Mastering Procedure

  • Thread starter Thread starter sardonicgrin
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sardonicgrin

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My band is just finishing up tracking and will be in the mastering process soon. I was wondering if there is a general guidline as to the order of steps you take when mastering. For instance, would you adjust EQ's before applying any compression or gating or vice versa. If someone out there could give me a basic outline of what steps to take and in what order, it would be extremely helpful. Mainly just looking to get a general idea of how others typically aproach the process.

We play hard rock / metal stuff if that matters.

Thanks
 
sardonicgrin said:
My band is just finishing up tracking and will be in the mastering process soon. I was wondering if there is a general guidline as to the order of steps you take when mastering. For instance, would you adjust EQ's before applying any compression or gating or vice versa. If someone out there could give me a basic outline of what steps to take and in what order, it would be extremely helpful. Mainly just looking to get a general idea of how others typically aproach the process.

We play hard rock / metal stuff if that matters.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Well, if you are using gates during mastering, I suggest you do some reading and find out what mastering is. You may be suprised.
 
The best DIY description I've seen calls for EQ-->compression-->EQ-->compression/limiting-->dither. You may not be happy with the results you can get on your own, so if you want a pro sounding disc for sale etc., you might think about shopping it out to a mastering engineer. Doesn't hurt to give it a try though and see what you can come up with.
 
I mis-spoke when I said mastering. I meant Mixdown, sorry.
 
I always suggest that people mix their album without any EQ, compression, gates, etc first. Just volume levels and panning. Then, sit down with a notebook and make notes based on what you hear when you listen to the album like that. It takes patience to not touch any knobs the first time around but it definitely pays off in the end. Once you have a "plan", you'll be a lot more productive with the EQ. Otherwise, it's tempting to tweak everything until it sounds like ass.

Compression can ruin the feel of a record much much easier than it can make it sound better in my opinion. I'd only use it if you're hearing a problem due to too much dynamic range, which is entirely possible but not assumed on every track.
 
ryanlikestorock said:
It takes patience to not touch any knobs the first time around but it definitely pays off in the end.
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I hear that. I remember the first time I laid my eyes on a software compressor. "Buttons, knobs, look at all the things I can turn and move! Wait a minute, why does my mix sound like it's breathing in and out, and why does everything sound squished together!" It's like when a little kid walks into the local arcade at the mall for the first time and his eyes light up.
 
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