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

The mastering procedure enables you to perform last modifications after you have blended your multitrack recordings down to 2 stereo tracks (we'll leave quad and 5.1 surround-sound situations for another day.) Some adjustments are made to enhance a particular song's sonic quality. Others are made within the context of an album - guaranteeing that many tunes strung together have a similar sonic "consistency." Normal areas of issue for a mastering engineer are: equalization (eq), compression, levels (volume) relative from one song to the next, and spacing in between songs. Equalization: Often you'll want to change the eq or compression on a mix after you've done the last mix. Or you may have 10 tunes mixed by 3 different engineers in 5 various studios.

Each tune's eq may appear best by itself, but if you sequence them together, unexpectedly one song sounds too brilliant (or too dull ...). Changing the eq can even whatever out. Suggestion # 1: bear in mind that any eq changes to your stereo mix impact the entire mix - if you want to cut 3 db at 80Hz since your mix sounds muddy, keep in mind to inspect how that impacts all the instruments (e.g. the vocal), not simply the bass guitar and kick drum. Suggestion # 2: if you're uncertain about an eq choice throughout mixdown, know that it's simpler to cut lower frequencies in mastering than to improve them, and much easier to boost higher frequencies Free Type Beat Hip Hop than to cut them. Compression: In mastering, this is used not just to manage a mix or to include character, however likewise to "print" or send out as much level to the master as possible without clipping the signal. This can almost feel like a competition for who has the loudest cd (" my record sounded terrific up until I listened on my CD carousel and Green Day was 5 db louder!"). However mastering engineers need to stabilize level with sonic integrity. Levels: Ideally, 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 actually been sequenced. Just then can you truly understand how levels connect to each other as one tune ends and the next starts.

Spacing & Crossfading.

Spacing: there are various philosophies as to how one must approach the areas put in between songs on a record. Final tip: you may be inclined to master the exact same recordings that you mixed, whether it is for monetary factors, innovative factors, or simply since you can. We strongly suggest that you get someone else to master your job.


Typical areas of concern for a mastering engineer are: equalization (eq), compression, levels (volume) relative from one song to the next, and spacing between tunes. Or you may have ten songs mixed by three various engineers in 5 various studios.

Each song's eq may appear perfect by itself, however if you sequence them together, all of a sudden one tune sounds too bright (or too dull ...). Suggestion # 1: keep in mind that any eq changes to your stereo mix affect the whole mix - if you want 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 just the bass guitar and kick drum. Compression: In mastering, this is used not just to control a mix or to add character, however also to "print" or send as much level to the master as possible without clipping the signal.

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