Exactly what is done during mastering?

[Crayon Boy]

Exactly what is done to a recording during mastering? I'd like to know how's it's done and what equipment is used. I know the entire mix is usually compressed/limited to make it louder and that EQ is added, but is that all?

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Bob Katz' book (Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science) explains what's involved quite well..........

 

[Massive Master]

You could visit some mastering websites to get an idea...

The simple answer is, anything and everything that can be done to properly enhance a recording up to its final production stage.

 

[mixandmaster]

I just had somebody tell me that after they heard my mastered version of their music, they WANTED to turn it louder (not because it was too quiet).

And that's kind of the point. How's it done? Well for most home recordings (this is the home recording forum) the first step for me is usually finding a certain frequency or two that is resonating. There's usually one in the 100Hz-250Hz range somewhere. I would guess this is due to the monitors, or maybe people just pile on the low end. I don't know. There's also usually somewhere in the high mids that resonates, too. Once I find these frequencies, I notch them down in as subtle way as I can.

Next, I usually do a broader EQ. Does it need some highs or lows, or do they need to be cut a little bit...Then I usually compress it. Then I'll do any frequency-dependent compression (de-essing, etc.) Then a little more EQ when needed, then finally touch a brick wall limiter (less than 2 dB) just to take care of the peaks.

That's my chain for 90% of the projects I get from home/semi-pro facilities.

 

[mixandmaster]

That's my chain for 90% of the projects I get from home/semi-pro facilities.

From pro studios with good engineers, there is less in the chain. The better the mix, the easier work for me.

 

[masteringhouse]

Exactly what is done to a recording during mastering? I'd like to know how's it's done and what equipment is used. I know the entire mix is usually compressed/limited to make it louder and that EQ is added, but is that all?

First and foremost listening in a "neutral" environment. Then based on your experience finding the right combination of processing in order to make a mix optimal for all listening environments, and the genre of the music.

It's usually compressed and limited and sometimes automated in volume in order to make the CD competitve with others on the market. This isn't making the CD "radio ready" as some would make you think. You also want to level out mixes (so that people aren't having to reach for the volume knob while listening to the CD) as well as making the frequency balance between songs, and within the same song, to sound like it fits together (so that people aren't reaching for the EQ while they listen).

As far as gear used, it can be nearly anything that's of a high audiophile quality. High-end EQs and compressors from companies like Weiss, Manley, Avalon, GML, Crane Song as well as high quality A/D and D/A converters, analog tape machines, a great pair of monitors, a well-tuned room, and most importantly an experienced a good pair of ears!

 

[LRosario]

A joke from the guys here in the studio:

"What do the mastering engineers REALLY do?

Everything us mixing engineers don't..."

 

[jakenauta]

you want my opinion?

you all charge too much

Jake

 

[LemonTree]

There's usually one in the 100Hz-250Hz range somewhere. I would guess this is due to the monitors, or maybe people just pile on the low end. I don't know. There's also usually somewhere in the high mids that resonates, too. Once I find these frequencies, I notch them down in as subtle way as I can.

you might wanna try treating the room you're listening in. If it's common that all mixes resonate in the same bands...........

 

[masteringhouse]

you want my opinion?

you all charge too much

Jake

You get what you pay for.

 

[dantell]

True Dat

Most of the time you do. I used a local idiot that claimed he could master and charged me 500 bucks for normalizing and just cutting the peaks off the tops. The volume level went up slightly, no added smoothness, no added warmth, no change really. My pet monkey could have done that.

 

[jakenauta]

im from australia, got my album mastered at studio 301, sydney
Don Bartley works there
i got what i paid for
he is wicked!!

Jake

 

[mixandmaster]

If it's common that all mixes resonate in the same bands...........

....100-250 is QUITE a range!!! There are times where I find two or even three places in this range that need a little work...like when in the mix, there's a certain note the bass hits that feels twice as loud as all the other notes...or the kick sounds like garbage...

If you read my post carefully, I said that these are USUALLY the places where I USUALLY find home studio mixes to have problems. In both instances I'm guessing that a lot of the problems are in the crossovers in the monitors used in MIXING, or where the consoles' Lo/High eqs give the bump.

 

[earworm]

" mastered at studio 301, sydney"


whoohaaa

i bet that sounds great !!!!

don't believe everyone, i know IDIOTS that claim to be mastering engineers,

i think that if you hear a recording or mixing engineer say that he also is a mastering engineer........don't let him do the job

as far as i know, mastering engineers, THE REAL ONES, are like rocket scientists..... they got so much more secrets than i have, héhé

and beware, you don't always get what you pay for,
i'd always try to hear a test first, or some sort of previeuw, one song,,,,donno what,,,, but paying a shedload of money just because a guy says he's good?

i can make everything loud, but i don't even dare to charge for that !!