Can anyone tell me what MASTERING is. im compleatly lost.

D

Dat_Nigga_Pari

New member
I dont know what it is. i guess i only been mixing my tracks? idk i really wanna... step it up an its hard everyone says go with your ear or sum bullshit i need help someone break it down for me. i havent even read that chapter in my book help me please!


 
Mastering is all the stuff that's done to your 2-track audio files once they're all mixed to prepare them for the final release format.

For a CD release that includes any audio finalizing (what most people think is mastering), putting the songs in order, setting the space between them, placing track and index markers, creating a track list with the required info and anything else needed before it gets replicated.

For an internet release it would be the audio finalizing, conversion to the appropriate format and filling of the track info fields etc.

The process for vinyl is similar but uses specialized equipment, and there are certain limitations to the medium one has to be aware of. Some of the traditional audio finalizing processes derive from what mastering engineers had to do to get a mix on tape to fit into the vinyl format.
 
:thumbs up: Cool, I had the idea it only ment the audio finalizing.

It is not my topic but I guess that it is Dat_Nigga_Pari's question. Could someone explain the difference between mixing and audio finalizing?
 
Dicus said:
Could someone explain the difference between mixing and audio finalizing?
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Mixing is putting all the various separate tracks (instruments, vocals) together: balancing the levels, editing for arrangement or correction, altering the tones, adding effects. When you're done mixing you produce a 2-track file or tape. Finalizing is whatever audio processing is done to that 2-track master.

There are variations, like stem mastering or mastering for surround, where the mastering engineer has more than a 2-track to work with.
 
Dat_Nigga_Pari said:
I dont know what it is. i guess i only been mixing my tracks? idk i really wanna... step it up an its hard everyone says go with your ear or sum bullshit i need help someone break it down for me. i havent even read that chapter in my book help me please!
Click to expand...

Here's the long version:
http://recording.org/content/381-wal...mastering.html

Here's the short version:
It's basically preparing the final representation of the mixes for manufacturing, broadcast and distribution.
 
Heres a description-
Abbey Road - Mastering

Mastering is the final stage in the production process and ensures that the music fits together seamlessly and that it is presented with the best possible sound. It involves editing and compiling the required mixes and tracks in production order, cleaning the audio to remove any unwanted blemishes or corruptions, polishing the mixed sound with equalisation, compression and other outboard processing and then producing the final master. The combination of our award-winning engineers, Abbey Road Studios acoustics and our unrivalled range of traditional and state-of-the-art equipment ensure that we are world leaders in the fields of audio mastering and sound restoration.
We can master to enhance both old and new recordings from any format: 78rpm or LP discs, analogue tape, digital master tape or audio file.

We have a range of stereo and surround mastering suites for creating a finished audio master, from mastering for a CD or audio files, cutting lacquer or copper vinyl, through to 5.1 and 7.1 surround production for DVD or High Definition broadcast and Blu-ray disc.
We welcome clients to attend the mastering session and work on a one-to-one basis with our specialist mastering engineers. Alternatively, we offer a tailor-made virtual service for global clients through our Abbey Road Online Mastering service.
 
mastering is the deep end of a music project. Normally you shouldnt take care of that part.
You better consider having the best possible mixing instead of mastering ;)
 
Mastering is the process of letting someone else save your ass at the very last minute before it goes to production. Or is that just me? ;)

Haven't read that chapter yet?! Go read it! Ha!

Dat_Nigga_Pari said:
I dont know what it is. i guess i only been mixing my tracks? idk i really wanna... step it up an its hard everyone says go with your ear or sum bullshit i need help someone break it down for me. i havent even read that chapter in my book help me please!
Click to expand...
 
Man BAsically If You Are Recording On FL Studio Throw A Maximus On The MAster Track ONCE YOUR SATISFIED WITH THE MIX OF YOUR WHOLE SONG...And Play With It Till Yu GEt It How YU Want It To Sound Theres A Few Presets That Will Start Yu At A Good Point...Once Youve Found That Roght Sound Yu Want Everyone To Hear Turn Your (DB) Volume Knob Down About -5 So It Wont Clip In Car Systems And Cheap Radios When Turned To The Max...As Far For The Rest Of The Mastering Phase Which Has Nothing To Do With The Overall Sound Of The Song Fam From The Earliar Post Said It Best


Mastering is all the stuff that's done to your 2-track audio files once they're all mixed to prepare them for the final release format.

For a CD release that includes any audio finalizing (what most people think is mastering), putting the songs in order, setting the space between them, placing track and index markers, creating a track list with the required info and anything else needed before it gets replicated.

For an internet release it would be the audio finalizing, conversion to the appropriate format and filling of the track info fields etc.

The process for vinyl is similar but uses specialized equipment, and there are certain limitations to the medium one has to be aware of. Some of the traditional audio finalizing processes derive from what mastering engineers had to do to get a mix on tape to fit into the vinyl format.
Click to expand...
 
1jay1111 said:
Man BAsically If You Are Recording On FL Studio Throw A Maximus On The MAster Track ONCE YOUR SATISFIED WITH THE MIX OF YOUR WHOLE SONG...And Play With It Till Yu GEt It How YU Want It To Sound Theres A Few Presets That Will Start Yu At A Good Point...Once Youve Found That Roght Sound Yu Want Everyone To Hear Turn Your (DB) Volume Knob Down About -5 So It Wont Clip In Car Systems And Cheap Radios When Turned To The Max...As Far For The Rest Of The Mastering Phase Which Has Nothing To Do With The Overall Sound Of The Song Fam From The Earliar Post Said It Best
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Do you have some magic plug-in that automatically capitalises the first letter in each word or are you doing it manually? And no doubles either...

Must be exhausting.... :eek:
 
Pfft, only capitailising the first letter of every word and making new words up!? CAPITALISE ALL THE LETTERS, THEN IT MAKES YOU EVEN MORE AWESOME!!!



AND WHEN IT'S CAPITALISED AND BIG YOU'RE THE BESTEST EVER!
 
Justsomeguy said:
Pfft, only capitailising the first letter of every word and making new words up!? CAPITALISE ALL THE LETTERS, THEN IT MAKES YOU EVEN MORE AWESOME!!!



AND WHEN IT'S CAPITALISED AND BIG YOU'RE THE BESTEST EVER!
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Wow, you're right.... immediately I want to send you all my money... :D
 
Armistice said:
Wow, you're right.... immediately I want to send you all my money... :D
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Awww, thanks man. I don't need all your money, just a large part of it every month would suffice. I like my subjects to see me as a benevolent and righteous overlord rather than a bloodthirsty and money grabbing dictator :D

Seriously, i really do think i've had too much coffee today ;)
 
Oh wow. I had no idea what mastering REALLY was until reading this thread. I just found out that I've actually mastered my tracks before! Probably not good mastering but I have done it!
 
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