Will I eventually need....

  • Thread starter Thread starter MCreel
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MCreel

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Will I eventuall yneed software other than cubase or whatever recording software I use in order to do mastering? IE do I need to buy Steinberg wavelab?
 
I guess it depends how you define 'need' and how you define 'mastering'... but all the big software out there (Cubase, Sonar, Protools etc) is capable of exporting a stereo .wav file and using plug-ins to do eq, compression etc. so you can definitely finish a song all in the same software package...
Now to get into 'real' mastering (of which I know little to nothing about) that's a different set of requirements and most of it has to do with a proper room, monitors, maybe some specialized gear and most importantly... skill!
 
I see.......sort of. thanks for the info. I am so new to this that I don't know why you'd need to export a stereo .wav file from the software you'd use to master it, and where you would export it to.

Maybe I need to go get a book called "recording for retards'.
 
Because the stereo .wav file contains the entire audio. bit by bit. and when u master, u make sure that u carefully hear those bits.
 
Based on the knowledge you seem to have on the subject, I'd stick with outsource mastering until you learn quite a bit more.
 
studiomaster said:
Because the stereo .wav file contains the entire audio. bit by bit. and when u master, u make sure that u carefully hear those bits.
Click to expand...

Yeah I already knew that part....my question was why would you export it OUT of the software you're going to use to master it? And what do you export it to? You export it right back into the same software program?
 
You would do a stereo mixdown, saving it in WAVE or AIFF or some other lossless format, and check the mix to be sure it is correct.

Then you would open a new file in Cakewalk (or otherwise) for the 2 track stereo file, and import it, and start working! (Figuring out WHAT to do with it is gonna be the hardeset part)

Importing the mixdown a new file basically protects your mix and opens up resources to you. You potentially COULD master in your mix file but that leaves more crap to worry about.
 
MCreel said:
Will I eventuall yneed software other than cubase or whatever recording software I use in order to do mastering? IE do I need to buy Steinberg wavelab?
Click to expand...
you mean in your own basement or commercial duplication? there are some tools that commercial MEs use that home recording guys might not know about. but to simply mix down to a 2 channel wave file and distro yourself...cubase should be fine.

Wavelab is great for 2 track..yes.
 
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