Frisk
02-10-2002, 03:44 PM
Mastering is often misunderstood and is looked upon primarily as a saviour of dodgy mixes, which is a long way from reality. Mastering is the process of taking a finished stereo mix and turning it into a final master, which is what we hear on commercial CDs, TV and radio. Mastering also entails taking a bunch of different recordings and making them work together as an album without each successive track sounding too tonally different to any other.
The line between mixing and mastering has to be consciously drawn at some point. Usually a mix is finished when everyone is happy that everything is at the right level and the song works as a whole. This would have been decided by listening to it repeatedly, probably on the same set of monitors. Mastering starts when you stop listening to the relative levels of the tracks and start listening to the overall sound. Obviously, you must be happy with the sound or you'd still be mixing it, right? Some people still think a mastering session will save a dodgy mix, but that's just not true Šif there's anything you're not happy with, go back to the mix and fix it! Only when you're really happy with the mix should you attempt any mastering. Mastering on a computer usually consists of three main processes: first of all, compressing the audio to make it sound more exciting and upfront, then EQing it to make sure it will work on a variety of playback systems and not blow smaller speakers to pieces, and finally, boosting the overall level by limiting or normalising so that it compares to the level of commercial CDs.
So let's get mastering
Before you do anything to your recording, save it as a stereo .wav or .aiff and call it 'Pre-Master'. Keep this safe so you can go back to the original and start again at any time.
Also, should you be lucky enough to get signed, and the record company thinks your mixes might be up to commercial release, they'll want the un-mastered versions so they can get them mastered professionally. Compression can't be undone!
In the past, mastering was the preserve of labels and the more well-off home recording artist. The process in mastering houses hasn't changed too drastically over the years, although they obviously make use of software sometimes these days instead of cutting tape and using expensive outboard gear. Many mastering engineers swear by half-inch analogue tape, and for some, digital hasn't reached a point where it can compete yet, but the main difference between getting a mastering house to work on your tracks and doing it yourself is the engineer himself. Never underestimate the mastering engineer. His/her ears have been finely tuned over the years to hear every single nuance of your track and instantly hear problems you probably wouldn't even notice. If you can afford it, always get your music mastered professionally; doing it yourself, although possible (as we're about to show you) will always be a bit of a hit-and-miss affair. Still reading? Good. Let's start with some vital and universally accepted tips for DIY mastering...
1. Start early. Your ears are fresher in the morning.
2. Listen to at least 20 minutes of commercial CDs that you like before you start.
3. Take regular breaks to 'reset' your ears. Go for a walk outside if possible.
4. A/B compare your recording with commercial CDs at regular intervals.
5. Listen to your master on as many systems as possible before deciding which one is best.
If you've got the ears for it, there's no reason why you can't get high-quality results from a half-decent Mac or PC and some appropriate software. Let's take a look at what you'll need for the job...
The line between mixing and mastering has to be consciously drawn at some point. Usually a mix is finished when everyone is happy that everything is at the right level and the song works as a whole. This would have been decided by listening to it repeatedly, probably on the same set of monitors. Mastering starts when you stop listening to the relative levels of the tracks and start listening to the overall sound. Obviously, you must be happy with the sound or you'd still be mixing it, right? Some people still think a mastering session will save a dodgy mix, but that's just not true Šif there's anything you're not happy with, go back to the mix and fix it! Only when you're really happy with the mix should you attempt any mastering. Mastering on a computer usually consists of three main processes: first of all, compressing the audio to make it sound more exciting and upfront, then EQing it to make sure it will work on a variety of playback systems and not blow smaller speakers to pieces, and finally, boosting the overall level by limiting or normalising so that it compares to the level of commercial CDs.
So let's get mastering
Before you do anything to your recording, save it as a stereo .wav or .aiff and call it 'Pre-Master'. Keep this safe so you can go back to the original and start again at any time.
Also, should you be lucky enough to get signed, and the record company thinks your mixes might be up to commercial release, they'll want the un-mastered versions so they can get them mastered professionally. Compression can't be undone!
In the past, mastering was the preserve of labels and the more well-off home recording artist. The process in mastering houses hasn't changed too drastically over the years, although they obviously make use of software sometimes these days instead of cutting tape and using expensive outboard gear. Many mastering engineers swear by half-inch analogue tape, and for some, digital hasn't reached a point where it can compete yet, but the main difference between getting a mastering house to work on your tracks and doing it yourself is the engineer himself. Never underestimate the mastering engineer. His/her ears have been finely tuned over the years to hear every single nuance of your track and instantly hear problems you probably wouldn't even notice. If you can afford it, always get your music mastered professionally; doing it yourself, although possible (as we're about to show you) will always be a bit of a hit-and-miss affair. Still reading? Good. Let's start with some vital and universally accepted tips for DIY mastering...
1. Start early. Your ears are fresher in the morning.
2. Listen to at least 20 minutes of commercial CDs that you like before you start.
3. Take regular breaks to 'reset' your ears. Go for a walk outside if possible.
4. A/B compare your recording with commercial CDs at regular intervals.
5. Listen to your master on as many systems as possible before deciding which one is best.
If you've got the ears for it, there's no reason why you can't get high-quality results from a half-decent Mac or PC and some appropriate software. Let's take a look at what you'll need for the job...