Mastering
Mastering philosophy:
Listening to how the mix is, and enhancing and 'freshen' what is already there, in the same direction: so it 'sounds the same' — just better.
What mastering is like, metaphorically speaking
Mastering is like doing the last touch on the hair and makeup, before doing a photo session. The clothes have already been brought in, the hair has been done at the hairdresser, and what remains is that last touch-up to get that little bit of magic extra before capturing it on film.
In music, it's a touch-up to take the song from sounding good, to sound even better!
Of course, if it's perfect already, there's nothing to do. But usually it is possible to get a little bit polish and smoothness, and help the overall sound to sound more like what you hear on the radio.
If it was about food, it would be like having a dish already finished, but - in the last minute before serving it, have the chef taste it, and maybe add just a little bit garlic and some chili, just to add the delicate sparkle to it all.
What it really is about, this 'Mastering', without the metaphors
Mastering is about a couple of thing;
- Adjustment of an individual song, of the stereo-mix, altering, and possibly enhancing the sound and the perceived volume loudness
- Adjustment of the sound of several songs making them fit together
- Making it ready for distribution by trimming the songs, making fades and entering the track-indexes, ISRC, cd-text and such things
- Quality control
More about #1
There are two main paths of thinking regarding this; one is to mix to the best of ones abilities, and expect a sound enhancing stage—mastering—to make sure the sound is good enough and nothing is forgotten or overseen, sound-wise.
The other path is to mix the song in a way where one tries to make the mix sound exactly as one wants it, at the perceived volume loudness as one wants.
In mastering, such a track would make a 'direct transfer', that is, without processing, just the trimming and the indexes and such.
Some mixers like the idea of having a secondary sound-enhancing stage, and some like to have the sound exactly as mixed.
More about #2
When making an EP, album, or collection of tracks, one has to make them fit together.
Even if one is trying to mix in such a way as to make the mix the final sound of the tracks, differences in mixing from one day to the other will often make it a little different, maybe a little bit difference in the bass or in the treble area, and so, when putting them together, one will have to adjust them a little to make sure the transition from one track to the other goes fluently and the tracks having a similar sound.
More about #3
Trimming the start point, leaving the necessary blank lead-in (giving cd-players some spin-up and start-up time) and making the fade-outs, and a suitable pause between tracks. Entering ISRC information.
Also, if one wants cd-text; entering the information, and finally, making the deliverance format; cd- ready wav-formats, a wav/cue image for home burning, or a DDP-image for transfer to a cd-making factory.
More about #4
Making sure there are nothing wrong with the final processed result.
Any question: use the contact form and let me know (or send me an email).
Also - in February 2010 I wrote an article about Mastering for Recording.org that talks more about these views mentioned above.
There's a copy of the article on my tips-and-trics page, and you can also read the article over at Recording.org, at http://recording.org/content/395-what-mastering-do-you-need.html
Send mix: Send your stereo mix using my YouSendIt-powered dropbox - or provide me with a download link. I also offer full ftp-service.
Send in a loss-less format such as wav or aif, at 24-bit resolution, 44,1 kHz, or higher.
Usually the result after the mastering will be better if you send a mix that is not too compressed or limited on the 2-bus.
In addition to commenting in the 'comment field' when uploading the track, send me also an email — so I know I have your correct email address.
How to send your mix
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