mastering-----will someone explain me

[threshhold2]

i am not completely new to this business,but some of the terms are not 100% clear.
for instance: what is exactly MASTERING, and what are the action involved in this process.
in other words----what do you do in MASTERING, that you didnt do in MIXING.

tnx

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Ya know, it's amazing what answers one can find if they take a quick look first...

Here's an exact paste of my response to a thread where someone asked the exact same question in this forum just a couple of weeks ago:

Mastering is everything that keeps mixing and duplication from slamming into each other.

Seriously:

Mastering is the process of preparing the "final" versions of recordings for duplication. This process includes

- final processing of the recordings to polish the sound quality and set final volume levels.

- organization and assembly of seperate recordings into a coherant collection such as a CD album of songs. Track order is laid out as are transitions between tracks.

- Editing and addition of extra informational data to the CD, including PQ data, track info, etc.

- creation of the final "pre-master" disc to be sent for duplication.

G.

 

[mixsit]

rant mode=on

Would this be 'Mastering' or 'Smashtering'? The're two pretty different targets.

rant mode=off

 

[metalmansam]

i believe mastereing is the finals mixdown of the song and to get every detail to sound pro

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

i believe mastereing is the finals mixdown of the song and to get every detail to sound pro

No.....

Mixdown is Mixing.... mastering is the step AFTER Mixing - essentially the final polish to a finished mix.

 

[lotuscent]

mastering is usually done by people with equipment we can't afford, in rooms we can't afford, with experience with said equipment and rooms that we don't have.

you mix to the extent of the the ability and limits of your ear and equipment, then someone who has the training to optimize the levels (compression, limiting) and frequencies (eq) for the greatest common denominator of listener and listening device "masters" it. so then it not only sounds good in your studio, but also on the radio, in the the car, in the ipod, the boombox, the desktop etc...