. Idea # 1: keep in mind that any eq changes to your stereo mix impact the entire mix - if you want to cut 3 db at 80Hz due to the fact that your mix sounds muddy, keep in mind to inspect how that affects all the instruments (e.g. the vocal), not simply the bass guitar and kick drum. Suggestion # 2: if you're unsure about an eq choice during mixdown, know that it's much easier to cut lower frequencies in mastering than to improve them, and easier to boost greater frequencies than Hip Hop Beats to cut them. Compression: In mastering, this is used not just to manage a mix or to add character, but likewise to "print" or send as much level to the master as possible without clipping the signal. This can almost seem like a competition for who has the loudest cd (" my record sounded great till I listened on my CD carousel and Green Day was 5 db louder!"). But mastering engineers must stabilize level with sonic integrity. Levels: Ideally, a listener can play your record and not need to get up to change the volume. This is dealt with in mastering, after the record has actually been sequenced. Only then can you really understand how levels associate with each other as one tune ends and the next begins.

Spacing & Crossfading.

Spacing: there are different viewpoints as to how one need to approach the spaces put in between tunes on a record. Last suggestion: you might be inclined to master the very same recordings that you mixed, whether it is for monetary factors, creative reasons, or simply because you can. We strongly advise that you get somebody else to master your project.


Common locations of issue for a mastering engineer are: equalization (eq), compression, levels (volume) relative from one song to the next, and spacing between tunes. Or you might have ten songs blended by 3 different engineers in five different studios.

Each tune's eq might appear perfect by itself, however if you series them together, unexpectedly one song sounds too brilliant (or too dull ...). Suggestion # 1: keep in mind that any eq modifications to your stereo mix affect the whole mix - if you want to cut 3 db at 80Hz due to the fact that your mix sounds muddy, keep in mind to examine how that affects all the instruments (e.g. the vocal), not just the bass guitar and kick drum. Compression: In mastering, this is utilized not simply to manage a mix or to add character, but also to "print" or send out as much level to the master as possible without clipping the signal.

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