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

The mastering process enables you to carry out last modifications after you have mixed your multitrack recordings down to two stereo tracks (we'll leave quad and 5.1 surround-sound situations for another day.) Some modifications are made to improve a particular song's sonic quality. Others are made within the context of an album - ensuring that many tunes 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: Often you'll wish to adjust the eq or compression on a mix after you've done the final mix. Or you may have 10 tunes mixed by three different engineers in 5 various studios.

Each song's eq might appear perfect by itself, but if you series them together, suddenly one song sounds too intense (or too dull ...). Changing the eq can even everything out. Tip # 1: remember that any eq modifications to your stereo mix affect the whole mix - if you wish to cut 3 db at 80Hz since your mix sounds muddy, remember to check how that impacts 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 simpler to boost greater frequencies than to cut them. Compression: In mastering, this is utilized not just to manage a mix or to add character, but likewise to "print" or send out as much level to the master as possible without clipping the signal. This can almost seem like a competitors for who has the loudest cd (" my record sounded great till I listened Trap Instrumentals on my CD carousel and Green Day was 5 db louder!"). However mastering engineers must stabilize level with sonic integrity. Levels: Preferably, a listener can play your record and not have to get up to adjust the volume. This is attended to in mastering, after the record has been sequenced. Just then can you truly know how levels connect to each other as one song ends and the next starts.

Spacing & Crossfading.

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


Common locations of concern for a mastering engineer are: equalization (eq), compression, levels (volume) relative from one song to the next, and spacing in between songs. Or you might have 10 songs mixed by 3 various engineers in five different studios.

Each tune's eq might seem ideal by itself, but if you sequence them together, suddenly one tune sounds too intense (or too dull ...). Idea # 1: keep in mind that any eq changes to your stereo mix affect the entire mix - if you desire to cut 3 db at 80Hz because your mix sounds muddy, remember to examine how that impacts all the instruments (e.g. the vocal), not just the bass guitar and kick drum. Compression: In mastering, this is utilized not just to control a mix or to add character, however likewise to "print" or send out as much level to the master as possible without clipping the signal.

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