These are all things to consider when mastering a song. The earliest forms of mainstream recording technology did not require the recording, mixing, and mastering processes to be separate disciplines. Rather, the recording was cut directly to a wax disc via a stylus connected to a diaphragm, which was in turn driven by an acoustic horn through which the sound was captured.
These wax discs were then used to make stampers, which themselves were used to press shellac-composite 78 rpm discs. Recordings were being made to tape and engineers were tasked with preparing a master disc from the tape recording. When cutting master discs, these engineers now had to watch for and reduce loud transient peaks present in the tape recording.
The energy of these peaks could potentially burn out the disc cutter head or cause the stylus to pop out of the groove when the record was playing. In order to detect and reduce these peaks, dynamics processing tools such as compressors and limiters were introduced.
This was the first time sonic adjustments began to impact the audio after the recording and mixing processes. The need to monitor these tools and adjust the settings for an optimum playback experience without compromising the sound quality was the earliest form of mastering.
Intended to allow records to be cut with narrower, tighter grooves and thus, a longer playing time , one side effect of this curve was that the pre-emphasis curve applied to the recording could enhance high-frequency transient peaks, and the de-emphasis applied upon playback could cause a boost in low-frequency energy that would cause the stylus to pop out of the groove. Slowly but surely, the necessity of these tools to ensure a positive consumer experience meant that the skills of those who could utilize them effectively became highly prized.
Some engineers notably Doug Sax, Bob Ludwig, Bob Katz, Bernie Grundman, and others began to focus exclusively not just on the practicality of these tools, but also ways in which they could be used to further enhance the listening experience. Now, many mastering engineers use plug-ins included in the Music Production Suite Pro membership to achieve their desired sound.
While there are many ways to master audio, these are basic steps and techniques used to accomplish a finished master. Does the mix sound too bright? Does it have too much low end? This first step can involve adjusting levels and examining the tonal balance of the mix, as well as repairing the audio and removing unwanted clicks, pops, or noise that was leftover from the stereo mixdown.
This step can also involve listening to reference tracks to get an idea of the sound you and your artist are looking for, and using tools like Tonal Balance Control Pro to use reference tracks in your mastering. For example, the entire Ozone Pro mastering plug-in can be viewed as a single DSP processor, while individual Ozone modules like compression, EQ, and more are comprised of separate DSP algorithms and processors.
These are some of the common processors found in plug-ins that can help you achieve your desired sound:. Compressors, limiters, and expanders are used to adjust the dynamics of a mix. Equalizers are used to shape the tonal balance by boosting or cutting specific ranges of frequencies.
Stereo imaging can adjust the perceived width and image of the sound field. Metering is any visual aid that helps mastering engineers measure various aspects of their mixes, helping them make better decisions about frequency content, stereo spread, levels, and dynamic range. Dither is used in cases when it is necessary to convert higher word-length recordings e.
With all these types of effects, you might wonder where to start. Only use as many as you need. This technology analyzes the sonic profile of your audio and suggests a logical starting point for your signal chain, processor settings, and loudness. Preparing your tracks for distribution is a crucial step in mastering that results in your listener having the experience that you want them to have. For web-centered distribution , you might need to adjust the levels to prepare for conversion to AAC, MP3, or hi-resolution files and include the required metadata.
Pro Audio Essentials is a game-based course for music producers to practice and improve their audio skills, including some of the basic concepts in mixing and mastering. Get top stories of the week and special discount offers right in your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time. What is Audio Mastering?
Free Never pay to sound your best. Unlimited From demos for collaborators to distribution-ready releases, Master as many tracks as you want without fear of paywalls. Fast Up to 10x faster than the competition. What's the word? Master with confidence. Mastering takes an audio mix and brings it to distribution quality. As computer-based creators of music, many of the tasks which form our daily workflow were once broken down into separate roles.
It can be time-consuming, but mixing your music well can mean the difference between a track sounding weak, or sounding full and professional. What is mastering, and why should I do it? But, an even better question is: How do I master my tracks on BandLab? We want you to sound your best.
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